Baseball Recruiting

The High School Baseball Recruiting Journey

Apr 1, 2026

4 min Read

By Tyler Schuster

A grade-by-grade guide for high school baseball players.

The baseball recruiting journey can often feel like a fire drill. Parents are stressed. Players are anxious. And everyone feels a step behind before they’ve even played a high school inning.

But here’s the reality: Recruiting isn’t a race to the finish line. It’s a long process of development and elimination—and if you focus on the wrong things too early, you can be on the fast track to burnout and disappointment.

We sat down with Pat Geroni of PRD Baseball to get a better feel for the recruiting roadmap for the modern high school baseball player.

Freshman Year: Focus on the Foundation

The biggest mistake a freshman can make is worrying about who is watching. Most of the time, the answer is nobody—and that’s a good thing. Freshman year is for becoming a ballplayer, not for marketing your skillset to college recruiters.

“Most kids are not recruitable when August 1 hits,” Geroni said. “Right now, what matters is learning how to train correctly, building movement quality and establishing the habits that will sustain a college career.”

Coaches aren't usually tracking your name nationally or offering scholarships to 14-year-olds based on a small sample of stats. Use your freshman year to learn how recruiting actually works. Remember, education removes the “unthinkable” pressure often placed on young athletes.

Develop athletic movement. Focus on arm care and strength.
Play your position consistently. Reps are more valuable than exposure right now.
Start your profile. Use Hudl recruiting tools to update your profile and build your first highlight video.
Focus on habits. Establish a routine on and off the field.

Sophomore Year: The Honest Evaluation

By 10th grade, the physical gap starts to widen. This is the year of the honest mirror. You need to know where you actually fit. Geroni notes that club baseball programs should act as "stagers" that create platforms for athletes to get exposure at the proper level.

When it comes to video, coaches want the truth. They aren't looking for a cinematic masterpiece with a heavy bass drop. “Video is the door that opens the potential for a live look,” Geroni points out.

Keep video clean. Clips should be short and without distracting music or effects.
Track verified metrics. Start logging data whenever possible to build credibility.
Talk to your high school coach. Discuss your long-term goals and get an honest assessment of your current level.
Search for schools. Use the college search tools in Hudl to see which programs match your academic and athletic interests.

Junior Year: Visibility and Fit

This is the big year. This is when DI programs and other high-level schools are locking in their evaluations. But don’t let the pressure lead to "volume over value."

“You don’t need 60 video clips. You need six to eight that explain who you are,” Geroni said. Coaches aren't just looking for your moonshots. They’re looking for your character and your response to the game. “College coaches want full innings, and want to see how you react.”

Show the response. Include full at-bats or full innings for pitchers. Coaches want to see what you do after a walk or a strikeout.
Be realistic. Start building a school list that spans multiple divisions (DI, DII, DIII and NAIA).
Update your highlights. Keep your best six to eight clips fresh.
Prioritize fit. Don't chase hype. Instead, focus on the level and programs that fit your style of play.

Senior Year: Opportunity and Decision-Making

If you haven't committed by the fall of your senior year, don’t panic. The recruiting window for DIII, NAIA and JUCO is often wide open late into the spring. There is a place in college baseball for almost every average to above-average athlete—you just have to find the right window.

“The logo doesn’t define your future—development does,” Geroni said. Ultimately, senior year is about honest communication and finding an opportunity to play and develop.

Stay engaged. Keep sending updated video clips and don’t let setbacks stop your outreach.
Focus on academics. Ensure the school is a fit for your life after baseball.
Trust your preparation. If you’ve put in the work since freshman year, the right opportunity will present itself.

Trust the Process

Recruiting is a marathon, not a sprint. While the data and the video help build your credibility, your coaches remain your most important advocates. They see the true character that shows up on film and in the dugout every day.

Be honest, be consistent and be coachable. If you focus on the work, the rest will take care of itself.

To learn more about Hudl’s recruiting tools, check out our College Search & Contact blog post.