Most high school players think college coaches are primarily evaluating talent. Talent matters, of course, but by the time coaches are considering recruiting a player at a serious level, they are also evaluating factors that have nothing to do with athletic skill. Essentially, they are asking themselves “Is this a player I can trust in my program?”

Ask yourself this: “Can a college coach trust the kind of player I am?”

This idea of “trust” is often what separates many similarly talented players from each other. When you hear a college coach talking about trusting a prospect, it is probably not a surprise that he is talking about things like situational awareness, focus, attention to detail, and consistency. But beyond those, there are some very specific traits coaches are often looking for. Here’s my list of 12 traits coaches value in prospective players:

1. Competitiveness Without Emotion

Coaches want players who care deeply about winning — but who can remain composed while doing that. A player who strikes out and throws his helmet is showing the opposite of what coaches want. So is the player who celebrates every routine success. The ideal player plays hard every pitch, hates losing, controls emotions and — regardless of what happens — Immediately moves to the next play. College coaches usually describe this as being “even-keeled.”

2. Anticipation

Good players react; great players anticipate. Examples of this could be middle infielders thinking about the next play before the pitch, or outfielders understanding game situation with each hitter before contact, or baserunners knowing where they are going before the ball is hit. Remember — the game speeds up dramatically in college. Pre-play awareness and anticipation is one of the biggest separators among high school prospects.

3. Self-Management

College coaches don’t want to babysit players. It seems overly simple, but a lot of little things done right can lead to big results. To a college coach, those important “little things” could mean:

• Be on time

• Be consistent in pregame prep

• Have equipment ready

• Know schedules

• Handle academics

• Practice effectively

• Take ownership of development

• Be a good teammate

• Be a good person

As someone who has owned and directed a select baseball program for a long time, I’ve had hundreds, maybe thousands, of conversations with college coaches. They frequently ask more questions about a player’s personal traits than their physical traits. They can watch you play or practice for a few moments and have a good idea of the kind of player you are. What they really want to know is what kind of person you are.

4. Coachability

This is a term that is frequently misunderstood. Coachability simply means this: are you a player who can accept instruction, apply instruction, and make adjustments? Those latter two points are critical; a player who hears the same correction for two years but can’t apply it is not coachable, regardless of attitude.

5. Resilience

Baseball is a game rooted in failure. Even elite hitters fail most of the time. In high school, you can fail 7 out of 10 times and be all-district. You can fail 6 out of 10 times and be all state. Failure is part of the game. Coaches know you are going to fail; what they want to know is how you will respond to predictable failure. Specifically, your:

• Response to strikeouts

• Response to errors

• Response to bad umpire calls

• Response to reduced playing time

• Response to losing games you don’t anticipate losing

Bottom line, the ability to recover quickly from disappointment or failure is a major recruiting factor.

6. Consistency of Effort

Consistency is a trait coaches value. Anyone can play hard when things are going well, but coaches want to know iwhat you are like when things aren’t going well. Do you pout? Do you lash out at teammates? Do you throw equipment? Do you punch the dugout wall? When coaches fill out a recruiting evaluation of players, a very common question coaches will try to answer is simply this: “Does the player compete?” How coaches ask the question might vary, but they are trying to determine consistency of effort. Does he give the same effort when winning or losing? Does he give the same effort effort in practice and games? Does he give the same effort consistently?

7. Awareness of Others

This is not something players tend to think about, but it is something coaches ask about. I have been asked this type of question many times about players in our program. Specific questions typically ask about player demeanor and behavior in their interaction with teammates, treatment of umpires, treatment of parents, treatment of younger players, dugout behavior. The answer to questions like these are important because they are recruiting a future member of their culture, not just a baseball player, and coaches want to protect their culture.

8. Baseball IQ

Can the player:

• Understand game situations?

• Recognize defensive alignments?

• Understand count leverage?

• Understand the flow of the game?

• Understand, at any moment, what he or teammates should be doing or focusing on?

• Manage risks appropriately?

A physically gifted player with poor baseball IQ often struggles to earn trust.

9. Attention to the Small Things

This may be the most underrated trait.

Examples:

• Running on and off the field

• Backing up bases

• Proper cutoffs

• Knowing signs

• Dugout organization

• Equipment management

Most recruiting decisions are made between players with similar talent levels. Small details often become tie-breakers.

THREE FINAL, IMPORTANT POINTS

These last three points are important because they reveal habits, which speak to repeatable behavior, which leads to predictability — which is what coaches hope for. Coaches understand that game performance can fluctuate, but they also know that habits are usually stable. In many cases, habits can be a better predictor of future success than current statistics.

Here are those final three points:

10. A Professional Approach to Practice

Coaches want players with a strong practice mindset. They want a player who:

• Arrives with a “I will get better today” mindset

• Treats every rep as meaningful

• Competes during drills

• Seeks feedback

• Makes adjustments in real time

Conversely, a weak practice mindset is usually characterized by a player who is simply going through the motions, or socializing between reps about anything other than baseball. Or, it can be a player waiting for coaches to motivate effort or, worse, practicing only their strengths. What the coach really wants to know is: “Will this player continue developing when nobody is standing over him?”

11. Intentional Pre-Game Preparation (most high school players don’t understand this)

Here’s a fact — Elite players do not simply show up and start playing. They prepare themselves physically and mentally. This means arriving early, having your equipment ready, and completing a consistent warm-up routine. Most importantly, in means establishing a mental plan for the game — what will you try to improve on from last game? What will you try to accomplish in this game? Many (maybe most) high school players spend pre-game time talking, scrolling on their phones, or watching others. Better players use that time to prepare physically AND mentally. The question coaches are asking is: “Does this player have a process, or is he just hoping to play well today?”

12. Pitch-to-Pitch Focus

This may be the most visible sign of maturity on the field. The best players rarely drift mentally. Pitch-to-pitch focus means:

• Understanding the game situation before every pitch

• Anticipating likely outcomes

• Knowing responsibilities if the ball is hit

• Quickly resetting after each play

• Remaining engaged even when the ball is not hit to you

Every pitch, every play focus is important because most mistakes in baseball are not physical mistakes. They are attention mistakes.

Missing a cutoff assignment is an attention mistake, so is forgetting the number of outs. Failing to advance on a ball in the dirt is an attention mistake, just like losing track of baserunners. Being surprised by a bunt situation is an attention mistake, as is not tracking pitch tendencies early in the count. Remember, college coaches love players who appear mentally involved in every pitch, whether they touch the ball or not. The question coaches are asking is: “Can this player maintain concentration for three hours, or only when the spotlight is on him?”

HOW TO BECOME A PLAYER COACHES TRUST

After reading this list, some players will focus on the wrong thing. They will treat these twelve traits as a checklist they can turn on when a college coach is watching.

That isn’t how recruiting works.

The reality is that college coaches are not looking for players who occasionally demonstrate these traits. They are looking for players who live them every day. They are looking for habits.

Think about it this way. If a college coach called your high school coach, your summer coach, a teacher, and a teammate separately and asked, “Tell me about this player,” would all four people describe you the same way?

Would they say you are prepared?

Would they say you compete?

Would they say you are coachable?

Would they say you are focused?

Would they say you are dependable?

THAT is what coaches are really trying to determine. Not whether you can hit a fastball. Not whether you can run a 6.8 sixty. Not whether you throw 89 instead of 85.

They are trying to determine whether they can trust you.

The players who eventually play college baseball are not always the most talented players on the field. In many cases, they are the players coaches never have to worry about. They show up prepared. They do the little things right. They handle adversity. They improve over time. They make the people around them better.

If you want a challenge, don’t ask yourself whether you have enough talent to play college baseball. Ask yourself a different question. Ask yourself this:

“If a college coach watched me for an entire weekend, would he trust me more on Sunday than he did on Friday?”

If the answer is yes, you’re probably on the right path.

The scenario happens every day. A player sends an email to a college coach. Maybe he includes a video link, a schedule, some grades, and a short note saying he is interested in the program. Then nothing happens. No call. No text. No reply. No invitation.

The the player and the family begin to wonder:

Did the coach see it?
Maybe he thinks I’m not good enou…

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One of the most common questions families ask about recruiting is “Should the player or the parent be communicating with college coaches?”

The answer is straightforward — The player must be the one communicating. Not occasionally, not when it’s convenient, and not only after a parent drafts something first. If a coach is going to evaluate a player as a p…

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Every year, high school players send hundreds of first emails to college coaches.

Most of them never get read. Some get skimmed. A small number get replies. And an even smaller number are remembered or acted upon by the coaches. The difference often lies in how that first email is constructed.

A first email to a college coach has one job only: Start a co…

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Most families think recruiting slows down in the winter. It’s an easy mistake to make: High school seasons aren’t underway yet. Showcases feel quiet. There are fewer tweets, fewer rankings, and fewer headlines. Everything seems to slow down. Parents and players think “Nothing is really happening right now.”

After four decades in baseball and watching hun…

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For years, families believed there was a “normal” recruiting path. For the most part, the plan was simply: Play well → get seen → get recruited.

That path still exists, but the landscape around it has changed — but many recruiting plans haven’t. If your plan is built on outdated assumptions, it may be working against you, regardless of your level of tal…

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After 40+ years of coaching baseball — and helping hundreds of players move on to college programs at every level along the way — I can tell you this: getting noticed by college coaches is not about luck, politics, or hoping someone happens to see you at the right moment.

It’s about understanding the college baseball recruiting process and taking the right steps, at the right time, in the right way.

Most families struggle not because their player lacks talent, but because they don’t understand the recruiting process, and because they lack a plan to get recruited.

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Why Most Players Get Stuck

Most families fall into the same traps:

• Doing too little, too late.
  They wait until late in their senior year to reach out to schools. And when they do, they don’t have a clear reason why each school is on their list.

• Scattering their efforts.
  They bounce from showcase to showcase, email random coaches, and hope something “clicks.”

• Relying on recruiting myths and misconceptions.
  “If I’m good enough, they’ll find me.”
  “My high school stats speak for themselves.”
  “A big tournament will get me recruited.”

  “I’ve been invited to lots of camps, so I am being recruited.”

These aren’t strategies. They’re wishful thinking.

Before You Begin: A Reality Check on Level Fit

One of the biggest mistakes I see is players chasing the wrong level.

Not everyone is a fit for a Power 5 D1 program — and that’s perfectly fine.
There is excellent baseball at D2, D3, NAIA, and junior colleges.

The real question is: Where can you play, enjoy the experience, and graduate with a degree that will carry you through your career after baseball?

Ask yourself:

• How do I compare to players currently on the roster?

• Could I reasonably compete for a spot at that school?

• Am I choosing the school for the right reasons:

  • The right level and fit athletically?

  • The right school academically?

  • The right choice — distance, expense, etc. — for your family?

  • The right environment — school size, culture, etc. — for you personally?

Getting clear on fit on all of these issues prevents wasted time, money, and frustration. But keep in mind that the fit must be right athletically or none of the other options will matter.

Once you understand that one critical variable — fit — you can move on to your actual plan.

Quick Self-Evaluation: Are You Recruitable Right Now?

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Almost every year I see talented, hard-working players whose college baseball dreams get derailed by one destructive mindset — “I am only going to pursue Division I opportunities” or — worse — “I am only going to speak with Division I programs.”

It happens for a lot of reasons — players and parents get hung up on Division I because it feels like the ulti…

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So you’re headed to a showcase … now what?

Every summer, thousands of high school players spend hundreds of dollars (or more) to attend showcase events. They hope to get seen, stand out, and maybe even get an offer. But here’s the truth — Most players leave a showcase wit…

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Why the transfer portal matters more than you realize,

If you’re a high school baseball player — or the parent of one — the biggest factor shaping your recruiting odds right now might not be your batting average, your velocity, or your GPA.

It’s the transfer portal.

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I often get questions from players and parents about whether or not they need a baseball resume. What exactly IS a baseball resume? Do I need one? What should it contain?

The short answer is that a well-crafted baseball resume can increase your visibility as a prospective recruit AND serve as a great introduction to college coaches. Here’s the catch — i…

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Every college coach I know will tell you the same thing — they get a LOT of recruiting videos every year, and most of them are not worth watching. They are either too long (the most common mistake), poorly shot, or they fail to capture the key skills and athleticism coaches actually want to see.

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A typical approach

When I ask high school players about their college baseball list of target schools, they often give me one of two answers:

• “I’ll go anywhere I can play.”

• “I’m focused on D1 schools.”

The first answer simply means you do…

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Yes, grades matter.

You can have the fastest bat speed in the country, but if your grades don’t measure up, your recruiting journey can hit a dead end.

Every year, talented high school baseball players lose recruiting opportunities — not because they lack talent, but because they ignore the academic side of recruiting. If you want the widest range of opti…

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Let’s start with a fact.

College coaches don’t just evaluate players; they also evaluate parents. They watch how you behave in the stands, how you communicate, and — importantly — whether you let your player lead their own recruiting process. That’s because if there’s one parent mistake that stands out as a deal-breaker for many coaches, it is the paren…

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If you are a high school or even a middle school baseball player, you’ve probably received countless emails and other information from recruiting services promising “exposure,” access, and even college offers. And while some families find them helpful and can benefit, most players probably don’t need one if they are simply willing to be proactive.

In the…

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Some families view showcases as a golden ticket, thinking showcases are all they need to see their son realize his dream of playing college baseball. In reality, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Here are nine things about showcases that will help you and your recruiting:

1. Showcases Are Evaluations, Not Tryouts. Nobody is offering scholarships at …

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While it’s true that many college programs lock in the bulk of their recruiting classes by the end of a player's junior year, there are still plenty of opportunities for unsigned seniors. You just have to understand what’s still available and how to approach it.

The first step is to make sure you understand the Recruiting Cycle. It’s common for D1 programs to make =offers early. In fact, some top-level Division I schools have verbal commitments lined up long before a player's junior year ends. But many D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO programs continue recruiting well into the spring and even summer of senior year. These schools often have different timelines, and they may be waiting to see how their rosters shape up after transfers or draft signings.

If you’re still uncommitted as a senior, shift your focus to the right level. The key is to focus on schools that are still looking. That likely means:

• Division II programs filling final spots

• NAIA schools with rolling admissions

• Division III schools with strong academic packages

• Junior colleges (JUCOs) looking to develop players for the next level

All of these paths can lead to meaningful playing time, development, and even transfer opportunities later.

Make sure these schools fit your academic and personality needs.
You’ll spend more time being a student than playing baseball in college, so it is important that you find a school that is a good academic fit in terms of your intended major or field of studay. The school also needs to be a place where you will be confortable while being away at school — the size of the school, the type of community around it, weather, and distance from hope are just a few considerations to keep in mind.

Weekly activity (if not daily)
There are some specific things you can do as an unsigned senior:

• Be proactive with email. Email coaches with an updated skills video, transcripts, test scores, and your spring schedule. Be concise and respectful. Mention why you’re interested in their program and what you can offer. At this stage, a generic mass email won’t cut it—you need to be thoughtful and specific.

• Don’t skip summer baseball after you graduate. Whether you are signed or unsigned, skipping summer baseball can be a big mistake:

  • If you are UNSIGNED — There will always be coaches searching for unsigned seniors. They also feel the pressure of having empty roster spots at this late date, so they will pay extra attention to unsigned players.

  • if you are SIGNED — I’ve seen players take the summer off after committing, thinking they are just going to “rest up” before heading off to school. This is usually a huge mistake. After taking the summer off, they then walk into a locker room at school filled with 22-year-old men who are stronger, in better shape, and have spent the summer honing their skills against college competition. It’s been said that the first impression is the lasting impression, and this is not the impression you want to leave.

• Highlight Current Performance. For seniors, current performance matters more than ever. Coaches want to see how you’re playing right now. If you’re having a great spring, post highlights on Twitter or YouTube and send those clips directly to coaches. Let them know you’re still improving and competing at a high level.

• Consider a Gap Year or Postgrad Option. If the right opportunity doesn’t materialize, consider a postgrad year or attending a junior college. These routes give players a chance to continue developing, compete right away, and re-enter the recruiting pool with more experience and maturity. Many successful D1 and professional players took this route.

• Stay Positive and Realistic. It’s easy to feel discouraged when classmates are committing and you’re still searching. But remember—everyone’s path is different. There are dozens of college rosters built every year with late signees and overlooked players who kept working and stayed focused.

Final Thought. Is it too late? No. But time is tight, and the margin for error is smaller. If you’re a senior who still wants to play at the next level, focus your energy on schools that are still actively recruiting, get your materials in order, and keep improving every day. Late bloomers and determined players find homes every year—it just takes effort, clarity, and persistence.

Thanks for reading Baseball Recruiting Insider!
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