July 23, 2025
On July 22, we with down for a LIVE version of Coaches’ Corner with George Capen, Associate Head Coach at Georgetown University, for a deep-dive conversation about the recruiting process for high-academic baseball programs. With nearly a decade of coaching experience and a playing background at Holy Cross and in the Mariners’ system, Coach Capen brings thoughtful insight into what it takes to find – and be – the right fit at the next level.
What followed was a candid, detail-rich conversation about recruiting timelines, evaluation strategies, development, and communication – plus a live Q&A with families. You can watch the full conversation in the video above.
Below, we’ve distilled the key takeaways and wrapped up with the questions and answers from the end of the session.
Coach Capen emphasized that while the broader recruiting landscape has shifted later – in part due to roster cap reductions and increased use of the transfer portal – Georgetown has long taken a “methodical” approach. Instead of rushing to close a class early, they intentionally leave space in their recruiting to continue evaluations into the fall of senior year.
“It’s not slow – it’s thorough,” said Capen. “We’re not just checking boxes. We want to make sure that, when a player joins our program, it’s truly the right fit on both sides.”
For the class of 2026, that means there is still meaningful opportunity this summer and into the fall. And for underclassmen, the process is just getting started – with plenty of space to build relationships and show development over time.
Coach Capen outlined a few core components they’re evaluating in every student-athlete:
Coach Capen was clear: metrics like Velo, 60 time, and exit velocity are just one small piece of the puzzle. They’re looking for baseball players – not just athletes who can put up flashy numbers in isolated settings.
“Don’t try to win the showcase – just play your brand of baseball,” he advised. “We’re not evaluating one pitch, one at-bat, or even one game. We want to see a pattern, a trend – and development over time.”
Capen offered specific, tactical advice for student-athletes reaching out to coaches:
Capen emphasized that fall prospect camps can be a powerful opportunity – particularly for rising seniors looking to be seen in front of the whole coaching staff, on campus, and in a practice-style setting. “We use our camps as a key part of the recruiting process,” he said. “It’s a great way for us to check off a lot of boxes at once.”
Once players have gotten efficient broader exposure to the schools on their list through a showcase or opportunity like Headfirst, they can use that to narrow the list of programs’ prospect camps that are worth their time, money, travel, and energy. When a player has narrowed their list down to a small handful of programs that they are highly interested in, and which they know are interested in recruiting them, getting on campus at those schools’ prospect camps is a great next step in the process.
Throughout the conversation, Capen returned to one word: process.
“Everyone is on their own development timeline,” he said. “The more we can get a full picture – through games, showcases, video, and conversations – the better we can understand who a player really is and how they might fit here.”
Q: Are D1 schools still recruiting high school players with the transfer portal in play?
A: Absolutely. Georgetown still brings in a full class of high school players each year – usually 6–8 per class. While grad transfers may fill some needs, the foundation is built through high school recruiting.
Q: My son is a 2026 who hasn’t had many opportunities yet. Is it too late?
A: Not at all. There is still plenty of time this fall to get seen and build traction. Coach Capen strongly recommends attending prospect camps at schools of interest – it’s the best way to get meaningful exposure and direct evaluation.
Q: How do I know if a coach is really interested in me?
A: Don’t overanalyze email tone. Instead, ask direct questions like “What’s the next step in the process?” If a coach is taking time for phone calls, campus visits, or extended back-and-forth – that’s a good sign.
Q: How do I stand out at a showcase?
A: Be athletic, play hard, and don’t worry about stats. Coaches are looking at how you move, how you respond to adversity, and how you play the game – not just whether you go 3-for-3.
Q: How do I show my baseball IQ?
A: It shows up in your instincts – your reads, your decisions, your positioning. If you want to build it? Watch more baseball with purpose. Observe situations. Ask, “What would I do here?”
Q: What’s your advice to 2028s and 2029s?
A: Focus on development. Playing the game, getting better, and learning how to perform in showcase settings is far more important than exposure at this stage.
Coach Capen closed by inviting student-athletes to reach out if they’re interested in Georgetown: “If you’re a good player, a good student, and a great person – we’d love to hear from you.”