Steve Sabins helped take West Virginia University from its first regional in 21 years to back-to-back Super Regionals, first as an assistant under Randy Mazey and now as head coach. On Episode 82 of the Baseball Forward Podcast he explained how roster limits changed recruiting at the top of Division I. Here is what that means for a high school player.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube
How did roster limits change Division I recruiting?
Programs that opted into the House settlement now carry a 34-man roster. Combined with the transfer portal and revenue sharing, Sabins says, that pushes college baseball toward a professional roster-building model.
With fewer spots, a staff has less room to:
- wait on a raw project who needs years to compete,
- absorb injuries, or
- take a chance on a player who is not ready yet.
Coaches still want to develop high school players, but they balance them against experienced players who have already proven they can compete. Not every Division I school opted in, so ask each program about its roster size. Gardner-Webb's Jim Chester explains the opt-out side.
What do Division I coaches need beyond talent?
Talent gets a player into the conversation. The intangibles decide whether that talent shows up on the field. Sabins listed:
- Concentration and focus
- Coachability, and the willingness to apply feedback quickly
- Persistence through adversity
- Confidence and emotional maturity
- A disciplined work ethic and readiness to compete right away
"If you don't work hard, you have no chance. You're not even in the discussion."
What to do: these are visible at events and in conversations with your high school and summer coaches. When a college coach calls them, these are the questions they ask.
Why is college baseball such a strong place to develop?
At an elite program, a player works with coaches, biomechanists, nutritionists, sleep specialists, sports psychologists, and performance staff while competing every day for a role. West Virginia pairs that with a biomechanics and performance center.
The catch: playing time is earned. The support is extensive, but nobody is promised a spot in the lineup. That mix of resources and real competition is why the level keeps rising.
My son dreams of a power-conference program but isn't there yet. What should he do?
Sabins' advice is practical:
"Go where you're really wanted, where people are interested in you, and where you're convinced you're going to get a great opportunity."
Junior college, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and mid-major programs can all be meaningful steps. Be loyal and grateful for the opportunity you get, keep improving, and honestly evaluate your next step each year as your ability and goals change.
That is the same path our Recruiting 101 guide to levels and fit recommends: find the level where you will play, then keep developing.
What separates players once they arrive?
Sabins' message for the next generation is to resist individualism. Baseball is a team sport, and players separate themselves when they care as much about the team result and their teammates' success as their own numbers.
For parents, that starts in the car ride home. Ask more than "How many hits did you get?" Ask how the game went and whether he helped the team move forward.
Keep researching
- See the West Virginia University program page for location, cost, and roster details.
- Hear what another Division I recruiting coordinator looks for in our Dallas Baptist guide.
- Ready to build a realistic school list and contact coaches directly? Become a Prospect List Member.