By: Andy McKernan

Ed. Note: This is a post by baseball head recruiting coach Jason Smith, who regularly contributes to this blog.

Andy Drake recently wrote about how major league scouts will find you in DIII and NAIA baseball programs.

Another option baseball players should seriously consider, particularly if you’re an uncommitted senior facing the prospect of going to a school where you won’t be able to play baseball, is junior college.

You’ll be able to play baseball at a junior college.

Early playing time is a big positive that junior college brings to the table. With only freshman and sophomores on the roster, incoming freshman typically have a real opportunity to earn playing time.

This can result in better development than if you were stuck behind a junior or senior at a four-year college.

Getting consistent playing time against good competition beats practices reps any day of the week when talking about improving your game.

Attending a junior college also provides two more opportunities to be selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Players at junior colleges can be drafted after their first and second years. Those who decide to enroll in a four-year college must wait until after their junior year or they turn 21 (whichever happens first) before being eligible for the draft.

This is one reason junior colleges can compete with Division I programs for top-level talent. For example, Bryce Harper could have attended any Division I program in the country. But he chose the junior college route so he could be drafted earlier. He made the right decision.

There are academic opportunities for baseball players at junior colleges.

Unless you are looking for an extremely specific major (engineering, pre-med, pre-law, etc.), your first two years at a four year college will be spent taking general education courses. Why spend a much larger amount on tuition and fees when you can take the same courses at a junior college for a much lower cost. As long as you graduate from the junior college, all of these credits will transfer into the four-year college and you’ll enter your third year as a junior and declare your major. You will be on track to graduate just like those students who had been at the four-year college for the two previous years.

For those of you who struggled in the classroom during high school or on the ACT or SAT, junior college could be a great way to redeem your academic performance. In regards to the NCAA and NAIA, you can avoid those poor high school grades if you graduate from a junior college. For more details on the academic requirements of the NCAA and NAIA, please review the NCAA Guide for College Bound Student-Athlete, NCAA Transfer Guide, and NAIA Eligibility Requirements.

You won’t have to go far to play baseball at a junior college.

When targeting junior colleges, put local or in-state junior colleges near the top of your list. Traveling out-of-state for a junior college opportunity can increase the cost (which is the next reason to consider).

Most junior colleges do not offer on-campus housing. Living at home for another two years might not be in your initial plans, but it can help save a ton of money. These can be funds used for the final two years of your college career.

Most junior colleges recruit locally as well. These programs do not have budgets like NCAA Division I programs, so they stick to their district or region. But they can have great ties to high school and travel baseball programs locally to help them secure the right types of recruits for their program.

A baseball career at junior college could save you money.

One of the strongest reasons to attend a junior college is the overall cost. Four-year colleges, both private and public, can cost well over $40,000 for the first two years. Recruits can save thousands of dollars by spending their first two years of college at a junior college. Avoid student loans and creating debt are two other positives brought to the table by these opportunities. Add in the other reasons listed above and it is apparent why junior colleges can attract top talent out of high school every single year.

Do you have questions about the schools you should be considering? Don’t miss out on the chance to play baseball in college. Jason Smith and other baseball experts can help you with your recruiting.

Article originally published by NCSA Sports