Coaches Roundtable: Trent Kline University of Central

January 6, 2016

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

All college programs have different ways to evaluate talent and come to their final decision on who to recruit and when they recruit them. I have sat down with Coach Trent Kline from The University of Central Arkansas to discuss how his program works through the recruiting process.

PBR: What are some of the biggest factors for you to recruit a student-athlete?

Coach Kline: The biggest factors that we look for in a student athlete have to deal with the character they possess. Their ability to handle failure and adversity and keep moving forward is a big part of this game. It is going to be a key indicator of how they will progress as a player and as a man throughout their time with us. Their understanding of what success looks like (their focus on the process and not results) and work ethic is what wins out over time. We talk a lot about failing forward at Central Arkansas.

PBR: What are some of the reasons you would not recruit a student athlete?

Coach Kline: Selfishness is a big reason we would walk away from a student athlete. We pride ourselves on selflessness throughout every phase of our program, so to take a kid that only cares about his batting average, ERA, etc. wouldn't be a good fit for us. Also, if there is not a substantial level of energy and enthusiasm there about the game, and also about life, we will usually walk away. We like guys that bring a positive energy to the field every day and make those around them better.

PBR: What is the one skill a position player must have for you to recruit them and why?

Coach Kline: We like guys that don't swing and miss. Power is great to have from time to time, but when you play in a big ballpark like ours, you need to get kids that have a really good understanding of what a good "offensive player" looks like. Their ability to drive up pitch counts, draw walks, hit behind runners. Kids that are advanced in their offensive approach and understand what it takes to help their team win day in and day out are guys we look for. If you had to narrow our recruiting philosophy down to one thing that we look for, it would be consistency.

PBR: What do you value more from a pitcher, pitch-ability or power and why?

Coach Kline: Strike one is the best pitch in baseball. I played with a lot of guys in pro ball that could get it up there velo-wise (mid to upper 90's) but aren't in the game anymore because they couldn't throw strikes. If you can sink it, cut it, change speeds and change eye level on hitters, you'll win a lot of games (no matter what level). Getting ahead of hitters puts constant pressure on the other team. We value a guy on the mound that isn't afraid of contact early in the game/count and trusts our defense to make plays and keep his pitch count low so he can work deeper into games and save our bullpen. Our defensive philosophy is based on trust so we need a guy out there on the mound that our defense trusts to throw strikes and allow them to make plays behind them.

PBR: What advice do you have for student athletes that have a desire to play college baseball?

Coach Kline: Coach Gum reminds our guys all the time about the five most important words in our program, "Surround yourself with good people." Whether you have aspirations of playing high school, college ball, or in the big leagues, surround yourself with guys with the same mindset and goals. That goes for off the field as well. People that hold you accountable are people that help you grow. I need it daily, we all need it. Positive accountability drives us toward the men we were all created to be. "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."- Proverbs 27:17

Coaches Roundtable: Trent Kline University of Central

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