Keep it short and clean: 3 to 5 minutes, best pitches first. Open with a simple info slate (name, grad year, position, contact, key measurables), then show about ten pitches from the windup and ten from the stretch, fastball-heavy. Film from two angles, behind the mound and behind the pitching box, with the catcher always in frame, at real speed. No music, no slow motion, no cheesy graphics. And before any of that: make sure the delivery you're showing is actually his best.
A recruiting video is often a college coach's very first look at your pitcher, and it's a fast one. Most evaluators know within a handful of pitches whether they're interested. That's not a reason to panic, it's good news: the bar for standing out is mostly just doing the simple things right, because so many videos get them wrong.
“Coaches decide in the first five pitches. Lead with your best.”
A recruiting video is a first impression, and it's a fast one.What to put in it
Structure beats length. A coach wants to evaluate a pitcher quickly, so give them exactly what they need and nothing that gets in the way.
- A simple info slate to open. Name, graduation year, position, height and weight, throwing hand, and contact info. If you have a verified velocity, put it here. Keep it to one clean screen.
- About 10 pitches from the windup, then about 10 from the stretch. Make at least half of each fastballs, then mix in the offspeed. Coaches want to see both, since he'll pitch from both.
- Lead with your best. Since the decision happens fast, put your best fastballs and your sharpest offspeed early, not buried at the end.
How to film it
You don't need a film crew. A phone, a warm-up, and the right setup is all it takes.
Warm up fully first
Only start recording once he's loose and throwing his best. Nobody needs to see him finding it.
Two angles
Behind the mound, and behind the pitching box (about 3 feet to his throwing side and 5 feet back). Film half the pitches from each.
Keep the catcher in frame
Always show the ball being caught. Coaches read location and movement from where it ends up.
Real speed, steady, well-lit
Film at normal speed on a stable phone in good light. Clear and simple beats fancy.
What kills a tape
Just as important as what to do is what to leave out. These are the things that get a video skipped or, worse, leave a bad impression.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Lead with your best pitches | Bury the good stuff at the end |
| Keep it to 3 to 5 minutes | Send a long, padded tape |
| Film at real speed | Use slow motion (coaches slow it down themselves) |
| Clean info slate, clear footage | Music, quotes, or a personal note to the coach |
The theme: make it easy and honest. Coaches are evaluating a pitcher, not a movie. Anything that gets between them and a clear look at the delivery works against you.
The part that matters before you hit record
Here's the quiet truth. A recruiting video is a full, unedited look at your pitcher's delivery, and a trained eye reads mechanics instantly. Two pitchers can throw the same velocity and one looks like a prospect while the other doesn't, because of how they move. Sloppy mechanics show up on camera and cap both the velocity and the command a coach is evaluating.
So the highest-leverage thing you can do isn't a better camera. It's making sure the delivery in the video is his best. That connects directly to our guide on how to get recruited (velocity opens the door, the delivery and command get the offer) and to what good mechanics actually look like. And film the pitches with intent, but never chase a showcase radar number at the cost of a healthy arm, the goal is to still be pitching well when the offers come.
The bottom line
A great recruiting video is short, clean, and honest: best pitches first, a simple info slate, two clear angles at real speed, and none of the fluff that gets tapes turned off. Do those simple things and you're already ahead of most. Then make sure the delivery you're showing is the best version of it, because that's what a coach is really evaluating.
Not sure if his mechanics are showing him at his best? Film one pitch from the side and upload it. We'll break down his delivery frame by frame and show you what's strong and what to clean up before coaches ever see it. Our filming guide covers getting that clip right.
Make sure the delivery in his video is his best
Upload one video and we'll break down his mechanics frame by frame, what's working and what to clean up before coaches see it. Free. For any pain, always see a doctor first.
Start the Free Evaluation →Takes about 2 minutes · See a sample analysis firstCommon questions
How long should a baseball recruiting video be?
Three to five minutes for a pitcher. Most college coaches decide whether they're interested within the first handful of pitches, so a long tape works against you. Keep it tight, lead with your best pitches, and give them a clean, quick look rather than everything you've ever thrown.
What camera angles should a pitcher use for a recruiting video?
Two: behind the mound, and behind the pitching box (roughly 3 feet to the throwing side and 5 feet back), with about half the pitches from each. Always keep the catcher in frame so coaches can read location and movement. Film at real speed on a steady phone in good light, no slow motion.
What should a pitcher show in a recruiting video?
Open with a simple info slate (name, grad year, position, height and weight, throwing hand, contact, and a verified velocity if you have one). Then show about ten pitches from the windup and ten from the stretch, with at least half of each being fastballs and the rest your offspeed. Put your best pitches first.
Should you add music to a recruiting video?
No. Coaches are evaluating a pitcher, not watching a highlight reel, and music, quotes, or a personal message can get the tape turned off or leave a bad impression. Keep it clean and simple: a clear info slate, clear footage of the pitches, and nothing that gets between the coach and a good look at the delivery.
Does a pitcher really need a recruiting video?
For college recruiting, yes, it's often a coach's first look, and it lets them evaluate a lot before ever seeing you in person. But a video is only as good as the delivery in it. Clean, repeatable mechanics are what let your velocity and command show up on camera, so it's worth making sure the delivery is right before you send anything.
Upload one video. See his delivery frame by frame. Free.
We'll show you exactly where his mechanics are costing him, and what to work on first.
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