NCAA Roster Changes Are Shaking Up High School Baseball Recruiting
Jun 17, 2025
Just announced: NCAA Division I baseball programs will reduce their maximum roster size from 40 to 34 players.
While this may sound like a small numbers tweak, the implications for high school seniors with D1 dreams are massive.
Here’s what you need to know—and how you can best prepare.
By the Numbers: What’s Changing?
- Number of D1 Programs: 299
- Previous D1 Roster Limit: 40 players
- New D1 Roster Limit: 34 players
- Total D1 Roster Spots Before: 11,960
- Total D1 Roster Spots Now: 10,166
- Net Loss: 1,794 D1 roster spots nationwide
Zoom In: The Odds for High School Seniors
Every year, about 119,000 high school seniors finish their final baseball season, all hoping to find a place on a college roster.
But with most D1 roster spots reserved for returning players and transfers, only a slice of these opportunities are open to true freshmen.
- D1 freshman roster spots per year: Roughly 2,635
- Source: NCAA 2023 data
- Percentage of high school seniors making a D1 roster immediately: Only ~2.2%
In short, the competition is fierce—and just got fiercer.
Beyond D1: More Pathways to College Baseball
The silver lining? D1 isn’t the only option. Here’s a quick look at opportunities at other college levels:
- D2 Baseball: ~9,170 roster spots
- D3 Baseball: ~12,059 roster spots
- JUCO (NJCAA): ~15,330 roster spots
With the new D1 limits, expect even more talented players (both freshmen and transfers) to look at D2, D3, and junior college baseball.
Player Spotlight: Jacob French
If you’re feeling the pressure of the shrinking D1 roster spots, remember: There’s more than one way to reach your baseball goals.
Jacob French is a perfect example. After going under the radar in high school, Jacob started his college career at Division II San Francisco State:
- 2024 (Freshman, San Francisco State – D2):
- 59 games/51 starts
- .347 AVG
- 8 HR
- 47 RBI
- 4 SB
He didn’t let his division define his potential. Instead, Jacob put up standout numbers and became an attractive recruit for major programs.
During his transition, I had the opportunity to work closely with Jacob as he entered the transfer portal. Together, we developed a strategy that highlighted his growth and skills to D1 coaches.
His next stop was Cal in the ACC, where he continued to shine:
- 2025 (Sophomore, Cal – ACC):
- 53 games/51 starts
- .390 AVG
- 4 HR
- 36 RBI
- 2 SB Third-Team All-ACC
- All-ACC Championship Team
Jacob’s journey—from D2 freshman standout to D1 All-ACC performer—shows that with the right guidance, hard work, and perseverance, you can carve your own path to the top level.
The transfer portal, when navigated thoughtfully, can be a powerful tool for players to find the right fit and reach new heights.
Sometimes the road goes through D2 or JUCO before winding up at a Power 4 program.
What College Coaches Are Saying
I recently talked to Brett Wallace, the hitting coach for the California Golden Bears, who play in the ACC:
"You need to acquire young talent. The transfer portal will be hectic for the next few years, but you don't want to solely rely on 1 year players."
Advice for 2025 & 2026 Recruits
- Open Your Search: Don’t focus only on D1—there’s great baseball and scholarship opportunities at other levels.
- Market Your Versatility: Coaches value players who can fill multiple roles, especially with fewer roster spots to go around.
- Be Proactive: Communicate openly with coaches about their roster needs in light of these changes.
- Stay Resilient: Jacob French’s success proves that persistence and flexibility make all the difference.
Final Thought
While the number of D1 roster spots is shrinking, your opportunities are still out there.
Keep your options open, lean on your support network, and remember: the right fit may not be what you expected at first, but it could be exactly what you need.
Here's One Way I Can Help You
If you’re serious about playing college baseball and want to make sure you’re targeting the right schools that are actually looking for a player like you, I can help.
Click the link below to learn more about how I work with players to find real opportunities: