In this breakdown, I’m sharing three warning signs that show if your son might be falling behind in baseball recruiting…and the key metrics college coaches actually look at.

The first is the 60-yard dash. This is one of the simplest ways coaches measure athleticism. By junior or senior year, most college-level players are running under 7.0 seconds.

If your son plays middle infield, coaches usually want that number even lower. Speed affects range, defense, and base running, so it’s a major factor in recruiting.

Next is arm strength. The expectations change depending on the position. Outfielders should ideally throw around 90+ mph, infielders around 86+ mph, and right-handed pitchers around 87+ mph.

Left-handed pitchers can still get attention around 84+ mph. Catchers typically need around 82–85 mph with a pop time between 1.8 and 1.9 seconds. While velocity matters, pitchers can still stand out with great command and pitch mix.

Last but not least exit velocity, which shows how hard a player hits the ball. A common benchmark for college-level hitters is around 98–100 mph off a tee, about 103 mph off front flips, and around 105+ mph off a machine.

If a player’s exit velocity is still in the low 90s, it usually means they need to improve strength and power.

If you want a quick way to know whether your son is on track for college baseball, pay attention to these three metrics:

60-yard dash, arm strength, and exit velocity.

These numbers give a clear snapshot of where a player stands and what needs improvement before recruiting opportunities pass by.