Positions and Rosters in College Recruiting

Dan Mooney: Your Link to the Colleges

I want to take the next few weeks to do a three-part series on positions and rosters and how they play into college recruiting.

In previous entries, our staff has talked about which positions get the most consideration during the recruiting process: pitchers, shortstop, catchers and center fielders. Yes, these positions will get the most attention because they require more raw athleticism than, say, first base. But, there are NINE positions on the field, and just because you don’t play up the middle doesn’t mean you won’t have a chance at the next level.

Just because a guy plays up the middle and is more athletic doesn’t mean he’ll fit the bill playing at the corners. College corner infielders and outfielders are usually bigger in size and are relied on for offense rather than defense. I don’t know too many 5’7” former shortstops manning third or first base at the next level. So, if you’re a corner guy that can hit and there’s a need, you better believe that you’ll get the same looks as the speedy middle infielder. If anything, you’re at an advantage bringing experience at the position with you to the next level. If a coach can avoid tearing his hair out having to teach someone a new position, he’ll do it.

So, if you’re one of these corner guys floating around out there not being recruited, time to take charge. You’ll hear me say this A LOT, but you need to realize that if your strength is hitting, that’s how you need to market yourself. It’s great if you can showcase that your feet work well and you can pick it, but your biggest recruitable tool will be your bat, and you need to take every opportunity to show it off.

You’ll hear that defense wins championships, but so does having a couple of big donkeys at the corners hitting home runs. Check back soon for my next entry.

Dan is the Senior Director of College Recruiting. Dan was drafted in the 40th round by the Chicago Cubs after his senior year at Monsignor Donovan High School, but decided to begin his collegiate career as a catcher at Brevard Junior College. He later transferred to the Univ. of Florida where he redshirted for a season, before transferring to North Carolina State University where he was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer. After college, Dan played professionally in the Boston Red Sox organization where he reached the double-A level before being forced to retire after an injury. Dan has assisted hundreds of players reach their goal of playing college baseball and has developed relationships with college coaches across the nation through his time as a player and during his career in the college recruiting department at Baseball Factory.