Cal Hernandez is the head baseball coach at Grayson College in North Texas. He played at Oral Roberts, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners, and took over at Grayson in 2022. On Episode 124 of the Baseball Forward Podcast he talked with Ross Hawley about how junior college fits into recruiting today. This guide answers the questions parents ask us most, using his points.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube
What do families get wrong about junior college?
Hernandez says many families chase the wrong things: the facilities and the name. Some high schools now have facilities that cost tens of millions of dollars, so players expect the same at the next stop. He says Grayson loses players every year that his family's Dallas Tigers organization has known since they were 10 or 12, because they pick the nicest campus or the biggest social media presence instead of the staff and the chance to play.
His question for families is simpler: what can this staff do for your son's career, and will he be on the field?
How is the transfer portal changing things for high school players?
Four-year programs increasingly want older players with more reps, playing time, and time in a clubhouse. Hernandez says a coach once asked him whether he would rather have an 18-year-old or a 22-year-old, and the answer was obvious. Rosters are also tighter, so four-year programs are releasing fewer players than they did two or three years ago.
His view is that more top high school talent will land at junior colleges, and he thinks junior college is becoming a powerhouse level again. For a high school player, that means keeping options open instead of insisting on Division I or nothing.
For more on the calendar and the portal, read exposure, timing, travel ball, and the transfer portal.
Why would a player choose JUCO over a Division I roster spot?
Playing time. Hernandez says a player at a junior college gets a chance to play early, while a Division I campus can be a big question mark. Grayson does not overload its roster; he says the program had 44 players this fall and tries to get everybody playing. Players face Division I and draft-level arms and bats every day, and scouts are in the stands.
He also says Grayson runs its program like a Division I or professional organization, from the schedule to individual work, so the jump to the next school is easier. He believes that is why four-year coaches trust Grayson players with the details. Last season, he says, more than 20 Grayson players signed to play at four-year schools.
"Don't think of it as the old JUCO, snakes, cockroaches in my bed mentality."
What should a family research before or during a visit?
- Depth at your position. Ask what the depth chart looks like and where your son would fit.
- What players actually did there. Look at the players who moved on and what their role was. Not everyone plays shortstop and hits second.
- How the roster is built. Program websites list where players came from. If one school brought in 15 transfers and another brought in five, you can see what each one prioritizes.
- Who left and who signed. Look at last year's departures and the class they brought in.
- The relationship. Hernandez calls himself a relationship guy. If a player can talk easily with one staff but not another, that tells you something about fit.
He adds that some recruits do not even know where the school is, which tells a coach they may not really want to play there. Do the research.
What kind of player does Grayson look for?
Hernandez wants competitors who work hard and are good teammates. He tries to avoid what he calls "indoor warriors": players who do most of their work inside, in a controlled setting, and freeze when they face real outdoor competition. Indoor work is fine, he says, but competing on the field every day is different.
He also looks at the little things. Grayson players dress the same, from undershirts to belts and socks, run hard down the line, and handle details between innings. He says four-year programs notice that maturity and accountability.
Keep researching
- See the Grayson College program page for location, cost, and roster details.
- Read Dusty Hart's take on winning at the junior college level.
- Follow Coach Hernandez on X at @CalHernandez1 and the program at @GraysonBaseball.
- Build your list free with a free account. Ready to reach coaches directly? Become a Prospect List Member for direct coach contact information, program insights, and a spot in the Prospect List shared with college programs.