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College Players Speak Up To Help High School Prospects

January 7, 2016

Charlie Karstedt
Assistant Director, New York

Throughout the recruiting process for current high school players our staff receives a lot of questions and concerns from both parents and players alike. Though the showcase, travel, and high school baseball process is a very exciting time in a young ball players life, it can also be a very confusing time. We decided to sit down with some players who are currently at the level that many young players are striving to reach. We simply phrased the following question and left the answers up to the players. Follow along through the year as we’ll catch up with many other current college guys to hear what they have to say as well. Here's the question.

PBR: What advice or feedback do you have for current high school players in the travel and showcase baseball process? Is there anything you wish you had known, or would have done differently?

College Players Speak Up


Coming up through the travel and showcase baseball process has been the most exciting and influential aspects of my life. Now that I am at Mercyhurst University, I have realized the opportunities the great game of baseball has given to me, whether it be the lifelong friendships I have made, the places I was able to travel, or the life lessons I have learned through the years. The first piece of advice I have, keep your grades up. The first thing most college coaches (if not all) ask you is, "How are your grades?" or "What are your SAT scores?" Colleges want players they can trust to stay eligible and won't have to harp on to study or do their work. If you stay focused in the classroom and do your work, it will make you a better baseball player as you learn discipline and responsibility. Finally the biggest piece of advice I can give you, have fun. At the end of the day baseball is just a game, and I know to most of you just like myself, it's your whole life and more than just a game, but the day you stop having fun playing is when you should just hang up the cleats. Enjoy the places you travel and the friendships you make because of baseball. These experiences are something you cannot replace. Love the game.

Matt Schneider
Inf/C at Current No. 3 Ranked Division 2 Mercyhurst University


Invest in yourself. Take the time and effort to understand the mechanics of everything you do, especially in regards to your swing. You need to understand your swing better than anyone else. Knowing your strengths, weaknesses, and mechanical process inside and out will allow you to sift through everything that your coaches tell you and apply it to yourself in the best way possible.

Ben Haefner
INF University at Buffalo


One thing I’d tell all high school players looking to play at the next level in college, is to trust the process and always look for opportunities to get better. You’ve been working hard all your life and at some point it will pay off. Whether it’s at a school you’ve always wanted to go to or it’s a school that you’ve never even heard of before, if you never stop working hard and stay focused you will find a place to play at in the future.

Anonymous
Division 1 RHP

 

You can get to any level you want to if you have the mindset and drive.  Hard work beats talent and you only get to whatever level you want with the amount of work you put in.  Once you have schools interested it is important to go to the school that wants you the most and also the one that you will get an opportunity to play.

Dominic Cecere
SS at No. 3 Division 2 Mercyhurst University

 

My advice would definitely be to take initiative and make a recruiting video to send out to college coaches for exposure. Also, my advice would be to work hard every single day. Players now should focus in my opinion, on baseball specific weight training. Training your body for baseball is much different than training your body for football or any other sport. I would also tell high school players to be a student of the game, meaning studying other professional players to see what they do that makes them successful. One thing I wish I had done in high school was studying other players like Miguel Cabrera or Dustin Pedroia. I believe that if I had done that, I would of had more knowledge about the mechanical aspects of baseball which I could of applied to my game.

Brendan Heywood
RHP SUNY Brockport

 

Current high school baseball players should definitely take advantage of the exposure they can generate by promoting themselves on websites like PBR. When I was coming through high school, websites like this weren’t around to get your name out to schools. In terms of getting better, I would tell high school players to focus on getting better each and everyday, whether it be in the weight room or in the cage. There is no way to get back lost time when it comes to developing yourself.

Justin LaRosa
INF SUNY Brockport

 

A lot of kids coming up through travel ball think colleges will come to them, that is not the case anymore. The game is changing. As a recruit you have to promote yourself and put yourself out there. Recruits have to contact schools to let them know they are interested in that school. If I had the chance to go through the process again I would have promoted myself more and put myself out there for more schools to see me.

Joe Milkowski
Niagara County Community College

 

What I would say to young players trying to take their game to the next level is focus on the basics of the game, from hitting, pitching to fielding. Knowing the proper mechanics and knowing what the difference between an average ball player and a great ball player.The difference from an average ball player to a great ball player is as simple as one little mechanical change that could take your game to the next level. One thing I wish I knew was to invest in yourself. Training and lifting are a huge part of your game. Kids at the next level are stronger and faster. With that being said, you must invest in yourself and put the work in so you can compete with those next level guys and become a next level guy. Trust the process

Charlie Sobieraski
University at Buffalo RHP/3B

 

What I would say to the players trying to advance to the collegiate level is focus on the proper mechanics, whether it is hitting or pitching. A lot of focus in the past years has gone away from working on the fundamentals of the game. These are very important and are what help you advance your game play to the next level. Proper mechanics are what distinguish the average ball player, to the next level player. Another big aspect that I wish I would’ve known is how important training and lifting is and making sure that you are doing it properly. Being bigger, faster and stronger has always been a priority of the game. Going to the next level baseball will be your life and everything will revolve around it. Make sure that you are taking time to invest yourself in this game. If this is something that you truly love go at with your best effort and focus. This game has made me the person I am today. From forming some of the best groups of friends I have ever had. Baseball will teach you lessons that will translate into real life situations.

Blair Lakso
University Of Buffalo RHP

 

All the hard work and effort you put in will pay off. The harder you work when no one is watching will separate you from the others.  Respect the game because once it’s all over you will look back and regret not doing your best.  Travel and showcase baseball was a great experience for me.  It took me to places I would’ve never gone and played against great competition.  College coaches will be there watching you and how you react in different situations.  Stay at one level, don’t get too high or too low.  Make sure don’t slack off in school, that is the first thing a coach interested in you will ask.  Love the game and give it your all.

Josh Martin
OF SUNY Brockport

 

For current high school players I would say to truly trust the process when looking at potential schools. If you do not have the offer you want, choose the the JUCO route and develop for those 2 years and find the school that you want. Coaches at the Division 1 and Division 2 level love JUCO guys because they have been battle tested in games and they have a taste of college baseball. If I could go through the process again I would have focused on my athleticism and strength a lot more. To be an elite college athlete, going to practice is not enough, it's what you do after practice or before practice whether it is taking extra reps or hitting the weight room. Playing a college sport is a privilege so truly embrace it.

Brett Helmbrecht
Niagara County Community College

 

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