Division III Baseball

Every year there are a handful of DIII players drafted and a few more get signed as free agents.

Here is a list of last year’s draftees.

As a former DIII ballplayer, I can verify that playing baseball at that level is more about playing out of a love for the game rather than any hopes of parlaying your college career into one at the professional level.

My uncle says you've got a screw loose.
Your uncle molests collies.

by gorilla_baller on Oct 12, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am also

a former DIII ballplayer and i totally agree with g_b. Matt DeSalvo is a guy that comes to mind a pretty prominent DIII draft pick recently.

"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto

by Michael Cave on Oct 12, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i played d-3 last year

our team moved up into d-2 this year, but i mean really if you have the tools and someone sees you, you’ll get your looks.

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Oct 13, 2009 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DIII

I went to a DIII school. I didn’t play, unfortunately, because the team was cut a few years before I got there. I followed other teams in my conference (WIAC) though, and there have been a few in recent years. Jordan Zimmermann is the most recent and prominent (2nd round, 2007). Jarrod Washburn and Bob Wickman also came out of the WIAC.

by BenB on Oct 12, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Look out for Ryan Crofts at Susquehanna University

He’s a 5 foot 6 outfielder with Ted Williams power.

Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.

by Frederick0220 on Oct 12, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We had a guy drafted in the 50th round last season at Pomona

Four picks away from being MLB’s version of Mr. Irrelevant (which is really, really irrelevant). We’ve actually had like 6 players drafted, which is more than I can say for my high school (0 all time).

Bottom line, though, at that level, he should be picking a school first and playing baseball second, not the other way around.

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Oct 12, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm a former DII pitcher

Geography plays a role, too. I played in the Northeast (the NYCAC, though I think it’s called something else nowadays), and our entire conference had (I think) 3 guys drafted. The most notable current major leaguer out of my conference is Mike Aviles, though Bobby Lanigan was drafted in the 5th round by Minnesota last year.

We didn’t get too many transfers of DIII players, nor did many of our players transfer to DI programs.

I agree with the general assertions of the posters before me that playing ball at a DII or DIII program leaves a player as a longshot for a professional career.

My advice would be that unless he objectively thinks there is a realistic chance of having some sort of professional career, to pick a program he thinks he would enjoy playing for. Then, enjoy the fact that he gets to play for a few more years.

by El Duq of Hurl on Oct 12, 2009 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My advice would be that unless he objectively thinks there is a realistic chance of having some sort of professional career, to pick a program he thinks he would enjoy playing for. Then, enjoy the fact that he gets to play for a few more years.

That’s exactly true. But for what it’s worth, I played with a lot of guys who are playing independent ball. Friends of mine played in Israel in the IBL, prospect league, and frontier league. I even knew a few guys who went to Europe to play: games on the weekends and teaching baseball to the kids of Air Force pilots during the week.

Even though they got paid (at best they got free room and board and a few hundred bucks a month) they had no delusions about their skills (although I’m willing to bet that some of these guys don’t give up the dream). They were still playing because they genuinely enjoyed baseball.

Playing independent ball is really a best-case scenario for a a Division III baseball player. Tell your friend to find a school he likes, talk to the coach, visit the campus, meet the other players, and if it’s a fit then go for it. It should also be worth mentioning that he’s not going to get any scholarship money to play ball. So if that’s an issue it’s something he needs to take into account.

My uncle says you've got a screw loose.
Your uncle molests collies.

by gorilla_baller on Oct 12, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Same here

Got a pretty weak offer to play in the Italian baseball league at one pt which was pretty cool but i decided i wanted to get on with my life.

You are right about scholarship money but several successful DIII programs will be aggressive with academic scholarships. Where did you play g_b?

"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto

by Michael Cave on Oct 12, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I caught at Oberlin College in Ohio for four years (2003-2007). If you know anything about that school and their athletics, then this is PROOF that I must have really loved baseball. But in all seriousness, I was pretty decent, just seldom healthy.

My claim to fame is that at this moment there’s a picture of me on Oberlin College’s home page on the link taking you to the athletics page.

Where’d you play?

My uncle says you've got a screw loose.
Your uncle molests collies.

by gorilla_baller on Oct 12, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha, thats awesome

I played at University of Dallas. Good program but the school as a whole wasnt very supportive. We played Ohio Wesleyan, Marietta (sans DeSalvo, i think thats where he went) and Carroll College (i think its in Ohio) from up your way during my time at UD.

I was a late bloomer big time. Gained 7-9 mph on my FB just by dropping my arm angle at the beginning of college and getting used to throwing like that. Just like you it was all about i just plain love the game.

"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto

by Michael Cave on Oct 12, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

John Carroll maybe?

JCU is just outside of Cleveland, and is in the same conference as Marietta (OAC), so it maybe the school you’re thinking of? The OAC actually has a fairly decent track record of players getting drafted, at least for a DIII conference. Half a dozen or so in the last 5 or 6 years, going back to DeSalvo. And, of course, lest we not for get the greatest DIII product of all time… Terry Mullholand.

by ajake57 on Oct 13, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We played in the NCAC against Wooster and Denison. Wooster would always have some D1 teams on their schedule. I remember one year they beat Ohio State and Kent State another. OSU and KSU weren’t exactly powerhouses, but it was still impressive that teams separated by a whole division play competitive ball.

So there is definitely some talent, even in DIII.

My uncle says you've got a screw loose.
Your uncle molests collies.

by gorilla_baller on Oct 13, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

and it was John Carroll ajake57. The best team we played in terms of talent was Emory during my freshman year. We beat them twice there that yr. Still dont know how we did it. UD played Chapman for a 3 game set this past yr. Chapman is probably the best DIII team out there.

"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto

by Michael Cave on Oct 13, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

chapman is in our "league"

i say “league” because i guess we are independent. i play at cal state east bay, and we just moved up to d-2. we took 2 of 3 from chapman last year…they are no joke. their leftfielder got drafted last year as a redshirt sophomore i believe.

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Oct 13, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We played

yall my jr and sr yr so 05 and 06 (Dont remember their names). Yall had two very good players, a LFer and SS who could fly. My jr yr we played yall well but not my sr yr. We had a new coach that year and he was TERRIBLE. Couldnt recruit and couldnt coach, bad combo.

"More than likely JW never played sports above the youth level. It amazes me that he seems to have no concept on the common reactions of an adult athlete or their normal interactions between each other." - laxonto

by Michael Cave on Oct 14, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We made KSU look like a powerhouse

when they beat us (Mount Union) by like 30 my senior year. Fortunately I had nothing to do with the team at that point. But yeah, Wooster is really good, and Marietta usually contends for a national title every year, so it seems like there are at least some good DIII programs in Ohio. But that may be because of the lack of DI and DII programs in the area than due to anything else.

by ajake57 on Oct 13, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it happens

Back in my previous life, one of the players I used to cover got drafted in the later rounds out of D3 ECSU. He started out at UMass, but found more luck in Eastern’s bullpen.

A cursory glance would reveal he’s Jason LaVorgna… 35th rounder in 2007, taken by the Mets. Did well at Kingsport in 2008, not so much at Savannah, and then got cut. Spent this season kicking around the indies.

"That is like saying my ‘upside’ is Brad Pitts face, with Einstein’s brain, and Ron Jeremy’s unit. It is nice to dream, but that ceiling isn’t going to happen." (King Billy Royal)

by drjayphd on Oct 12, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

wasn't

chris denorfia a d-3 player? i don’t know if wheaton college is d-3 or not.

jeffrey maier (yeah, him) played d-3 ball at wesleyan in connecticut.

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Oct 13, 2009 3:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wheaton is definitely D-III

It’s a tiny liberal arts college in southeastern Massachusetts. I actually visited there (not for athletics, I’m the least athletic person on the planet). Good school, but not quite on par with Pomona, so I ended up not going there.

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Oct 13, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i had a feeling you would answer this one PT

i remembered you bringing this up in some old AN thread that denorfia was a d-3 player.

"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball

by flipgatey3 on Oct 13, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Greg Reinhard

is from Wisconsin Whitewater and drafted in the 2005 draft in the 6th round by Tampa Bay and pitched this year in Iowa Cubs. He had 87 strikeouts in 72 innings thou with a pretty high era of 5.38 in 2009. Terry Mulholland Lp who pitched for 20 years in the major leagues pitched from 1986 to 2006 was from Marietta College in Ohio and a div 3 school.

by Slamdog on Oct 13, 2009 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs