Division 1:
The typical Division 1 freshman has been recognized as a "college ready" player, and
possesses the physical requirements of a Division I athlete. The position player has proven to
various college coaches that he can hit both for power and average, while demonstrating strong
defensive skills as well. A pitcher at this level will have also proven to be dominant in high
school, putting up very solid stats throughout his junior and senior years. Many of these players
also possess strong athletic capabilities, such as good sprint times (60 yard dash), and
impressive numbers in the weight room. These players do not ALL necessarily have a height
advantage or powerful body build, but the majority of them will look the part of an athlete. It is
common for players who do not get much playing time at this level to transfer either directly to
another division, or to a junior college. Transfer requirements for the various divisions can be
found in the "Transfer requirements" page.
As expected, you will find many big-name schools at the Division 1 level. It is the center stage of
college baseball and by far gets the most professional attention. As with all levels of baseball,
not every team is a successful one. Some schools will consistently have players drafted every
year, while other schools will not have a very successful year. The level of competition between
Division 1 schools is fairly consistent. While it is obvious that the Division 1 level is the highest
level of college baseball, it is important to remember that not ALL schools get the cream of the
crop players. There are plenty of schools from other divisions who would beat some division 1
teams. Division 1 schools usually are allowed 11.7 full athletic scholarships, which can be
partitioned among their players. The minimum amount of money that can be given for athletics
is 25% of a full ride scholarship.
Division 2:
The typical Division 2 freshman is also one who has proven to be ready for a high level of
college baseball, but still has some improvements to make. Players might be lacking in the
physical aspect of the game, but can still hit for average and power, and are strong defensively
as well. If a player is polished athletically, he most likely has some work to do concerning his
mechanics. Pitchers, for the most part might have displayed dominance in high school, but
again do not have the height or body build to compete with other Division 1 pitchers. Many
division 2 schools, especially on the west coast or in the southern states, will attract very
polished players due to the schools' well-known success. The D2 level has a very broad range
of competition.
Unlike the Division 1 level, there is a high degree of discrepancy between D2 schools
throughout the US. Many will say that the level of competition is best on the West Coast, or
around the southern part of the United States, despite the fact that the East Coast is loaded with
division 2 schools. Most schools at this level are smaller schools, and focus mainly on academic
performance. Division 2 schools are only allowed 9 full athletic scholarships, which is why most
talent will funnel to the D1 level. Some southern D2 schools will begin their seasons early, while
most northern schools cannot play until mid-march due to weather conditions. It is common for
these schools to play double headers every weekend, due to lower travel funding and weather
conditions.
Division 3:
The division 3 level is generally considered to be lowest level of college competition. Starters at
this level are typically upperclassmen (juniors & seniors), who have put in the time and effort
over their college careers to improve their mechanics and athleticism. Many starters have also
been those who transferred to a D3 school after a successful junior college career. Incoming
freshman have some work to do in nearly every aspect of the game, and will not get much
playing time until the players above them have graduated. Players who end up getting drafted
from the Division 3 level (a VERY small number) typically show dominance throughout their
college careers.
Division 3 schools place most of their emphasis on academics as well, and typically do not have
a large student body. D3 athletic teams usually are very small in size as well. High school and
JC players are typically not very attracted to the D3 level based on the fact that Division 3
schools give out a total of 0 (zero) athletic scholarships. Many students find their way to these
schools through academic scholarships, and a good portion of financial aid. These schools
generally are expensive to attend, so the school will have the proper funding to aid students in
need.
NAIA
The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) level of baseball is typically similar
to Division 2. Many players find themselves on an NAIA team after having successful JC
careers. Players have shown the ability to play, and possess athletic qualities as well.
Due
to the somewhat "loose" nature of NAIA eligibility requirements, many teams have players who
would not be eligible at an NCAA school, or did not meet certain requirements at the D2 level.
Overall, the quality of player at this level is in between a Division 2 and Division 3 athlete.
Fully funded NAIA schools have the ability to give out 12 athletic scholarships, which is more
than the Division 1 level. Eligibility requirements are far less strict than those in NCAA schools,
and players can typically find a good amount of financial aid to go along with an athletic
scholarship. For these reasons, many players who cannot land themselves a scholarship on a
division 1 or 2 team will pursue an athletic scholarship from an NAIA school. Some NAIA
players are those who chose to play another sport in college, and did not play baseball. Others
have simply taken a few years off, and came back to have successful JC careers. No matter
what the case, NAIA schools are very attractive to any type of ball player due to scholarship
opportunities and a somewhat strong level of competition. NAIA baseball is an extremely
unpredictable level of baseball, with some teams dominating (and performing like some Division
1 teams), while other teams cannot even manage to win a game. If considering going the NAIA
route, do some heavy research into the prospective program.
Junior College
Junior college baseball is by far the most populated level of college baseball in the US (due to
the large number of junior colleges available). Many players, even those with scholarship offers
to 4-year schools will choose to play at the JC level instead. Junior colleges allow many players
to stay (somewhat) close to home while keeping tuition costs low. They also allow players who
have no offers out of high school more time to improve their game and work towards a
scholarship elsewhere. The range of talent at the JC level is very broad. Many players get
drafted from successful junior colleges, while others might simply try to walk on at a local 4-year
after concluding their JC careers. The academic requirements of JC athletes are much less
strict than those of 4 year athletes, so the JC option is very desirable to all ball players. In some
states, Junior colleges are separated into division I, II, and III. JCs in all states EXCEPT
CALIFORNIA offer athletic scholarships. Due to the high number of Junior colleges, it is a good
idea to visit the NICAA Site to get more information.