It’s becoming impossible to ignore the physicality of Division I baseball. The average D1 roster is around 198 pounds. Does a high school recruit need to be 198 pounds? Of course not. But he needs to show that he’s trending toward the physicality required at that level. With only 34 roster spots, coaches have less room to recruit players who are years away. They need players who can compete and contribute sooner. Skill will always matter. Projection will always matter. But strength, movement and physical development have become a major part of the recruiting conversation. You don’t have to look like a college player yet. But coaches need to be able to see one coming.