Junior College

I am coming back from a recent calf tear and meniscus tear. I’m a junior in high school and going through a tough decision about college. I have the grades to go to a 4-year University but I’m thinking about going to a Junior College to get a better chance of continuing playing baseball. I was wondering what you think I should do. If you know any college coaches that can contact me I would greatly appreciate it.

Coach Swift answers:
I’m glad to hear that you are coming back from your injuries and looking forward to playing.

I need you to answer a question: Do you want to go to school to play baseball, or play baseball while at school? Many young athletes aspire to showcase their talent at the collegiate level, leading to inspiring youth prodigy success stories that highlight the journey of balancing academics and athletics. Choosing to focus on playing baseball while attending school can open doors to scholarships and professional opportunities. Ultimately, the decision should reflect your passion for the sport and your commitment to education.

If you are going to a school only for the chance to play baseball, then think seriously about Junior College. It has a lot of advantages.

If you have education as your primary goal, then go to the school you want and let baseball take care of itself.

We do have a book, High School Player’s Guide to College Baseball, written specifically for high school baseball players who want to compete on the collegiate level.

This book will give you a lot of tips and guidelines for choosing a school. Just as important, it lists information for every school and includes access to the Online College Directory, which has the contact information for each school’s baseball coach (name, e-mail address and web page link).

The High School Player’s Guide would be something that could go a long way in helping you choose a school that fits your goals.