Baseball Recruiting Confidential

Making an immediate impact as a freshman is a tall task for any player. Why is it so difficult and what can players do to prepare themselves before they leave for school? It’s a huge challenge but knowledge is power and this episode gives players the information they need. Host Justin Musil is joined on this episode by University of New Mexico baseball recruiting coordinator Jon Coyne. Justin and Coach Coyne share their game changing insight to help kids build a great plan prior to getting to campus.

Successful college players can come from anywhere. Many are late bloomers, from remote locations, or simply overlooked. Every college coach wants to find the great players that others missed out on. On this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by Miami (OH) University Assistant Coach Justin Dedman. Justin and Coach Dedman take listeners through this rarely talked about subject and how college coaches find the diamonds in the rough that are out there.

Hitting is one of the hardest things to do in sports. Evaluating those hitters is equally as difficult for college coaches and pro scouts. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by Vanderbilt University Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Mike Baxter. Justin and Coach Baxter take a deep look into what hitters can do to impress college coaches. It’s much more complicated than you may think.

Players and parents often go through the recruiting process trying to gain clarity by reading into coaches actions and words. Coaches do their best to be transparent but decision making can also be difficult. It can become a guessing game that is difficult for players to understand. Host Justin Musil is joined on this episode by Bryant University Head Baseball Coach Ryan Klosterman. If you are trying to understand coaches better, this episode is a great listen.

College coaches recruit players based on their academic and ability level. The most challenging part of evaluation is the physical ability. However; it is more than the player’s ability, it is also the coach believing their developmental strengths fit the player. On this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by Abilene Christian University Assistant Coach Craig Parry. The two take this subject deeper and provide details on why this is such an important piece of recruiting.

Most people think of off-field habits and decisions as the main evaluation piece for player character and make up. There is some truth to that. However; in this episode host Justin Musil gets into on-field make up and how that impacts a player’s recruiting process. Justin is joined on this episode by Citadel baseball Recruiting Coordinator Aaron Gershenfeld. Justin and Coach Gershenfeld look at the key components to impressing with on-field behavior.

Every college coach in the country wants to be around players they enjoy working with on a regular basis. Coaches each have their own definition of what that looks like to them. On this episode, host Justin Musil breaks this down with University of Central Florida Assistant Coach Nick Otte. Justin and Coach Otte take a look at what this means and how players can become a player every coach wants to coach.

College coaches at high academic schools have the challenge of finding talented players who also meet their academic standards. High academic schools take different strategies in the process and still aim to land the most talented players they can. Host Justin Musil scans this topic and gives his advice to players and families going through the process. Justin is joined on this episode by Davidson Head Baseball Coach Rucker Taylor. Coach Taylor brings the perfect experience to speak on this subject.

Players and parents going through the recruiting process need to understand how to build positive relationships with college coaches. Host Justin Musil gives his tips on how to build those relationships and how they can be a major asset in the process. Also discussed is why players need to surround themselves with people who are highly respected in college baseball. Justin has Loyola Marymount University Recruiting Coordinator Tony Asaro on the episode to give his perspective and advice on this topic.

It’s episode number 50! Host Justin Musil reflects back on the 49 episodes prior to this one. He has learned a lot from the guests he has had on and from the people he works with on this series. He has also learned a lot about himself through this series so far. This podcast reveals more of Justin’s personal side and gives the listeners more insight on who he is.

It is next to impossible to go through the recruiting process without players comparing themselves to others. It often starts when someone else commits to a school. It can create tension and stress for a family to see other players committing, while they are still uncommitted. This episode focuses on the problems and solutions with the comparison game. Host Justin Musil is joined by University of Akron Recruiting Coordinator Jordon Banfield. Justin and Jordon provide rarely heard insight on this topic.

Radar guns have been an integral part of scouting pitchers for decades. College coaches and pro scouts rely heavily on them for evaluating. It’s not just about velocity, they provide data on spin rates too. The radar gun has been vital to scouting pitchers but there is more to it. On this episode, Host Justin Musil takes on the other keys to evaluating pitchers that rarely get talked about. Justin is joined by Georgetown University Pitching Coach Eric Niesen and they bring unique insight to this topic.

One of the biggest challenges any coach faces is trying to build a program into a powerhouse. It takes talented players, but also players who fit the culture and coaching style. On this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by University of Tennessee Head Baseball Coach, Tony Vitello. Justin and Coach Vitello go in depth on how he turned the program around. They also talk about the players he looks for moving forward, to continue to build it into a powerhouse.

There are many differences in what pro scouts look for in comparison to college coaches. They evaluate countless high school players but they do so from different lenses. Not all great college prospects are pro prospects. There are key similarities and differences and they are explored on this episode. Host Justin Musil, who has experience scouting in MLB and college baseball, is joined by University of San Diego Recruiting Coordinator, and former St. Louis Cardinals scout, Brock Ungricht.

Host Justin Musil breaks down the complex process of schools making offers to the commitment of the player. This episode breaks this down from start to finish to simplify it. When do schools typically offer? How long does a player have to decide when a school offers? Can a player take visits to other schools when a school has already offered? How can a player turn off coaches during this part of the process? Justin takes on these questions and more with Nicholls State University Recruiting Coordinator Zach Butler.

In the recruiting process players and parents can feel like they are not valued as individuals. They feel like a commodity and their feelings do not matter. It’s a challenging process but with all of the hoopla, coaches do value the players involved. University of Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs joins Host Justin Musil on the podcast. The two discuss this deep topic and why the people they are recruiting are so important to coaches.

Early commitment has become one of the most challenging decisions for players early in their baseball career. Many kids have to make decisions on offers early high school and even late middle school. Host Justin Musil is joined by University of Washington pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Elliott Cribby. Justin and Coach Cribby explore all of the pros and cons of early commitment and take it to new heights with their own experience and honest thoughts.

This episode is the start of a new series within the podcast. Host Justin Musil will have conversations with parents who have been through the recruiting process and have great insight for other parents, players, and coaches. On this episode, Justin is joined by Joan Stavely and David Hunt. Their son, Sam Hunt, is committed to play baseball and attend school at Vanderbilt University. They share their journey and what they learned through the recruiting process.

School visits and meeting with coaches has become one of the most critical parts of the baseball recruiting process. There are fundamental pieces every player and parent should know about visits. There are key tips and nuances that can help players and parents excel on visits. Host Justin Musil shares his secrets and is joined by one of the best recruiting coordinators, Jamie Pinzino.

One of the most important aspects of building a great college program is landing really good pitchers. It is arguably the most important piece of recruiting. With so much riding on pitching, how do coaches decide on who they like and eventually offer? On this episode, host Justin Musil gets great information from one of the best minds in college baseball, Jimmy Belanger. Coach Belanger is the Florida State University pitching coach and leads their recruiting.