Baseball Recruitment

If you’re an aspiring baseball player dreaming of studying and playing in the USA, get started early to ensure you earn your place.

Your Guide to a Baseball Scholarship in the USA

A baseball scholarship in the USA offers financial aid to student-athletes based on their performances and academic achievements. Scholarships vary from partial to full-ride, covering tuition, accommodation, and other expenses. They're offered by NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA institutions, each with specific eligibility requirements.
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Research Programs
Look for colleges with baseball programs that align with your academic goals and playing style. Explore Division I, II, III and NAIA schools. Create a shortlist of schools that offer scholarships and fit your preferences in terms of training facilities, coaching staff, academic programs, and competition level.
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Create an Athlete Profile
Include your key statistics (batting average, ERA, velocity readings), showcases attended, and physical testing data. Document your performances with game footage and training videos that demonstrate your technical abilities, game awareness, and specific position skills.
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Connect with Coaches
Email college coaches with your athlete profile, attend showcases where college coaches will be present, and participate in recruitment camps. Personalize your communication to each coach, emphasizing why their program is a great fit for you. Recruitment typically begins 2-3 years before college starts.
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Maintain Academic Excellence
Scholarships often require a minimum GPA and standardized test scores (SAT/ACT). Balancing academics and athletics shows commitment and discipline, which are qualities rugby coaches particularly value.

Top Baseball Programs

Columbia University

Elite Ivy League program known for combining academic excellence with competitive baseball. Features Satow Stadium, a state-of-the-art facility with full indoor training capabilities. Under head coach Brett Boretti, the program has won multiple Ivy League championships and regularly sends players to professional baseball. Notable alumni include Gene Larkin, who had a successful MLB career with the Minnesota Twins.

Vanderbilt University

Powerhouse program with multiple College World Series appearances and championships. Features the $12 million Baseball Training Facility and Hawkins Field. Under head coach Tim Corbin, the program has produced numerous MLB players including David Price and Dansby Swanson. The program is known for its pitching development and analytics-driven approach

UCLA

Historic program with multiple national championships. Features Jackie Robinson Stadium and state-of-the-art training facilities. Notable alumni include Gerrit Cole and Brandon Crawford. The program consistently ranks among the top in the country for both player development and academic achievement.

LSU

Dominant SEC program with six national championships. Features Alex Box Stadium and world-class training facilities. Under head coach Jay Johnson, the program continues its tradition of excellence. Notable alumni include Alex Bregman and Aaron Nola. Known for its passionate fan base and professional development pipeline.

Baseball Programs in Action: Towa's Story

Towa's journey to Columbia University's prestigious Division I baseball program illustrates how international student-athletes can successfully navigate the recruitment process to join a top academic institution.
Athletic Strategy Development

Towa's success was supported by Crimson's comprehensive athletic strategy
Crimson paired him with experienced baseball coaches who brought extensive collegiate coaching expertise. This guidance included personalized pitching development plans, velocity building programs, and strategic showcase selection. Working with Crimson's network of baseball specialists, Towa received tailored feedback on crucial elements like pitch sequencing and mechanical efficiency, while also accessing integrated academic support, standardized test preparation, and NCAA compliance guidance.

Program Development

Towa's path to St. Bonaventure began with careful program evaluation:
Columbia stood out for its combination of top-tier academics and competitive baseball, including excellent indoor training facilities crucial for Northeast baseball. Working with his recruitment team, Towa created a comprehensive profile that showcased not only his current abilities but also his potential for development within Columbia's program.

Academic Integration

Academics were as important as Baseball to Towa:
Towa worked diligently to balance his intensive training schedule with academic preparation. Columbia's strong academic support system for student-athletes, coupled with its reputation for academic excellence, played a key role in his decision. The university's location in New York City and strong international student community offered the perfect environment for him to thrive both on and off the field.

Coach Connection

Building strong relationships with college coaches
The connection with Columbia's coaching staff, was instrumental in Towa's recruitment. Through virtual meetings and detailed correspondence, he developed a strong relationship with the coaching staff who recognized his potential to contribute to the program's success. His experience in Japanese high school baseball translated well to Columbia's style of play, and the coaches presented a clear vision for his development as both a pitcher and student-athlete.

Towa came to Crimson Athletics with ambitions of moving from Japan to the US as a baseball player. With the help of our strategists, he happily found a spot on the Columbia team.

Strategists

Meet our Baseball Strategists

Our team includes elite athletes and former coaches with careers in soccer, tennis, golf, track & field/XC, swimming & diving, basketball, volleyball, water polo, rowing, baseball, triathlon, and more.
Track & Field / XC
Rugby
Baseball
Harry Lord
Former Princeton Captain | Head of Crimson Athletics
FAQ

Still Have a Question?

Our strategists have carefully answered some of the most common questions that they receive from their student athletes, read on to hear more about your sport.
What are the key recruitment periods?

Important timeline points: Junior year: Begin coach contact Summer before senior year: Attend camps September 1st of junior year: Official recruitment begins November of senior year: Early signing period April of senior year: Regular signing period

What physical testing should I prepare for?

Common assessments: Bronco test Yo-Yo test 40m sprint Bench press Squat Clean Vertical jump Agility testing (5-10-5) Position-specific skill tests Body composition analysis

How important is high school/club experience?

Coaches typically prioritize: Level of competition faced Success in major tournaments All-Star or representative team selection Year-round playing experience Quality of coaching received Leadership roles held

What's the difference between varsity and club rugby?

Varsity Programs: Full-time coaching staff Dedicated facilities Scholarship availability Structured training environment Regular competition schedule Athletic department support Club Programs: Often student-led with part-time coaches Shared facilities Limited funding More flexible schedule Can still compete at high level Usually self-funded

How can Crimson help with rugby recruitment?

We provide: Skills assessment and development planning Direct coach connections Tournament schedule optimization Video profile creation Academic planning Scholarship negotiation Eligibility compliance guidance Campus visit coordination International player transition support

How do I balance multiple recruitment offers?

Consider: Program competitive level and history Coaching staff expertise and style Training facilities quality Team culture and playing philosophy Academic program strength Scholarship package details Competition schedule Professional pathway opportunities Playing time potential Location and climate considerations

What role do academics play in recruitment?

For top academic institutions: GPA: 3.5+ (unweighted) SAT: 1300+ ACT: 28+ Varsity program minimum requirements: GPA: 2.3+ SAT: 980+ ACT: 18+

How are rugby scholarships typically structured?

Scholarship structures vary by program: Varsity programs: Can offer up to full tuition Most athletes receive partial scholarships (25-75%) Women's NCAA programs have more scholarship funding available Some programs offer academic/athletic combination scholarships Programs typically split scholarships among 20-30 players

Can international athletes get recruited?

Yes, with these requirements: Eligibility clearance documentation Academic records evaluation English proficiency tests (TOEFL/IELTS) Playing history verification Valid student visa National union clearance if applicable

What should my recruitment video include?

Focus on: Full game footage from high-level matches Highlight reel of key plays (2-3 minutes) Position-specific skills demonstration Fitness testing results Leadership moments during games Tackling technique from multiple angles Ball handling and passing accuracy Kicking ability (if applicable)

What physical standards do I need to be recruited?

Standards vary by position and program level: Props/Locks: Bench Press: 275+ lbs Squat: 385+ lbs Height: 6'0"+ typically Weight: 220+ lbs 40m sprint: Sub 5.4s Back Row: Bench Press: 245+ lbs Squat: 365+ lbs Height: 5'11"+ Weight: 200-220 lbs 40m sprint: Sub 5.2s Centers/Wings: Bench Press: 225+ lbs Squat: 315+ lbs Height: 5'10"+ Weight: 180-200 lbs 40m sprint: Sub 4.9s Scrumhalf/Flyhalf: Bench Press: 185+ lbs Squat: 275+ lbs Weight: 165-185 lbs 40m sprint: Sub 5.0s Kicking accuracy: 80%+

Upcoming Events & Webinars

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preparing

The Recruit's Journey

Crafting a winning strategy requires preparation of an elite athletic-academic profile, and connection to coaches at the right time.
First: Evaluation

All student-athletes must evaluate their candidacy against their college goals. Identify gaps in your profile, and start buidlling your gameplan. For some candidates, the plan will revolve all about sport recruitment (athlete-first). For others, we take a comprehensive and combined approach to US college admissions, working on both academic and athletic fronts (scholar-athlete).

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College Recruitment Pathway
Build Your Timeline

Map out key recruitment deadlines, showcase events and application milestones up to three or four years out. Strategic timing is crucial - great recruits take time to ensure quality across video creation, testing, interviews, and visits.

Master Academic Eligibility

Navigate NCAA eligibility while building an academic profile that appeals to your target schools. Smart course selection, standardized test planning, and understanding school-specific pre-requisites can make the key difference in recruitment.

Craft Your Athletic Profile

Develop a compelling athletic narrative through carefully selected footage, performance metrics, and achievement highlights. Presentation matters - coaches receive hundreds of profiles, and often don't know international systems.

Connect With Coaches

Execute a targeted outreach strategy that gets noticed by the right programs. Timing, communication, and understanding each program's needs are essential. Building meaningful connections takes time and consistency.

Excel In-Person

College soccer has changed to the point where serious programs need to see you in real-life. So, maximize every interaction - from showcase events to campus visits and coach meetings. These moments determine your outcomes.

Strategize Your Selection

Balance athletic fit, academic opportunity, and program culture to make an informed decision. Consider playing time potential, scholarship, and development. Your choice shapes not just four years, but your future.

Make your final decision

With offers in hand, you can select your best-fit college. Most recruits apply in the early round and sign the National Letter of Intent.

Typically, you’ll receive a final decision by December of your application year!

Need Support? Speak to Our Team!

Speak to an Advisor
Alumni

Our Athletes are currently studying at

Southern Methodist Univ.
Queens University
Boston University
University of Oregon
UC Davis
Hofstra
University of Texas
University of Arizona
Indiana University
Dartmouth
Emory
Trinity College
Boston College
Hamilton College
Babson College
Pomona College
Caltech
Tufts
UC Berkeley
University of Michigan
UNC Chapel Hill
NYU
UCLA
MIT
Stanford
Yale
Princeton
Cornell
Columbia
Harvard University
100%
students-athletes offered
550+
top-50 ranked university offers
3+
offers per Crimson Athlete

$100m

funding and aids secured

Launch Your College Journey Today

Candidacy evaluation
Custom roadmap
1:1 guidance

Dan

UC Berkeley • Rugby

"We had eight schools come back to us overnight after my player profile was sent out to coaches - and that was places I never would have dreamed of, like Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth and obviously Berkeley."