Want to Get Recruited? Get Strong First!

Jul 06, 2025

In today’s ultra-competitive recruiting landscape, strength training isn’t optional—it’s essential. According to LSU Baseball Strength Coach Chris Martin, if you're serious about playing at the next level, you need to be building your physical foundation before you step foot on campus. That doesn’t mean looking like a bodybuilder. It means showing up with movement skills, baseline strength, and a real understanding of how to train. College coaches—especially at powerhouse programs like LSU—expect incoming players to know their way around the weight room. They’re looking for athletes who’ve put in consistent work, built good habits, and are physically ready to compete on day one.

But it’s not just about looking strong—it’s about moving well. Martin stresses the importance of athleticism and balance. Over-specialized players who’ve only thrown or swung since age 11 often come in with movement issues that could’ve been avoided with more well-rounded training. Foundational movements like push, pull, squat, hinge, and rotate are critical, and even athletes without access to top-tier facilities can train these patterns with bodyweight, bands, and simple equipment. If you're serious about playing college ball, start early, move well, and prioritize total-body development—not just how hard you throw or how many reps you can bench.

And here’s the real separator: your off-the-field discipline. Martin calls out sleep, hydration, and nutrition as the true performance enhancers—and he’s not just throwing buzzwords around. Sleep is where your body recovers, grows, and builds real gains. If you’re staying up playing video games at midnight, you’re not maximizing your training. Want to add safe, legal supplements like creatine or protein powder? Great—but only after your sleep, meals, and hydration are locked in. As Martin puts it: “You say you want to play at the next level, but you’re still up at midnight on your phone. Which one is it?” For any athlete serious about getting recruited, strength training is no longer just a bonus—it’s your competitive edge.