What College Recruiters Actually Look For — and What Your Player Should Be Doing This Fall

Every year we get the same question once the summer season winds down: what should a high school player be working on in the fall?

Plenty of our players have just finished playing all summer, some into September, and still have showcase events on the calendar for October. Showcases have their place in the recruiting process. But if a player is not ready to compete at 100%, attending one is a waste of time and money.

Here is why.

Recruiters are not looking at your batting average

This is the part families are most often surprised by. High school players who want to play at the collegiate level need to understand that recruiters do not focus heavily on batting average or ERA.

What they look at is measurable:

• Exit velocity — how hard the ball comes off the bat
• Pitching velocity — how hard you throw
• 60-yard dash time — how fast you run

Those three numbers travel. A batting average does not, because a recruiter has no idea what level of pitching produced it.

So consider what a showcase actually costs. Spending $400 to attend one when a junior throws 83 MPH is a waste of time, unless the goal is simply to gain experience. The same is true on the hitting side: a player who tops out at 88 MPH exit velocity sits around the 50th percentile. Division I recruiters are generally looking for hitters at 95+ MPH, and the bar steps down from there at D2, D3, NAIA and the junior college level — but the metric itself is the same everywhere. It is the number that gets measured.

None of that means a player at those numbers is behind. It means the fall and winter are for closing the gap, not for paying to display it.

What pitchers should be doing in the fall and winter

We recently received the summary below from Jim Wagner at ThrowZone Academy in Valencia, California. Tim’s son went through Jim’s arm program years ago, and we still read his newsletters. Jim has worked with a lot of collegiate and Major League pitchers, and his framework matches what we teach here. Shared with credit.

For most high school pitchers, this time of year is about building a foundation for the season ahead. The exact plan depends on where a player is in his throwing cycle, how much he threw over the summer, and when he is expected to compete again. But generally it comes down to six things:

1. Build strength. Develop the lower body, trunk and upper body so the pitcher has the physical foundation to handle the demands of pitching.
2. Improve movement. Mobility, balance, coordination and the ability to move efficiently. A pitcher who moves better has more tools available to improve his delivery.
3. Develop the throwing program. Build volume and intensity progressively, rather than jumping from limited throwing straight into maximum-effort bullpens or showcase appearances.
4. Prioritize arm care. Consistent routines that support recovery, shoulder and elbow function, and the ability to tolerate throwing.
5. Clean up the mechanics. Use the offseason to identify what needs attention and adjust gradually. It is far easier to work on movement patterns when every session is not about producing maximum velocity.
6. Have a plan. Every pitcher should know what he is working toward, why he is doing it, and how his training fits the bigger picture of the season ahead.

The goal is to enter the season stronger, healthier, better prepared and ready to compete.

Why the offseason is the only time this happens

Think about how much work goes into a high school baseball season. Practices, bullpens, games, travel, and the ordinary demands of being a student. There is very little room to make up for poor preparation once the season starts.

That is why the fall and winter matter so much.

We agree with Jim completely. If a player wants to throw harder, hit harder and run faster, he has to commit to strength, agility and arm care work. There is no shortcut.

Tim’s own experience is the clearest version of this we can offer. In high school he topped out at 84 MPH at 165 pounds. At Central Michigan University they put him on a strength program; he gained 25 pounds and reached 89 MPH, back when 89 was considered top velocity. Things have changed since then, but the mechanism has not. Flawless mechanics create consistency and command, strength supports those mechanics, and flexibility maximizes separation between the lower and upper half.

It is also worth being honest about volume. College players throw six days a week in the fall. Three days of high school workouts through the fall and winter is simply not enough to build elite arm strength.

What this looks like at 503

We are here to help families and players maximize their potential, but players have to understand the work and commitment involved in reaching the next level.

If you want to know where your player actually stands, the numbers are the place to start — and they are measurable in an afternoon. Our Exit Velocity Hitting Training Program is built around exactly the metric recruiters ask for, and our strength and conditioning training is the other half of the same answer. For pitchers, our pitching program covers the mechanics and arm care side.

Have a great fall. As always, reach out with any questions.

Tim Driscoll
503 Baseball and Softball Academy