What’s in a Letter? – Part 2

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Before getting started this week, check out last week’s blog to see my approach to recruiting players when I was at the University of Maryland. Let’s talk more about the recruiting process and what it really means to receive a letter from a college coach vs. being actively recruited.

Receiving information from coaches means you’re on their list, you could be a prospect, a camper, or maybe they’re not sure right now so they sent you information anyway? Receiving mail from colleges and coaches is a good thing, but you need to keep it all in perspective. This is the beginning of the process, which is good, but it’s just a start. It doesn’t mean you’re a legitimate prospect let a lone a priority player for them yet. There’s a big difference between getting a newsletter and having a coach call once a week. Don’t get caught up in the fact that you’re hearing from 50-60 schools. You should be concentrating on:

• Who’s calling
• Who’s inviting you to visit
• Who’s seen you play in person
• Who’s making commitments and offers

Like most processes, there is a law of averages involved with college recruiting. Great recruiters keep as many top-notch prospective student-athletes interested in their school until they have set in stone the six to ten players that they are bringing in. I have sent out thousands of letters over the years to players that I never called and signed many players who I sent very little information to because of the timing of the process.

On the flip side, it is the player’s job to keep as many coaches interested in him as possible. The most important first step you can take in the process is to recognize QUALITY over QUANTITY. You should FOCUS on the schools that have the most interest in you. Don’t get caught up in chasing schools down just to receive a letter or camp invite from them. Take charge of the college search process on your end!

Food for thought: It is possible to be able to play at certain schools or levels, but not be recruited by these programs. Why? Well, there are many reasons for this including: out of state, no need for your position, not fitting the coaches’ philosophy, lack foot speed and/or size that they’re looking for, etc.

Here is the CliffsNotes version of the recruiting process from the coach’s perspective, so consider this very carefully:

• Initial letters/camp information sent by coach to large list of players
• Information about the school, baseball program sent to shorter list.
• July 1^st after Junior Year – coach begins making calls to serious prospects
• Unofficial visits
• Official visits
• Offer scholarships to top prospects
• Sign players in November (few players) or April – August (most players)

Stay focused and realistic, and gain as much guidance as possible, and you will succeed in your college search.

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.

A Guaranteed Way to Get Better

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

I don’t have a secret formula for getting faster or throwing harder or hitting with more power. I’m also not going to generically tell you to work harder and subsequently get better. What I am going to do is to offer one piece of advice that I guarantee, if followed, will lead to better results.

What is this great advice?
Keep your eye on the ball.

I know – you heard this in tee ball. It’s elementary. It’s below you as a player. But is it really? Do you properly track each pitch as a hitter? Do you follow ground balls and fly balls into your glove every time?

What I really mean by “keep your eye on the ball” is to improve your head and eye discipline as it relates to all parts of the game. If you consciously work to watch the ball longer at the plate; you will have more success as a hitter. If you work to track the ball all the way to the glove; you will be a better defensive player. If you, as a pitcher, lock your head and eyes on the target earlier and keep them there longer, you will throw more strikes. If catchers will lock their eyes on their target at second base earlier and infielders will lock on the first baseman earlier after fielding ground balls; their throws will be consistently more accurate.

I don’t have proof of the old saying, “your head is the heaviest part of your body,” but I do know that where your head goes…your body follows. When a hitter “pulls” his head, his front shoulder and hips follow the head and open early. The result is a poor mechanical swing that rarely results in a hit. When a right handed pitcher’s head leans to the first base side, his shoulders and hips also open early. This usually results in a bad pitch, strain on the arm or both.

It may be simple, but watching the ball longer at the plate and in the field and seeing the target longer when pitching or making a throw will immediately make you a better player. I guarantee it!


Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt currently serves as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.