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Michigan Mailbag: December 23rd

December 26, 2014



By Brent Alwine and Dylan Hefflinger
Michigan Scouting Director and Michigan Editor in Chief/Regional Scout

Every week, PBR Michigan holds an interactive chat through Twitter with our followers. Our goal is to be accessible. This is your chance to take advantage of our expertise. Ask questions to Brent Alwine, Michigan Scouting Director, about the recruiting process, upcoming high school season, specific prospects, PBR events, or anything else that may be on your mind.

We would like to thank all who participated, we enjoy bringing you knowledge and expertise on players and programs in your area.

Next week, we will be answering questions on either Tuesday or Wednesday, stay tuned.

Seven of the top questions from the Ask.FM Q&A Session on December 23rd


Is it good to have your HS coach send a letter of recommendation to the college coach your meeting with at visits?

PBR: I think that your is a great idea, I would recommend that your high school coach speak with the college coach on the phone. This allows the college coach to get a little deeper with questions and allows your high school to sell you as a student and baseball player.

Once you verbally commit to a school what type of guarantee is that?

PBR: There is nothing legally binding you to the school if you verbally committed. Also there is nothing legally binding the school to the offer they've made you. Either party can back out at any time. This is a major reason to be thorough with your recruiting process.

Who has the best chance of repeating as state champions this upcoming season?

PBR: All four (Bay City Western, Liggett, New Lothrop, Mt. Pleasant) schools return a lot of key players that can enable them to repeat. To pick one team right now Bay City Western will be the team to beat, they have perched themselves at the top and have the players and coaching to stay there.

Is going to a schools camp a good way to get recruited?

PBR: There is no better way to put yourself in front of the coaches and getting the chance to communicate and help improve your game.

If I am just starting the recruiting process what steps should I start out by doing?

PBR: I would starting gather schools that you’re interested in and that offer the degree you intend to study, distance from home (so you family can see you play), and financially what schools you can afford. Focus on schools that you can play at, ask your high school (communicate with your HS coach that you want to play in college) and summer coach what level (DI,DII,DIII,JUCO, NAIA) you should focus on. Attend the schools camps this winter to put skills front and center for them to evaluate you. Communicate with coaches via email and provide them with you GPA, ACT/SAT, and your statistics.

How can you set up an unofficial visit with a school if they haven't seen you play? Will some schools do that?

PBR: Rarely will a school ever bring you on a visit if they have not seen you play. There are some extreme reasons but far and few between.

Notre Dame Prep lost Anthony Gunn due to personal reasons. Who do you look for to fill that role of their ace?

PBR: Coach Audia will have plenty of options on the mound this spring. Will Mullen (Western Michigan University) will be the steady returning arm that has seen big time innings in years past. Mark Marrone (Northwood University) had a big summer and continues to increase his velocity. Luke Shilling (University of Illinois) has shown the ability to sit in the upper-80s and flash numbers in the 90s.

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