I have some questions regarding baseball recruiting. So first and foremost, my questions are related in a way to softball. I am curious in comparing women's college softball recruiting vs. college baseball recruiting.
I am curious to those in the know as to when the recruiting process typically starts for the average D1 baseball player. I am incredibly informed about the football recruiting process and understand that dynamic and that realm. However, I am interested in finding out details about baseball, especially how it compares to softball.
I realize that when the recruiting process starts largely depends on numerous factors. There are some kids who receive verbal offers as middle schoolers and some kids who don't land a D- 1 package until his senior year.( although I'm sure rare).
Anyways, it seems that softball recruiting is the most aggressive of any sport out there ( men or women). Now, I may be wrong but it certainly seems that way. I wonder if its similar at all in baseball. For example, you constantly see in softball that the 5 star blue chip type players are offered scholarships as early as 8th grade and in some cases 7th. Now, this happens in EVERY sport but seems to happen much more in softball. To add to that, I would say that 55-65 percent of girls who play D1 softball on scholarship receive at least 1 D1 offer before their sophomore season in HS. I would bet that something like 85-90% of girls who receive D1 offers get offered before their junior year in HS.
Most girls who accept scholarships to D1 programs decide and commit to a school before their junior year in HS even starts. Its kinda crazy. The major programs like Oklahoma, Alabama, UCLA etc....... have verbals from girls when they are freshmen in HS and like earlier stated sometimes in middle school.
States like California and Texas just ooze D1 talent in all sports and softball is no different. However, even in NM girls receive offers VERY VERY early sometimes. Example: BreOnna Castaneda is the starting SS from Rio Rancho and she has been committed to Utah since what I believe has been end of last year( her sophomore year). Rio Rancho has a girl who is a Sophomore and she already has something like 4 or 5 D1 offers and will likely have a handful more by mid summer. That's IF, she doesn't commit before then.
So anyways, I know offers go out early in all sports sometimes. I remember Kyle Piersol committed to UNM before his sophomore year in HS and that was the earliest commit I think UNM had ever had from a recruit ever. I knowthat in baseball there are some kids who get super early offers, but again I think the recruiting process in softball is SUPER accelerated. Its kinda crazy. It seems that the average D1 softball commit, happens when girls are sophomores in HS.
Is baseball this accelerated? I think I know a few of the reasons softball is like that and more accelerated compared to baseball. Here are my thoughts:
1) Girls mature must faster then boys physically. So its slightly easier to project a girl physically sooner then it is with a boy.
2) The possibility of boys getting drafted probably plays a key role in it as well.
What are everyones thoughts? Especially you ABA guys and HS coaches.
My daughter is 11 years old and her dream is to play college softball. I don't know whether that is a realistic goal or not but I will support her and help her try to achieve that dream. Assuming it doesn't change. lol. Anyways, she is incredibly driven and loves the game, but it just seems a little crazy to me that IF she is fortunate enough to be a D1 player that she probably will have to decide before she is even 16 years old. Hopefully she is fortunate enough to do that and live her dream and if nothing else live her dream and play at some level. But again, I think its a little crazy.
Also, how normal is it for boys to play up age wise? How far did Bregmen and guys like that play up age wise? What about D! guys but maybe not quite the Bregmens of the world? How far did they play up. Its not unusual for girls who are talented and committed ( BOTH) to play up A LOT age wise. Seems less common in boys. Maybe that's just because ABA does that on purpose?????
Thank you all in advance for your thoughts and opinions/input.
