College Baseball Recruiting Standards by Position
Updated October 31, 2026 · Ranges reviewed October 2026
College coaches don’t judge every player by the same numbers. A catcher is measured by pop time, a shortstop by his arm and a first baseman by his bat. Below are the numbers coaches check first at each position, with the typical range for recruits finishing high school at each level.
- Pitchers: peak fastball
- Catchers: pop time
- Shortstop and second base: infield throw
- Third base: infield throw
- First base: max exit velocity
- Center field: outfield throw
- Left and right field: outfield throw
On this page
Pitchers
Coaches look at peak fastball velocity first, then command and the quality of his off-speed pitches. Left-handers are compared with ranges about 2 mph lower. The first number checked is in bold.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak fastball, mphGuideline | 87–97 | 84–92 | 80–84 | 80–84 | 82–90 |
| Average fastball, mphEstimate | 85–95 | 82–90 | 78–82 | 78–82 | 80–88 |
| Changeup, mphEstimate | 78–85 | 74–80 | 70–77 | 72–79 | 71–79 |
| Breaking ball, mphEstimate | 74–83 | 70–78 | 67–75 | 69–77 | 68–77 |
| HeightGuideline | 6'1"–6'5" | 5'11"–6'3" | 5'10"–6'2" | 5'11"–6'3" | 5'10"–6'2" |
More detail: Pitching velocity by level.
Catchers
Pop time, glove to glove on a throw to second base, is the first number coaches check. Receiving and blocking matter just as much, but they’re judged on video and in person. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop time, secGuideline | 1.85–1.95 | 1.90–2.10 | 1.97–2.15 | 1.97–2.15 | 1.95–2.10 |
| Throw to second, mphEstimate | 76–83 | 73–80 | 71–78 | 71–78 | 71–80 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 92–98 | 88–95 | 85–92 | 85–92 | 84–94 |
| Average exit velocity, mphEstimate | 81–89 | 78–86 | 75–83 | 75–83 | 75–85 |
| 60-yard dash, secGuideline | 6.90–7.35 | 7.00–7.50 | 7.10–7.70 | 7.10–7.70 | 7.10–7.70 |
More detail: Exit velocity by level.
Shortstop and second base
Shortstops are measured first by infield arm strength, then speed and bat. Second basemen share the same ranges, with no single number deciding it. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infield throw, mphGuideline | 85–93 | 82–88 | 78–85 | 78–85 | 77–84 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 91–98 | 87–94 | 84–91 | 84–91 | 83–94 |
| Average exit velocity, mphEstimate | 80–89 | 77–85 | 74–82 | 74–82 | 74–85 |
| 60-yard dash, secGuideline | 6.50–6.80 | 6.65–7.00 | 6.75–7.20 | 6.75–7.20 | 6.80–7.10 |
More detail: 60-yard dash times by level.
Third base
Third basemen need a strong infield arm and more power than middle infielders, so their exit velocity ranges run higher. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infield throw, mphGuideline | 85–93 | 80–88 | 76–83 | 76–84 | 76–85 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 93–101 | 88–96 | 85–93 | 85–93 | 85–96 |
| Average exit velocity, mphEstimate | 83–92 | 79–87 | 76–84 | 76–84 | 76–87 |
| 60-yard dash, secGuideline | 6.85–7.30 | 7.00–7.40 | 7.10–7.60 | 7.05–7.55 | 7.05–7.60 |
More detail: Exit velocity by level.
First base
First base is a bat-first position. Coaches start with exit velocity and power numbers, and speed counts for less. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 93–101 | 88–96 | 85–93 | 85–93 | 85–96 |
| Average exit velocity, mphEstimate | 83–92 | 79–87 | 76–84 | 76–84 | 76–87 |
| 60-yard dash, secGuideline | 6.90–7.35 | 7.00–7.45 | 7.10–7.65 | 7.05–7.60 | 7.05–7.65 |
More detail: Exit velocity by level.
Center field
Center fielders are expected to run better than corner outfielders, so their 60-yard dash ranges are the fastest on this page. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outfield throw, mphGuideline | 87–95 | 83–90 | 80–87 | 80–87 | 78–86 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 92–99 | 88–95 | 85–92 | 85–92 | 84–95 |
| Average exit velocity, mphEstimate | 82–90 | 78–86 | 75–83 | 75–83 | 75–86 |
| 60-yard dash, secGuideline | 6.45–6.75 | 6.60–7.00 | 6.65–7.15 | 6.65–7.15 | 6.70–7.00 |
More detail: 60-yard dash times by level.
Left and right field
Corner outfielders are measured by arm strength first, and the bat carries more of the evaluation than in center field. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outfield throw, mphGuideline | 87–95 | 82–89 | 80–87 | 80–87 | 78–86 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 92–99 | 88–95 | 85–92 | 85–92 | 84–95 |
| Average exit velocity, mphEstimate | 82–90 | 78–86 | 75–83 | 75–83 | 75–86 |
| 60-yard dash, secGuideline | 6.55–6.80 | 6.65–7.00 | 6.70–7.15 | 6.70–7.15 | 6.75–7.00 |
More detail: Exit velocity by level.
How to use these ranges
- Each range runs from where a level’s typical recruit starts to the top of that level. Players are recruited above and below them.
- The ranges describe recruits finishing high school. A freshman or sophomore isn’t expected to be there yet, and the evaluation credits younger players for normal growth.
- One number below range rarely rules a player out, except the first number coaches check at his position. If that one is short, the level is usually a reach.
- Guideline ranges follow published college recruiting guidelines. Estimate ranges are Baseball Future’s own estimates where no published standard exists. None of them are official NCAA or NAIA standards.
See how every level works on the D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO pages, or read how the evaluation scores these numbers.
These are the same ranges the Baseball Future evaluation uses, reviewed October 2026. They are planning targets, not official NCAA or NAIA standards, and they don’t guarantee recruitment, admission or a scholarship. Baseball Future is not affiliated with the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA or CCCAA.