Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Andy Ferguson: Another Day, Another Double Play

It makes perfect sense, at least to me, for every aspiring college baseball player to get out and actually watch college baseball games. Simple, I know, but I don’t think many young players see much more than what comes on television.

I get it though, who wouldn’t want to play at Texas or LSU or any of the other perennial College World Series teams? It is very important to realize, however, that these teams represent a very small and very elite slice of college baseball. Most people that lace it up after high school WILL NOT play at this level, and trust me on this one – if they are interested in you, you’ll know.

The rest of us need to do our research, both on schools and baseball programs. It just so happens that North Carolina is a great college baseball state. With about an hour of digging on the Internet, I came up with a menu of college baseball games within about a two hour drive from my Raleigh area home. I wish I would have done this when I was in high school, it certainly would have been an eye opener for me.

If you live in Central or Eastern NC, then feel free to pick a game or two from my list below. If not, get online and start looking for college baseball games in your area. Make sure to try and hit all levels from Division I to Junior College. Not only will you get to see the different levels of play (DI isn’t always the best), but you will also be able to see the different campus settings and college towns. The only way to know what is right for you is to get out and take a look.

North Carolina College Preview: Friday 2/19 – Sunday 2/20

Division III

North Carolina Wesleyan University
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Emory University (GA, D3) @ 3pm
- Sunday 2/21 vs. SUNY Cortland (NY, D3) @ 11am
- Sunday 2/21 vs. Emory University (GA, D3) @ 3pm

Methodist College
- Friday 2/19 vs. Farmingdale State College (NY, D3) @ 4pm
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Huntingdon College (AL, D3) @ 1pm
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Frostburg State University (MD, D3) @ 4pm
- Sunday 2/21 vs. Roanoke College (VA, D3) @ 4pm

Guilford College
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Neumann College (PA, D3) @ 12 pm (DH)
- Sunday 2/21 vs. Case Western Reserve University (OH, D3) @ 12pm (DH)

Greensboro College
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Stevenson University (MD, D3) @ 3pm (DH)
- Sunday 2/21 vs. Neumann College (PA, D3) @ 3pm

Division II

Barton College
- vs. Shippensburg University (PA, D2): DH Sat & Sun @ 12pm

Mount Olive College
- vs. Anderson College (SC, D2): Sat DH @ 12pm, Sun 12pm

UNC Pembroke
- vs. Bloomfield College (NJ, D2): Sat DH @ 1pm, Sun 1pm

Division I

North Carolina State University
- vs. La Salle University (PA): Fri @ 3pm, Sat @ 2pm, Sun @ 1pm

University of North Carolina
- vs. George Washington University (DC): Fri @ 3pm, Sat @ 2pm, Sun @ 1pm

East Carolina University
- vs. University of Virginia: Fri @ 3pm, Sat @ 2pm, Sun @ 1pm

Elon University
- Friday 2/19 vs. Towson University (MD) @ 1pm
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Ohio University @ 12pm
- Sunday 2/21 vs. North Carolina A&T @ 4pm

Wake Forest University
- Friday 2/19 vs. Army @ 4pm
- Saturday 2/20 vs. University of Dayton (OH) @ 12pm
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Army @ 4pm
- Sunday 2/21 vs. University of Dayton (OH) @ 1pm

High Point University
- Friday 2/19 vs. UNC-Charlotte @ 4pm

UNC-Greensboro
- vs. Cleveland State University (OH): Fri @ 4pm, Sat & Sun @ 1pm

Campbell University
- vs. UNC-Asheville: Fri @ 4pm, Sat DH @ 1pm

North Carolina A&T (@ Elon University Tournament)
- Friday 2/19 vs. Ohio University @ 4:30pm
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Elon University @ 4pm
- Sunday 2/21 vs. Towson University (MD) @ 4pm

North Carolina Central University
- Friday 2/19 vs. Iona College (NY) @ 1pm
- Saturday 2/20 vs. Delaware State University @ 4pm
- Sunday 2/21 vs. Navy @ 3pm

Junior College

Louisburg College
- Sunday vs. Wilkes CC: 1:00pm DH

Wake Tech Community College
- @ Pitt Community College: Sat & Sun DH @ 1pm


Andy Ferguson is currently the Senior Director of Baseball Operations with the Baseball Factory. Ferguson joined the North Carolina State baseball team as a walk-on, and went on to solidify his role on a team that participated in four consecutive NCAA Regionals. He later coached with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and then served as an Associate Scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres.

Control...Are you in or out of control?

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Controlling your surroundings, relationships, and even your children is a tough challenge for all parents. Even with my little ones, I hear all the time, “I want to do it myself daddy,” when I overstep my bounds and try to do small things for my girls. As they get older and I want to insert myself into their college or job search, I am sure it will be even more of a challenge to strike the necessary balance.

What I am starting to learn is that every day, and every situation is an opportunity to empower my children to handle themselves with self esteem and pride, versus stepping in and doing everything for them. In the end, it may make it easier for me to just handle it, but what am I teaching them in the long run?

Parents of young men that are going through the college search process have a great opportunity to help educate, guide, and empower their children to make good decisions. Don’t do all the research yourself. Resist the temptation to write his cover letters and resumes for him. Ask your son good questions. Get his mind thinking. Try as hard as you can to get him to speak about what he is interested in. Help him understand how courses of study in college translate into real jobs. Educate him on the power of networking and how attending college gives you a network and resources you can tap into for a lifetime. My partner at Baseball Factory is Steve Sclafani, my former teammate at the University of Pennsylvania. I probably continue to tap into my large Penn network at least once a week. It is a powerful tool.

Keep encouraging your child even when he is struggling to find the answers to his future. Hold back on your urge to control the situation for him and help him to seek out what is in his heart and his dreams. Take him to college campuses, watch college baseball games with him on ESPNU or CSTV, go on the Internet with him to research classroom sizes and academic disciplines. Encourage him to follow his intuition and give him the space to explore different options. Balance out what you think is best versus what truly makes him happy. That trust will go a long way towards his self confidence.

When you start to get the urge to take over and control his future, step back and ask yourself these questions, “Who am I satisfying here? Who’s best interest am I serving? Is this more about me then my child?” If your ego is in control, check it at the door and allow your child to stand on his own. It is one of the best gifts you can give as a parent.


Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Recruiting Trends in College Sports Pt. 2

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Last week I began my blog with an article from ESPN as a prompt to talk about the two signing periods. I’d like to take this entry to touch on the issues and consequences of getting younger and younger commitments. While I haven’t heard of any 14-year-olds committing to play college baseball, I have seen and heard of many high school juniors committing. In order to keep up with their colleagues and facing increased pressure to succeed on the field, many coaches are having their hands forced and are trying to get commitments earlier and earlier. After all, if they don’t do it, someone else will!

Many players that commit early have never visited the school, let alone stayed overnight on campus! To commit during the junior year, for most players, is to make a dangerous assumption that, in the end, this school is the best choice, fit and opportunity out there. What happens if a player commits early, and then a better opportunity comes along? What happens if the player gets injured or has a bad year on the field or in the classroom?

Coaches, too, face a lot of unnecessary risk by getting commitments from younger players. What happens if their grades take a dive? Players with incomplete transcripts haven’t shown that they can handle a college workload, let along guarantee that they’ll be able to get into the school! What happens if a better player comes along prior to the November signing period?

The earlier the commitment, the bigger the gamble both sides are taking. Leaving so many variables on the table inherently requires significant perseverance, and it can be a lot to ask for from a 16 or 17-year-old. And unfortunately in the baseball world, talking to coaches at other schools after a commitment is a major faux pas. Not only will it get around very quickly and is never well-perceived, but it can have professional ramifications if you decide to continue your career in coaching or professional baseball!

So, what do you take away from this? Bottom line, there is no such thing as too much information. One of my earlier entries focused on “getting it right the first time,” which, as the name implies, focused on all the different criteria that prospective student-athletes must consider in order to ensure a successful college career on and off the field. The Exclusive Program Staff coaches players to treat the entire junior year as a time to research schools, so that when you take advantage of the available visits, both unofficial and official, you will have enough information to make the best decision possible.

As a wrap-up, here are some advantages of both signing periods:

Early/November:
• Injuries or bad senior season won’t have any affect
• More scholarship money available (athletic and academic)
• More favorable admissions
• Process is complete – you get to enjoy the rest of your senior year!

Traditional/April:
• Applications are non-binding
• Schools may have new needs
• More time to develop – get bigger, stronger faster!
• More time to research and visit schools


Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

The Power of Video

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

The video component of recruiting has come a long way in the last 20 years. Football coaches were way ahead their time with the use of film and video when it came to recruiting, scouting, and teaching of the game. Historically, college football coaches would request video of their prospective recruits from their high school coaches to assess the players overall athletic ability and skill. The player’s ability level and, subsequently, the coaches’ interest would determine the next steps in the process. Today, video footage is an absolute must for sports like baseball, and it has become a serious disadvantage to ignore this component!

Somewhere in the country on a daily basis, there is baseball being played. Even with the advancement of modern technology and communications today, players are still being overlooked because of coaching staff limitations, time and budgets. Smaller D-III schools notwithstanding, even the larger schools do not have the resources to attend every camp, showcase or tournament in the country. This is where video can start to fill the gap!

I can still remember getting several mail crates of VHS tapes daily at the University of Maryland and having stacks of VHS tapes all over the office. I would review what I could in the office, but found myself having to take them home and on the road trips just to keep up! Regrettably, because of volume and inconvenience, I’m sure there were a lot we never got to. Fortunately, today it is much easier now and a lot more convenient with online video available. There is nothing better for a coach than having the opportunity to recruit and evaluate players on the computer at his desk!

The purpose of having a video is not necessarily to get an offer from a college coach. However, using video to promote yourself to coaches can definitely make a difference and vault you onto his staff’s radar. Just as with football coaches, baseball coaches can use video to assess and determine the next steps to take with a prospect. “Does he have the ability to play at this level?” “Should we contact him, his coach and/or scouts in area? “Do we need to see him play in person, and if so, when?” Writing a letter or an e-mail to a coach is a step in the right direction, but without having the opportunity to evaluate your ability and skills on the field, there is not much else working in your favor. Providing video increases the chance that someone on the coaching staff will respond favorably.

So, what is the most effective way to deliver video footage? Personally, I’m a big fan of presenting footage prior to an unofficial visit, or as follow-up to that visit. Having an idea of what the coach thinks of you as a player prior to your visit can save you a trip or help you prioritize your visits to certain schools. I’ve even seen players bring up their video during the visit, so that they can get in-person feedback from the coach they are meeting with! Regardless of the situation, you should include a proper cover letter addressed to the coach. You need to introduce yourself, why you’re interested in the program and make reference to the video provided. Don’t expect a coach to watch your video without a proper introduction!

Please remember that this isn’t an audition tape- coaches need to use this for evaluation first and foremost. Anything above a display of your athleticism and baseball skills can lead to unwanted distraction of a coach’s attention and can be a turnoff. Leave the duty of first impressions to in-person visits to campus. The following should be avoided in athletic footage:
• Music
• Interviews
• Play-by-play from Mom and Dad!
• Any other unwanted noise(s).

It’s no longer considered far-sighted to have video available for review; rather, it’s now essential. Baseball plays more games than any other intercollegiate sport, players train every day while on campus, and the coaches are on the road recruiting when they’re not playing or training. Many times, you have to go above and beyond to reach these coaches throughout the year, whether they are on the field, in their office or on the road. However, more coaches are beginning to make full use of the technology today. Remember, there is no “dead period” in the recruiting process if you have a video, so take full advantage while you can!

Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

What Worked/What Didn’t

Julie Thompson – A Baseball Factory Parent’s Perspective

Introduction

Our son, Kyle, joined Baseball Factory’s Exclusive Program three years ago, when he was a junior in high school. We were beginning the college search and Kyle wanted to look at schools outside of the area, particularly ones in the south. Playing baseball at a competitive level was extremely important to him. Realizing a lot of other northern players were thinking the same thing – and suspecting an equal number of southern players weren’t anxious to swap places with boys from the north – we happily accepted Baseball Factory’s invitation to join the Exclusive Program. I’m here to share some of the experiences we had, hoping they might put your search further up the learning curve.

What Worked/What Didn’t

People sometimes roll their eyes when I tell them we actually enjoyed the college search process. Applications, stress…what’s not to love? Admittedly, a few parts of the hunt aged all of us. For the most part, though, it was an opportunity for our son to build a plan balancing both dreams and reality for the next chapter of his life. The plan was complicated by Kyle’s desire to head south. A life-long resident of the north, Kyle sought to trade cold, numb fingers and snow on early spring fields, for warm sunny skies and a long baseball season. We laid out our plan, taking counsel from Baseball Factory – and caught the first plane out of Dodge to get exposure to southern schools.

What We Did Right

(1) We pretty much followed Baseball Factory’s plan. Kyle’s resume and introductory letter helped us focus on who he was and what he’d done, both in academics and baseball. Having those documents also gave coaches a good starting point for conversations – Kyle then could elaborate on his background.

(2) We stayed organized. We put together an alphabetized notebook with tabs separating each school that showed interest. We highlighted the name of each coach, and kept notes of each conversation, so we could find information easily.

(3) Kyle followed Baseball Factory’s workout suggestions. His Personal Recruiting Director provided him with a pretty rigorous strength and conditioning regimen, as well as a set of drills that he worked on without any prodding from us. It was a lot of work. He started out in pretty solid shape, but improved even more – and it told us a lot about his discipline and determination.

(4) Kyle did most of the talking during our school visits. Okay, that one wasn’t easy for me…. Coaches really do want to talk to your son, though, and (sadly!) not us parents. We watched our ‘man of few words’ become downright well-spoken and engaging. You may be surprised at how relaxed, conversant, and intelligent your son turns out to be when he’s talking about his favorite topics!

(5) We chose a school that fit in ways other than baseball. Baseball may be the love of your son’s life – but there may be times when college baseball gets frustrating. He’ll weather those times better if he enjoys other aspects of the school’s college life, and is not there “just for baseball.”

What We Could Have Done Better

(1) If possible, meet with as many members of the coaching staff as you can – that includes the JV coach, if your son is going to be on a school’s JV team. The head coach is not the only person your son will interact with as he participates in the program, and you and your son will see how he fits with other members of the staff.

(2) Do a fairly thorough exploration of several schools that fit your criteria. Kyle’s first choice came through fairly early senior year, so we cut a couple of other situations short. Anything can happen – changes in the program, changes in the coaching staff that can impact how your son fits in the program as the year progresses. In retrospect, if it hadn’t worked out, we would have had limited our future options.

My parting thought – Communicate your goals and thoughts to your representatives at Baseball Factory. Trust them. They know what they’re talking about, and care about what you think and want. Together, you can make your son’s college baseball experience a happy and successful one.

What’s working and what’s not on your search?



Julie Thompson is a parent of a former Baseball Factory Exclusive Program player. She has volunteered to share her opinions, observations and general thoughts regarding the college recruiting and player development process. She will share what worked and what didn’t for her son, in the hope that other parents and players may benefit from her experience.

10 College Recruiting Mistakes to Avoid

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

I know we’ve spent a lot of time talking about things players can do to help themselves in the college recruiting process. One thing I haven’t spent a lot of time on is the many different ways players can hurt themselves in the process. Unfortunately, these common “pitfalls” will always leave a player with fewer opportunities to play college baseball. As we go through and discuss these restrictive attitudes and actions (or lack thereof), I’d like you to find ways to integrate our advice into your own college search routine. I guarantee that you will find yourself with more opportunities to choose from by the time you make your decision!

#1) Dedicating More Time to Your On-Field Activities than to Your Schoolwork

The first question that every coach asks our recruiting staff at Baseball Factory is, “What are his grades?” If a player doesn’t have good enough grades, there is no reason for the coach to begin recruiting him. Therefore, it is important that you spend as much time possible studying and improving your grades as you do improving your game. Showing a coach that you are not an academic liability will give you more options you will have at the college level.

In addition, the NCAA has recently announced a rule change that will require players to maintain their eligibility through the entire year. In the past, players were only required to be academically eligible in the fall in order to compete in the spring. Starting in 2008, players will need to be eligible during both semesters in order to be allowed to play on their team. Adding this to the APR (Academic Progress Rate) makes it that much harder for coaches to risk recruiting a player who may struggle academically and lose eligibility. So, if grades weren’t already incredible important to you, they have to be now. Study hard!

#2) Limiting Your Search to Only Division-I Schools

This is a problem that we come across every day with players and parents. There is a mentality out there amongst high school baseball players and many parents, which we call DI-itis, that if you aren’t going to be able to play baseball at a Division I program, you shouldn’t play at all. Getting stuck in that mindset will limit the options you have at the next level.

The truth is that there are many Division-II and Division-III programs across the nation that can compete with Division I programs. There are over 1,600 college baseball programs and less than 300 of them are Division I. More importantly, you have to find the best fit for you. Limiting your options to the Division-I level will make the job that much harder! Keep the goal of playing college baseball at the forefront, not playing Division-I college baseball.

#3) Expecting College Coaches to Come See You Play

College baseball is not a revenue-generating sport like college football and basketball. As such, college coaches have very limited recruiting budgets, not to mention hectic schedules trying to manage their teams while recruiting for the future. While it is smart to send college coaches your spring, summer and fall baseball schedule, don’t expect them to come see you play.

Many players expect coaches to see them in one of their high school games and begin recruiting them because of that performance. The truth of recruiting is that a coach normally won’t attend a game unless they already have interest in a player that is performing. There is also the chance that the day a coach does show up at one of your games, you aren’t playing or have a poor performance. You need to take additional steps to make yourself stand out above the other 200 players that coach is recruiting.

Write the coach a letter, e-mail him or call him to set up a meeting at his school to ask questions about his program. Get a professionally edited video tape made for the coach to review. Take the initiative yourself and you will open many more doors. The more interest you can generate by being proactive, the more likely it is that a coach will see you play at some point.

Check back next week when I continue to discuss more common mistakes in the college recruiting process.

Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

The Truth About the NCAA Clearinghouse

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

One of the more frequent questions our staff gets throughout the recruiting/college search process is the NCAA Clearinghouse. I’d like to take some time to explain what the Clearinghouse is, how it operates and what you need to do to make sure that you’re on track to accomplish what you want to at the next level, both academically and athletically.

The NCAA Clearinghouse, now known as the NCAA Eligibility Center, regulates, maintains and processes all eligibility certifications. In plain English, the Clearinghouse makes sure that all prospective student athletes at the D-I or D-II level are academically eligible for intercollegiate sports and are certified as amateurs. For more information on academic eligibility requirements, check out the NCAA Freshman-Eligibility Standards Quick Reference Sheet. Assessing a player’s “amateurism” simply means checking for professional contracts, prize money or placement on professional rosters. Your amateur status will determine your eligibility for scholarships, team practice and intercollegiate play. For more information on amateurism, please see the NCAA’s Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete.

Players that register with the Clearinghouse will fall into one of three categories: 1) qualifier, 2) partial qualifier and 3) non-qualifier. A qualifier is eligible for scholarship money, team practices and games. A partial qualifier is eligible for athletic aid and team practice, but cannot play in intercollegiate games for one year. A non-qualifier cannot practice or play games in his first year. One important distinction to make is that being academically eligible for intercollegiate play is NOT the same thing as being admitted into the school. It is possible to be eligible and not offered admission to a particular school, and vice-versa!

When I was coaching at Jacksonville University and Maryland in my early years, each individual university’s Admissions Office had to determine eligibility for their incoming student-athletes. When the Clearinghouse first came about, there were a lot of concerns of how it was going to work, and what benefit it would have for student-athletes, athletic departments and academic standards. More so, would it more trouble than it was worth? After seeing both ways, I can honestly say that, after some bugs had been worked out of the system, it has definitely made a tremendous difference for admissions and college coaches. The effect on academic standards is pretty obvious, but even for coaches, the ability of the Clearinghouse to provide accurate and updated information regarding a prospect’s academic record is a major help in the recruiting process.

For players, registering with the Clearinghouse during the junior year may prove to be a useful compass when deciding which level of athletics to pursue from an academic standpoint. For example, if a prospect has a 2.0 GPA and historically does not test well, it may be worthwhile to look into community college. As I have stressed in my previous blog entries, finding the right fit academically is very important for your overall happiness and success in college. If you’re struggling with academics now, playing sports at the D-I or D-II level may not be the best formula for success on the field or the classroom right now.

So, what does all this mean? College coaches can no longer afford to waste time with “borderline” players. There are too few spots for many prospective student-athletes out there that are comparable on the field. The players that get the job done in the classroom are the ones that will get the last spot on the team, not because they’re a better player, but because they are less likely to be a liability down the road. It’s important to remember that coaches aren’t just looking for the best players; they’re looking for the best players that are going to represent their school, community and program in a positive way. Position yourself to be an asset, not a liability, for a coach and a baseball program!

College: Training for Success On and Off the Field

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

As I mentioned in my previous post, anybody who plays the game has dreamed of making it to the Major Leagues. It’s the ultimate goal to have as a baseball player, and I applaud anyone that shows the desire to make this dream a reality. However, I’m a firm believer in the role college plays in a young man’s development, both on and off the field. There are many reasons to continue your athletic pursuits in college, not only to have that guarantee for success after professional baseball, but to give yourself a chance to enjoy the game, learn and develop as a player.

Eventually, we are all told that we are not big enough, fast enough or strong enough anymore. For someone playing professional baseball, having a degree can act like a mental “safety net.” Instead of worrying about each game as “make-or-break,” you will be able to concentrate on your development knowing that you have insurance should your playing days end sooner rather than later. And the longer you wait, the harder it is to make it back to college. The professional season at the minor league level is accompanied by long bus rides, cheap hotels and living paycheck-to-paycheck. During the offseason, taking time for school has to compete with working part-time jobs and conditioning. Even this is before raising a family enters the picture!

From the development side, you’re going to be a better player if you enter the draft out of college. Each year, the draft features many players that were either drafted very late out of high school, such as Florida State’s Buster Posey (#5 Overall in 2008 out of college, 50^th Round in 2005 out of high school), or not at all, like Missouri’s Aaron Crow (#9 Overall in 2008 out of college). In 2006, former Exclusive Player Chris Perez was selected in the 1^st Round out of Miami after not being drafted out of high school. He’s now pitching in the major leagues!

Players that enter pro ball right out of high school are not nearly as developed as college players, and thus face a steeper learning curve. When they were in high school, draft-worthy players were able to rely on their athletic tools to get by hitters or pitchers. In the pro ranks, they face much tougher competition than they did in high school, and can no longer rely on these tools to be successful. By facing college competition, you will learn how to use your natural ability to its fullest potential and will be a more complete player.

Finally, one way or another, most players have to deal with being away from home for the first time and the reality of being in complete control of their lives. How will you deal with a slump or an injury? Can you learn to manage a schedule that balances your personal life with outside conditioning, personal upkeep and your professional endeavors? Not only will you have to learn to manage a schedule, but you will have the added responsibility of managing your own money and dealing with the consequences of your personal decisions. At least in college, you will have more opportunities to learn from the same mistakes you would make in the real world!

Having to choose between college and professional baseball means that you’ve got the natural ability to be a successful player wherever you go! However, I can’t stress enough the difference going to college will make for any baseball player. You will be more prepared for the pressures of professional competition both as a complete player and as a complete person. Remember, there is a difference between dreams, promises and FACTS.


Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

What’s in a Letter? - Part 1

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

It was and still is amazing to me to hear players and parents talk about who’s recruiting who. In reality the only people with any authority on the subject are the college coaches themselves.

A while back, a Nevada football player made big news when it was announced that he had lied about being recruited by several Division I football programs. Now, while this story is more about lying than anything else, it reminded me of how important it is for players to understand what it means to be recruited by a school. I can remember players, parents and HS coaches asking me about certain players that I was supposedly recruiting, and I didn’t even know who they were, let alone have any thoughts on their athletic ability.

Too many times, players believe that they are being recruited for baseball because they’ve received a letter, questionnaire, camp or general information in the mail from a coach or college. Unfortunately, this is the biggest misconception in the college search process. There are many steps before a school actively recruits a player and many more steps before there is an official offer on the table. What players need to understand as they begin the process is that there is a big difference between receiving a mailer (being on a mailing list) and having a coach call once a week.

Just to give you an insider’s perspective, when I was a coach at the University of Maryland, I would initially send out 1,000 to 1,500 letters to players across the county. Just by looking at the questionnaires I received back, about half of the initial kids could get into the school, or roughly 700. From there, the objective was to learn as much as I could about these players and begin to eliminate players by seeing and talking to them at camps, showcases and other events. By the time I got past these stages, the list of players was down to 350. The other factor was to access and evaluate my returning players given my position specific needs; now the list was cut by more than half to 150.

From this group of student-athletes came phones calls to prospects, calls to cross-check evaluations, and additional evaluations through scouting trips, campus visit invites, both official and unofficial. These players represented my priorities, and even they were split into a depth chart of prospects: A, B and C. Obviously, my focus was going to be on the A-List, but players move between groups throughout the process given their athletic and academic performance along with our face to face and phone conversations. In the perfect world, by November, I would have received commitments from my top players (six to eight) and have them sign their Letter of Intent during the Early Signing Period.

So, we’ve gone from 1500 hundred players to the average recruiting class of six to eight. What do you take away from this? Think about it, and then check in next week to get my thoughts.

Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.