It had been at least a decade since I attended a college conference tournament in person. I’ve seen plenty of college baseball this year -- more than I had in a long time, and at both the junior college and Division I levels. But I’d honestly forgotten how fun these conference tournaments can be.
The competitiveness, the rivalries, the energy -- they matter. You’re playing for a title, and while many teams already know they’re headed to the NCAA Tournament, conference bragging rights carry weight. They’re important for recruiting, important for competition, and importantly, they’re heavily attended by scouts.
At the Big 12 Tournament, I saw crosscheckers, area scouts, assistant GMs, special assignment evaluators -- all locked in on the field. For me, it was rewarding to be around so many people I’ve known for years, but more importantly, it was refreshing to see everyone focused on the talent in front of them.
From my seat, it’s always a professional lens. I’m evaluating players based on ceiling, floor, age, value, upside -- looking not just at the athletes, but also at the coaches and player development happening behind the scenes. And what stood out most was just how many Future Stars Series alumni were on rosters across the tournament. It was especially gratifying to vote for the All-Tournament Team and recognize FSS players on every single club.
The State of the Game: Division I Baseball
Division I baseball is in a unique spot, and TCU is a perfect example: young, dynamic, high school-oriented, fast-paced, and exciting. On the other end, Kansas is more veteran-heavy with JUCO transfers and older players -- some 24 or even 25 years old. That’s still a lingering effect of COVID eligibility, but it shifts the makeup of the field. These are mature players, and while their upside may be capped, they bring real experience and production.
There’s a wide range in terms of how programs approach player development. Some are building talent and preparing players to advance. Others are focused solely on winning now -- and that’s okay, if that’s their goal. But for the college game to truly reach its potential, it needs to do both. If not, evaluators will continue shifting focus to other pipelines: high school, JUCO, and international development. DI will remain a source of floor-type players, but it risks losing ground when it comes to ceiling and future value.
That said, the Big 12 was filled with players who will help an organization. Here are a few worth highlighting, broken down into three categories:
