4 and 1/2 Tips for an Excellent Baseball Recruiting Resume
Baseball coaches are continually seeking athletes that are a good fit for their teams. Contrary to popular belief, the recruiting process for baseball does not begin because athletes are found via scouts, athletes are found because they took the initiative to reach out to coaches themselves over e-mail and/or phone. If you are serious about getting recruited to play baseball at the collegiate level, you must create a resume that gives coaches the information they need to make an initial assessment of you and decide if they want to continue the evaluation process.
1. If You Are Going to Attend Baseball Camps (and You Should) Make Sure Coaches Have Your Camp Schedule
Baseball scouts/coaches frequently share information with each other and if they can’t get to a camp you are going to, they may be able to send someone, or talk to a colleague who will be in attendance. Coaches don’t discover baseball players at camps or combines, they evaluate ones they already know about.
2. The Same Goes For Your Travel or High School Schedule
They may want to come see your games or talk to coaches they know who may be going, just like at camps. Baseball coaches want to see you play live, and playing travel ball gives them a great opportunity to do so.
3. Baseball is a Game of Numbers: Statistics Play a Huge Part in Any Good Resume
Include measurable statistics like home to first-base, second-base to home, 60-yard dash times, broad jump distance, max bench press, and squat weights. Include your position statistics as well. Pitching resumes should contain ERA, innings, record, WHIP, strikeouts, opponents’ batting average, and saves (if you are a closer). The most important stats for hitters to display are batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs, runs, and stolen bases. Organize your stats in a table to make it visually appealing to a coach.
*Half a tip: For all of your statistics, make sure to include the league in which you were competing and don’t combine two different leagues. For example, don’t combine your high school and travel ball stats; coaches want to know how you did against the different levels of competition.
4. You Should Discuss Your Playing History in the Introductory Cover Letter
Take some time to describe your experiences with baseball, and why you are a scholarship prospect. The trick is to try to do this in two to three sentences; keep it short and easy to read. The cover letter allows you to set yourself apart from other athletes and distinguish yourself as a scholarship athlete.
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