It is always good to see growth and maturity when high school players prepare to continue their career as a collegiate student-athlete. The time they spend around returning veteran players not only helps them understand the process from a different perspective, but what will be expected of them by college coaches whose livelihood generally hinges on recruiting, player development and ultimately winning baseball games. This is why New York Nine players are highly sought after by colleges around the country. The New York Nine Scout Team has a nearly 100% college placement rate.

Having the right coaches and role models who have been through it or are part of the process can only help the player to understand what is expected, and what won’t be tolerated at the collegiate level.

College coaches want players who understand how the game works and are able to show both the instincts and tools to play, not just skills that stand out in a showcase. Generally, mistakes made in high school can be overcome by athleticism or superior skills for that level, but, on the elite level summer team and in college, these mistakes wind up costing teams games and the player the opportunity to play.

It is great to see younger players developing their skills during high-level games against other top players and teams. The only way to develop the instincts and in game situations needed to play in collegiate or pro ball is to play high-level games. We look forward to the final month of developing our college bound ballplayers so they are prepared to not only compete, but to take veteran players jobs as Freshman.