07/28/2024
NCAA Baseball “opportunity” in the face of Contraction facts:
Draft shrunk from 50 rounds to 40 rounds to 20 rounds. Not to mention the elimination of basically an entire level and a half of the minor leagues and the NDFA “OP’s” that held thise spots every year.
That’s 600 fewer players drafted / signed each year.
Roster spots are going down 6 spots per school. Thats another 1800 spots that just vanished.
Add the 1800 spots that vanished to the 600 draft spots that went bye bye and that’s 2400 more players that are likely better than you that are now fighting for your spot. Thats 24% of all the spots available if all 300 DI schools carried a full 34 (and many won’t) Thats a full class of recruits. 24%.
And we aren’t even addressing the Covid bloat.
Bottom line - opportunities are down and if you aren’t outworking the rest of the country then good luck.
There are going to be a TON of typical DI “projection” players playing D2 and DIII baseball for the forseable future. The level if play at D2, DIII, NAIA and JuCo will increase exponentially. That is certainly a good thing.
So, ANY opportunity to play baseball beyond High School should be viewed as a blessing and siezed with BOTH HANDS (and maybe even use your teeth and feet while you’re at it)
We are in a new day and age people.
Adapt and survive or be stuck without a chair when the music stops.
CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR. Any roster spot on a college roster is an accomplishment. Full stop.
And if you think i am exaggerating you are kidding yourself. Been doing this a long time and the current climate and landscape is unprecedented.
This is the trickledown of minir leaguers getting paid fairly. This is the trickle down of college players getting paid / compensated fairly. This is where we are NOW and you better get used to it.