College coaches miss the best baseball players all the time.

It's a surprising fact, but it's absolutely true. Baseball is one of the most difficult sports to recruit for. Hitters go into slumps, pitchers have bad days.

Not to mention the difficulties involved in differentiating between the kids with raw talent and the kids who can actually play. It's surprising how often the kid who can barely throw 80 MPH is actually a better pitcher than the kid who throws 90. But coaches have a hard time seeing this. College baseball recruiting is therefore very tough.

And, baseball coaches at the Division I level are afforded relatively few baseball scholarships (and, for that matter, relatively few softball scholarships). Only 11.7!

Here are some ways to get around the problems in the college baseball recruiting process:

• Attend multiple recruiting events: Very few baseball players play well at every single camp. You need to give yourself multiple chances to shine. The summer before your senior year is incredibly important. Plan your events, tell coaches where you'll be, and then play your best.


• Send a video to coaches: You can't always ensure that you'll play well when a coach sees you in person. However, you can be sure that you look good on film. Sending videos to coaches is perhaps the most important part of college baseball recruitment.


• Be honest about your skills: If you throw 83 MPH, don't tell coaches that you throw 86. Players exaggerate their skill set so frequently that coaches are pleasantly surprised when a player is honest. You seem more confident and comfortable with your abilities.


• Don't be afraid to talk to coaches: Let's say the unthinkable happens, and you play horribly at a recruiting event. Don't just let coaches think ill of you; tell them you're better than what they saw. If the coach has seen a video of you, you can often persuade him to give you a second chance.

College baseball recruiting can be frustrating and nerve-racking. Baseball is a fickle sport; in a way, that's what makes it so great. At the same time, this makes baseball recruiting very difficult, for players and coaches alike. By following these steps, you can make college baseball recruiting easier for all parties involved.