Players With Work Allergies Need Not Apply…
We’ve waited all winter for it—Welcome back, baseball! Our northern boys are smiling (despite some numb fingers from of our so-called ‘spring’ weather), and all you guys in the south and west…you lucky dogs….send some of that heat this way!
Hopefully, your player kept in shape in the off-season. If not, strongly suggest he does so next time around. You’ve probably heard by now, tryouts and practices for college baseball players are not for the work-ethic challenged. "Kyle" and friends from the DII and DIII levels report the process is demanding. While every school is different, here is what they’ve experienced:
Tryouts—Tryouts start a week or two into the fall semester. Cuts can take place at any point, with the final roster posted sometime during December or January. About 60 players tried out for the DII team, while roughly 50 players sought the DIII spots. The final rosters for both carried 30-35 players: 13-15 pitchers and 17-20 position players. The names of the players that make the team are posted. The names of those cut simply are missing from the list. Your son could get some feedback from the coach if he questions why he’s been cut; but typically, the player needs to seek out the coach for comments. It would be unusual for the coach to initiate the conversation.
Try-outs resembled a showcase. Coaches evaluated players based on Running—the baseball ‘60’; Hitting; and Arm Strength. Arm strength drills varied with position. For example, outfielders threw to home; infielders took ground balls and threw across the diamond; pitchers threw bullpen; and catchers were measured by pop time.
Practice – Again, coaches have their own approaches. Practice at the DII school was shorter and more intense, and could have been called, “Kill Me Now”. For one hour, five days a week, players would run for 30-45 minutes. Doesn’t sound bad? The running portion would take different forms: sprints; long distance, defined by two or so miles. Does your son run up those stadium steps when he heads to a game? Maybe suggest he try it say, for 20 minutes or so...up and down; first leading with his right foot, then his left, then alternating. When he’s done, have him run half a mile (c’mon you slackers, of course it’s timed…), then have him do some abs work…20-30 minutes of sit-ups, planks or supermans. It should come as no surprise that some players got physically sick on the field. “Kyle”, I said, “You must’ve looked okay—you’re always at the gym.” “You would think”, he replied, “but so is everyone else.” That’s right. All these kids want it as badly as your son does. It’s an eye opener to see the abundance of talent and their crushing work ethic. For these boys, though, it’s more of a challenge, and only partly a punishment. They love what they do and appreciate what it takes to be a part of the program. This routine took place for about a month, before it was replaced by scrimmages.
Players at the DIII school practiced five-to-six days a week for roughly three hours a day. Practice involved fielding balls, as well as hitting. There were several hitting groups, with players checking the lists each day to see which group they were in. Fielding drills depended on the position. Infielders took ground balls and did ‘bare-hand’ work. Outfielders worked on pop-ups. When it rained or practice got cancelled, players headed to the gym. There, they worked specifically on their rotator cuffs, strengthened their core, and conditioned their legs. While routines may be altered when injuries occur, players continue their regimen, resting only the part(s) of their bodies that need to heal.
The pressure is still on when practice is over—the pressure to get to the cafeteria before closing time, that is. Players scarf down a quick dinner, head back to their rooms and settle in to study. After squeezing in some sleep, they go to class and on many days, get on a bus for a game that is several hours away. Some of them play, and some of them root on their teammates. Then the team heads back to their own campus, and these boys do it all over again the next day…and the next…and the next…
As a parent, I’m exhausted just thinking about the schedule. More than that, I’m proud of the dedication and ability shown by my son and his teammates, inspired by their passion, and humbled by their selflessness. Their accomplishments transcend any game or season—the attributes they embody will carry them far in life.
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.
Labels: gym, hard work, julie thompson, off-season, practice, tryouts, work ethic





