FROM CYPRESS BAY
TO COLLEGE PLAY
A guide to the college baseball recruiting process for parents of
Cypress Bay High School baseball players
Produced by the CBHS Lightning Booster Club
Originally published October, 2015
Table of Contents
Introduction
3
Lightning Philosophy
4
Starting the Process with Perspective
5
10 Key Questions to Ask at the Start
6
Academics: Where it all Begins
7
College Baseball “101”
8
College Baseball Divisions – By the Numbers
9 - 14
For the High-GPA Athlete
15
Booster Club Resources
16
Lightning Players who Played in College
17
Getting Noticed…Without Getting Ripped Off
18-22
(Introduction to showcases, camps, tournaments,
and 1:1 interaction with college coaches)
Informational College Baseball Websites
23
2
Introduction
We put this handbook together because we have seen over the years that the process
of becoming a student-athlete in college can be confusing, expensive and even
deceiving to the parents and the athlete. The creators of this handbook are NOT experts
or professionals in college baseball recruiting (though our team included Melissa
Boorom, an experienced high school guidance counselor who has advised over 1000
athletes at Cypress Bay High School). However, we have experienced the process
ourselves along with our sons. As a result, we have been observers of what options
exist, and collectors of information about the decisions and opportunities any family will
face in determining if, how and why to consider playing baseball at the collegiate level.
Our hope is that in publishing this handbook, it will help families start the process
themselves, and spare them some of the hassles and “learning experiences” we have
had. We also hope this establishes a starting point, a document which can be frequently
updated, so that current and future generations of Cypress Bay players and their families
can make the best decisions based on their own unique circumstances.
The bottom-line for you is this:
 Playing baseball in college is within reach of any CBHS player.
 That does not mean that every CBHS student athlete should play baseball in
college – you have to match the right situation to your personal goals
 But to determine what your goals are, it takes some thought, which is best done
as a family.
 There are no “right” answers, at least not within this handbook. We are simply
providing the jump-start and/or confirmation of what you have explored on your
own.
 Your grades and test scores are extremely important in helping you have as
many choices as possible is to what schools to consider. In many cases, a
strong academic resume can be the difference between you getting that valued
roster spot at a school, versus someone else getting it.
 Above all, we hope you will appreciate the unique position you and your son are
in for even having reached this point in their high school baseball career!
3
Lightning Philosophy
Vision
The vision of the Cypress Bay High School Baseball Program is to have the best
baseball program in South Florida.
Mission Statement
The Cypress Bay High School Baseball Program’s mission is to help the student athlete
build championship character through hard work, discipline, and respect, and a burning
desire to succeed at the highest levels of high school and beyond. It is also aimed to
instill in each player the mental and physical aspects of the game and to prepare them
to compete on a TEAM, where class and sportsmanship are first and
foremost. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on academic success and on having a
quality relationship with Cypress Bay High School faculty, staff, administration, and
fellow students. Finally, it is vitally important for our program give back to the community
through player volunteerism and support for the disadvantaged.
Standards & Guiding Principles
1. Maintain the highest grades possible with the minimum cumulative GPA acceptable
to play set at 2.3.
2. Strive to exemplify leadership qualities on and off the field regardless of your role on
the team.
3. Practice and play with a purpose, giving 100% to your effort towards the game when
you’re between the lines.
4. Demand accountability and responsibility as a foundation to do things the right way,
the first time.
5. Promote the positive qualities of your baseball program to your community at
large. Lead by example whenever you’re around others who look up to you.
6. Respect the game by respecting yourself first and, then, your parents, coaches,
umpires and teammates around you.
7. Conduct yourself as a true gentleman and ball player in your local community and
when you’re traveling outside of your community.
4
Starting the Process with Perspective
Let’s start by focusing your attention as a family on what you want out of the college
recruiting process.
There are over 1500 colleges and universities playing competitive baseball. They break
down by division (competitiveness level) as follows:
Division I
300 schools
Division 2
300 schools
Division 3
370 schools
NAIA
185 schools
Jr. Colleges
375 schools
With this wide a choice, competition all around you, and solicitations coming from every
angle to high school athletes, how do you get a grip on what is really important for you?
The information on the following pages should help.
5
10 Key Questions for High School Baseball Players and Their
Families to Consider When Screening for Colleges
1. What academic standards do you seek in a college?
2. What schools can you realistically get into based on your grades and test scores?
3. Do you prefer a big school, small school or in-between?
4. Are you prepared for the commitment level of D-1 baseball (if you qualify?)
5. Do you prefer a warm weather school, or is cold weather OK? How about really,
really cold weather?
6. Geographically – close to home, driving distance, a direct flight or connecting
flights?
7. Do you have any social or religious preferences in seeking a school?
8. What tradeoffs are you willing to make in order to achieve admission to your desired
school as a student-athlete?
9. Is club baseball at a big school an attractive option (primarily or as a backup plan?)
10. How much are you (mom and dad, that is) willing to spend
(money/time/stress/inconvenience) to pursue your college baseball dream?
How much does the average family spend on their son’s baseball career prior to them attending
college…travel team dues, tournament fees, spikes, uniforms, lessons, etc.? Well, according to
NCSA (National Collegiate Scouting Association--ncsasports.org) about $15,200!
6
Academics: Where It All Begins
"There are over 400,000 NCAA student-athletes, and most of us will go pro in something other than sports." –
NCAA Television Advertisement
(the following is an article entitled “How Aspiring College Baseball Prospects Can
Learn From Learning,” by Kevin Hussey of The Baseball Zone, posted January
15, 2015.
High school is obviously very important in terms of creating opportunities and giving yourself a chance to have
a good job in the future. The misconception of high school is that its purpose is for kids to learn information you
can use in your future. What kids really learn in high school is how to develop a work ethic while learning how to
take information and apply it. Essentially what you learn in high school is how to learn. School gives kids the
opportunity to constantly be challenged and deal with adversity. Every student has had difficulty either with a
subject or understanding a concept throughout their education. This adversity is relatable to many aspects of
life, including baseball. There has never been a college baseball player that went their whole career without
having to persevere through some type of difficulty. The path to success that young athletes and students endure
is similar in concept. Each year the difficulty and competitiveness increases, while getting closer to your goal. In
academics and athletes once you move on to the next level, the previous year becomes irrelevant .For both
students and athletes, the past can give you opportunity but the future will determine your success.
Why good grades are important for athletes - It is not just the obvious
The reason school is so important for aspiring college baseball prospects is not only because it can save you a
lot of money in academic scholarships but because school can determine your attitude for the rest of your life.
Whatever attitude you take in to your education will very likely turn out to be the attitude you take in to all your
future opportunities. If you go in to school with the attitude that you’re going to be the best student possible,
imagine the attitude you will bring into athletics. The young kids that slack off in school but work hard in baseball
will fall into the trap that most kids do, their attitudes towards both will merge into one. The reason for this is
because when kids are young they enjoy baseball because it’s fun, but when they get older it becomes something
you have to work hard at. The problem then becomes the athlete taught themselves through their years of
education that when you don’t want to do something you’re not willing to put the effort in.
Next time you hear a high school student ask why they have to do math when they will never use it again, explain
to them how even though the information may not be useful to them, the process will always be. School can be
very difficult for students and student athletes but how you respond to the difficulty will very likely be how you
respond to difficulties in the future, whether on or off the diamond
7
College Baseball “101”
If your student athlete has a GPA of 2.5, and combined SAT scores under 1000 he can
quickly rule out playing baseball at an Ivy League school or at one of the 100 top ranked
colleges academically. However, if your student athlete has a 4.0 GPA and combined
SAT scores greater than 1250, he may have the ability to play baseball at a highly ranked
academic institution. So, it is important to determine a student athletes academic and
athletic abilities when considering where to attend college.
There are several sources on the internet for finding the academic ranking of colleges
you are interested in…i.e., US News magazine ranks colleges by size, region, liberal
arts, etc. and Princeton Review ranks colleges.
One of our favorite internet sites is CustomCollegerankings.com. We like it because
when rating colleges it weighs heavily the enrolled students average ACT and SAT
scores, the 6 year graduation rate and the percentage of applicants actually
accepted…you can also sort and compare colleges based on several factors like size,
tuition, drug and alcohol offenses, etc.
Once you have decided on a list of schools your student athlete would like to attend
based on academics, then you need to match his baseball skills to those colleges and
universities…so let’s talk about the physical characteristics and stats needed to play
baseball at the different Division levels…DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and JUCO.
8
College Baseball Divisions - By the Numbers
The following info and stats came from information published by the NCSA-National
Collegiate Scouting Association.
Division I – By the Numbers
Usually, the typical Division I baseball player is considered ‘polished’ and seems to
already have all the tools necessary to be a successful athlete as a freshman in college.
As opposed to the Division II baseball player, the typical DI player needs far less
development, if any.
Division I position players need to possess at least 4 of the 5 measurable tools and
pitchers should display a command of at least 3 pitches with high velocities.
Normally DI Pitchers must have the ability to throw many innings, and most often they
are only used on the mound and rarely as position players.
Most DI players come from large high schools and many of these programs are
considered the best in their area or in the state. In addition, most DI players have been
awarded accolades such as All-District, All-County, or All-State during their high school
career. And have played on high profile travel/showcase teams during the summers.
Many DI colleges identify prospects as early as their freshman and sophomore years,
and many of these recruits verbally commit junior year. DI colleges mainly wrap up
recruiting by the early signing period senior year.
What are the physical characteristic and stats DI colleges are looking for?
Pitchers:





At least 1 strikeout per Inning Pitched
ERA below 2.0 or 2.50
Velocity: RHP as low at 87 MPH consistently and ranging to 95+ (Verified by a
neutral source)…LHP as low as 85-87 MPH
2 Additional pitches thrown consistently for strikes
Minimum height and weight: 6’1” and 180 lbs. for both RHP and LHP
9
Catchers:



Height: 5'10”to 6’1”
Weight: 200 lbs.
Pop Time: 1.95 and below consistently (Verified by a neutral source)
Middle Infielders: SS and 2nd base





Height: 5’11’ to 6'1”
Weight: 190 lbs.
60 Yard Dash: 6.8 or below (Verified by a neutral source)
Velocity from the INF (SS to 1st): 85+ MPH (Verified by a neutral source)
Home to 1st:
o Right-Handed Hitter: 4.2 or below
o Left-Handed Hitter: 4.1
Corner Infielders: 1st base and 3rd base



Height: 6’2”
Weight: 200 lbs.
Power Numbers: 8+ HR, 30+ RBI
Outfielders:





Height: 5’11” to 6'1"
Weight: 190 lbs.
60 Yard Dash: 6.6 or faster (Verified by a neutral source)
Velocity from the OF: 87+ MPH (Verified by a neutral source)
Home to 1st:
o Right-Handed Hitter: 4.1 or below
o Left-Handed Hitter: 4.0
Division II – By the Numbers
For some colleges, especially those in the southern states, like Florida, and out on the
west coast, DII Baseball programs are as competitive as DI programs up North. There
are very few differences between the typical west coast or Florida DII player and the
10
average DI player in other parts of the country. For the DII schools up north, the athletes
may be a notch below the average DI athlete and perhaps a little less polished. They
may not throw as hard, or play for the top high school programs, or possess at least 4 of
the 5 measurable tools. However, this is not always the case, as there are some very
solid DII baseball programs up north. However, it is no secret that overall, the better
baseball schools are those located in warmer climates.
DIV II student-athletes should be meeting the following physical characteristics and
stats by the summer before their senior year as many Division II programs recruit
student-athletes who may not have been picked up by Division one programs after the
early signing period.
Pitchers:





Average about 1K per inning pitched
ERA below 3.00
Velocity: 82 to 90 MPH consistently
1 Additional pitch thrown consistently for strikes
Minimum height and weight: RHP 6’0” and 175 lbs. LHP 5’10” and 165 lbs.
Catchers:



Height: 6'0’’
Weight: 180 lbs.
Pop Time: 2.0 or below
Middle Infielders:





Height: 6’0’’
Weight: 180 lbs.
60 Yard Dash: 6.9 or below
Velocity from the INF: Low 80’s from SS to first base
Home to 1st:
o Right-Handed Hitter: 4.3 or below
o Left-Handed Hitter: 4.2
Corner Infielders:



Height: 6’0”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Power Numbers: 4+ HR, 20+ RBI
11
Outfielders:

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


Height: 5'11’’
Weight: 180 lbs.
60 Yard Dash: 6.8 or below
Velocity from the OF: 82-86 MPH
Home to 1st:
o Right-Handed Hitter: 4.2 or below
o Left-Handed Hitter: 4.1
A fact to keep in mind about D2 baseball
Many junior college student-athletes transfer to the Division II programs creating even
fewer opportunities at the DII level.
Division III – By the Numbers
Some DIII programs are stronger than others, but there seems to be more continuity with
the physical characteristics of DIII players than there are for DII or NAIA. Certain DIII
programs, such as University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Emory University, Pacific
University, Southern Virginia University, Johns Hopkins and several others recruit
student-athletes who miss out on opportunities with the least selective DI programs.
Division III bound student-athletes should be meeting the following criteria by the
beginning of their senior year as that is when most division three programs start heavily
recruiting players.
Pitchers:





1 or less than 1 K per Inning Pitched
ERA below 4.00
Velocity: 77 to 82 MPH consistently
1 Additional pitch thrown for strikes consistently
Height and weight: 5’8” and 155 lbs. for both RHP and LHP
12
Catchers:



Height: 5’10”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Pop Time: 2.1 or below
Middle Infielders:





Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
60 Yard Dash: 7.1 or below
Velocity from the INF: Upper 77 to 80 MPH from SS to 1st base
Home to 1st:
o Right-Handed Hitter: 4.4 or below
o Left-Handed Hitter: 4.3
Corner Infielders:



Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Power Numbers: 2+ HR, 20+ RBI
Outfielders:





Height: 5’10”
Weight: 170 lbs.
60 Yard Dash: 7.0 or below
Velocity from the OF: 78+ MPH
Home to 1st:
o Right-Handed Hitter: 4.3 or below
o Left-Handed Hitter: 4.2
A fact to keep in mind about Division III
There are no Division III colleges that offer baseball in Florida and only eight in the
Southeast states of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The southeastern U.S. is
one of the most saturated areas for baseball talent and this means there is even more
competition for programs at the other division levels.
13
NAIA Discussion
The discrepancies in academic requirements and physical characteristics very
significantly when it comes to NAIA baseball. Most student athletes should be able to
compete at a Division II level to play at an NAIA college. The most selective NAIA
baseball programs are compared to a low DI level program. However, the least selective
NAIA colleges are competing at a low DIII level…so the athletic abilities required to get
a scholarship from an NAIA college vary significantly. And the academic requirements
for student athletes at NAIA schools vary significantly, so you may want to do a little
research to make sure that your student athlete’s academic abilities and athletic abilities
both, match the NAIA college he is considering attending.
Junior College Discussion
Just like the NAIA level, there are many discrepancies in physical characteristics
between the top level JUCO programs and the least selective programs. The most
selective junior colleges in the country recruit mid to upper level DI student-athletes.
Lower level JUCO programs recruit low level DIII players.
However, unlike the NAIA, junior colleges have 3 divisions (1,2 and3) for the purpose of
separating stronger JUCO programs from the weaker ones. While there may be
somewhat of a drop off in talent between Division III junior colleges and Division I and
Division II junior colleges, there is little difference between DI and DII junior colleges.
Many junior college players lack the ‘polish’ to be considered DI players coming out of
HS, but they already possess the necessary physical tools to be successful at DI or high
level DII schools. They just need to “fine tune” their skills.
Sometimes, the GPA’s of junior college athletes are lower than those attending four
year schools, so these athletes need two years to mature academically before
transferring to a DI or DII level program. And then there are those athletes who attend
junior college for a year or two in hopes of getting drafted in the major leagues.
In the Northern states many student athletes attend JUCO’s because they do not
possess the physical abilities to play baseball at a DI or DII college. However, in Florida
and other southeastern states, many JUCO baseball programs compete at a level equal
to DI and DII schools. So the physical characteristics and stats required to
14
play baseball at some Florida JUCO’s are the same as those required to play at a DI or
DII college.
For the High-GPA Athlete
Here is a general guideline for what the "Most Selective Colleges" look for in studentathletes academically:

Mainly AP and Honors Courses

All A's and B's on their Transcript

GPA above a 3.5 in the core classes

Top 10% class ranking with some wanting Top 5% ranking in your Class

At least (minimum scores) a 25 on the ACT or 1250 on the two-part SAT (1800
on the three part)

At least two subject tests with a score of 600 on each of them

Participation in Extracurricular Activities
15
Resources Available Through the Cypress Bay Baseball
Booster Club
Team website – www.cypressbaybaseball.org
Recruiting features:




Player page
Stats
Showcase links
Article links
Use your player page as a recruiting tool!
16
Lightning Players who Played Baseball in College
17
Getting Noticed…Without Getting Ripped Off
Showcases, Tournaments, Camps, etc.:
(NOTE: this section is still in development)







Showcases
Tournament teams
College camps
The “players” in the recruiting game
Perfect Game – experiences?
Other showcases – experiences?
How to get on a summer travel team?
18
How to tell if a College is really interested in you as a baseball player??
This article was extracted from an article printed on the American Baseball Players Association website…www.abpabaseball.com
The level of interest is usually gauged by the type of contact the college coach has with a recruit.
Obviously, the NCAA has strict rules in place regarding age of recruit and type of contact. The rank of interest
goes in this order:
Generic camp email (Anytime during high school): This email goes out to everyone in their distribution list.
This does not indicate whether a school is or is not interested in you, but rather just indicates you are in their
system.
Regular email correspondence (any time after start of Junior Year): This type of email correspondence is
personalized and is directed either directly at just the recipient or possibly at a small group of recipients on the
school’s “hot list.”
This type of email does indicate a level of interest, but is just the beginning of the process.
This email typically will go out to all the recruits on the college’s radar and will begin to be reduced as the
coaches see more of these players.
An “Unofficial Visit” offer (Anytime): An “Unofficial Visit” offer goes out to a more select group of people than
the regular mail correspondence.
If you receive this offer, it means the coaches have a genuine interest in you, and they may or may not want to
make you an offer.
A lot of it has to do with the age of the prospect at the time.
Unofficial visits do take up a lot of the coaching staff’s time, which is very valuable and they wouldn’t waste
their time on just any random player.
Phone Call (After July 1 following Junior Year): If you receive a phone call from a college coach, it means you
are on their short list.
It definitely doesn’t guarantee that they are going to be offering you a scholarship, but it does mean you are
important enough for them to make a phone call to you and they want to take the recruiting relationship to the
next level.
An “Official Visit” offer (after the start of your Senior Year): If you have received an offer to go on an “Official
Visit” to a college, this means they are very interested in you and more than likely will want to offer you a
scholarship or at the very least a “recruited walk-on” spot.
Colleges only have 25 “Official Visits” to give out each year, so they have to make the most out of each one.
Also, it costs a school a lot of money to bring a player in for an official visit because the school pays for the
player’s transportation, hotel, food, as well as gives the player’s host player money for food.
A Scholarship Offer: Obviously, this is when you actually know whether or not a school is interested in you.
All of the above levels of communication are educated guesses that the coach is interested in you, but once
the offer has been put on the table to seal the deal, you know the school wants you!
19
Simplifying the Confusing College Baseball Recruiting Process
Should I use an online recruiting service?
College coaches, receive DOZENS of emails every single day from recruiting services
(big and small recruiting services) telling them about their “All-Star” player.
Guess what happens to those emails? You guessed it…they usually get thrown in the
trash.
But you have been receiving communication from colleges since you signed up for the
recruiting service right? Was most of the communication camp invites?
Most D1 and DII coaches will take the contact information from the recruiting services
and/or purchase lists from sources like Perfect Game and Prospect Wire and add it to
their email database to invite you to their camp…that’s about as far as the relationship
goes between you and the college coach.
The very best players don’t use recruiting services because they don’t always
work.
I am not trying to sound harsh, but the fact of the matter is most every D1 player gets
their scholarship or roster spot from a source other than recruiting services. However,
some recruiting services may be helpful getting athletes into some Division III and a few
Division II colleges that are trying to complete a few spots on their rosters (after the
Division I colleges have selected the high school players they want)!!!
Remember these 3 principles of the recruiting process

You must be good enough (athletically and academically) to attend a college you
select

The coach must see you in person

The coach must have a need for you on his team
Here is what you need to do to find a school whether or not you pay a
“RECRUITING SERVICE”:
1. Get your physical tools to the point coaches will find you attractive
2. Create a list of schools at ALL LEVELS you are interested in
20
3. Play on a quality summer or fall travel/showcase team that has a history of
placing players at schools you want to attend
4. Create a short recruiting video that gets straight to the point and post it to
YouTube
5. Have your 3 measurable tools tested each season (60 time, arm strength, exit
velocity)
6. Have the student athlete (not parents) write personal emails to ALL of the
coaches at schools you have on your list telling them why you’re interested, your
measurable tools, where you are playing in the summer/fall and your GPA/Test
scores
7. Have your summer/fall high school coach contact the coaches at the colleges
you have interest in
8. Perform when the coaches show up to watch you
9. With schools that have shown interest (not just camp letters), attend their
camp (make sure your tools are close to that level)
10. Continue to contact coaches and build personal relationships with them
Other things you can do
1. Attend winter camps where there will be a LOT of schools in attendance
2. Ask for a coach’s honest feedback (ask what you need to do to play at his school
or at what level he feels you could play)
To summarize:
Having an Online Recruiting profile and having emails sent for you sounds GREAT. You
can tell when a coach looks at your profile. That is awesome. But understand, you can
do ALL of that on your own…for FREE! You do not have to pay a recruiting service.
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Coaches don’t spend their day crawling through recruiting websites looking at profiles.
They don’t want another mass email telling them about a “star” player.
There are TOO many players out there and the coaches have too many relationships
to do this.
What do coaches want?

Coaches want to hear directly from you.

They want to see your YouTube video to see if you have a chance to play for
them.

They want you to send them references of baseball people they can talk to about
you (your summer coach, high school coach, pro scout in the area, etc.).

They want to watch you play in the summer and/or fall.

Most importantly, if you are good enough to play for them, they want to build a
relationship with YOU.
Remember: You only have one shot at playing college baseball so start your
recruiting process early!
Note: Some of the information in this article was taken from an article written by a Division I college baseball
coach and published on the American Baseball Players Association website (www.abpabaseball.com)
22
Informational College Baseball Websites
NCAA.org This site explains the different college athletic divisions, enables a student
athlete to register for eligibility to play college sports and lays out all the academic
requirements/courses/test scores a high school athlete must take to be eligible to play
college sports. Student athletes wanting to play college baseball must register at
www.eligibilitycenter.org in order to play at a Division I or II college.
NCSA.org “Our mission at NCSA is empowering leaders through sports. We utilize
our cutting edge technology, a network of solid relationships, and a passionate team of
experts to help athleaders reach their full potential. We’ve helped more than 60,000
student-athletes reach the next level and receive more than $4 billion in scholarships,
aid and grants. NCSA is all about educating student- athletes about the recruiting
process. We host more than 2,000 recruiting seminars at camps, combines and high
schools every year. And 90 percent of our student- athletes have committed to play
college athletics in 25 different sports.”
Fieldlevel.com FieldLevel is NOT a baseball recruiting service. FieldLevel provides a
platform that allows college coaches and pro scouts to connect with one another to
exchange reliable, honest information about athletes to help with recruiting for
baseball. Because high school and travel coaches know their athletes best, college
baseball recruiting coaches and pro scouts trust information coming directly from them,
not a third party often paid to embellish.
Berecruited.com Offering college connections to 31 collegiate sports ranging from
football to lacrosse to volleyball, beRecruited is the nation’s largest online college
athletics recruiting platform serving more than 1.25 million registered users. By
registering for a free basic profile, student athletes can create a digital resume
featuring their athletic and academic stats, videos and photos and connect with over
23,000 college coaches. Student athletes may also purchase premium products to
market themselves to coaches.
Collegebaseballcamps.com Here you'll find college-based baseball camps,
showcases and training from all across the USA. Each camp is hosted directly by the
coaches and staff at each of the participating schools. CBC has the most complete
selection of College hosted baseball camps anywhere in the world, Elite College
Baseball Clinics, High School Baseball Showcases, College Prospect Camps &
College Showcases nationwide.
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