College Softball Recruiting Standards by Position
Updated October 31, 2026 · Ranges reviewed October 2026
College coaches don’t judge every player by the same numbers. A catcher is measured by pop time, a shortstop by her arm and a first base player by her bat. Pitch speeds are from 43 feet. Below are the numbers coaches check first at each position, with the typical range for recruits finishing high school at each level.
- Pitchers: peak pitch speed
- Catchers: pop time
- Shortstop, second base and utility: infield throw
- Third base: infield throw
- First base: max exit velocity
- Outfield: outfield throw
On this page
Pitchers
Coaches look at peak pitch speed first, measured from 43 feet, then command and the movement on her rise, drop and changeup. The first number checked is in bold.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak pitch speed, mphGuideline | 63–68 | 58–62 | 55–60 | 56–61 | 54–61 |
| Average pitch speed, mphGuideline | 61–66 | 56–60 | 53–58 | 54–59 | 52–59 |
| Changeup speed difference, mphEstimate | 9–13 | 8–12 | 8–12 | 8–12 | 8–12 |
| Rise, drop or curve speed, mphEstimate | 61–66 | 56–61 | 53–58 | 54–59 | 52–59 |
| HeightGuideline | 5'8"–5'11" | 5'6"–5'10" | 5'5"–5'9" | 5'6"–5'10" | 5'5"–5'9" |
More detail: Pitching speed by level.
Catchers
Pop time, glove to glove on a throw to second base, is the first number coaches check. Receiving, blocking and framing matter just as much, but they’re judged on video and in person. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop time, secGuideline | 1.70–1.90 | 1.80–2.00 | 1.90–2.10 | 1.90–2.10 | 1.90–2.10 |
| Throw to second, mphGuideline | 61–67 | 57–62 | 54–59 | 54–59 | 54–59 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 70–78 | 65–72 | 63–70 | 63–70 | 63–70 |
| Average exit velocity, mphGuideline | 62–70 | 57–64 | 55–62 | 55–62 | 55–62 |
| Home to first, secGuideline | 2.87–3.12 | 2.97–3.22 | 3.12–3.37 | 3.17–3.42 | 3.17–3.42 |
More detail: Exit velocity by level.
Shortstop, second base and utility
Middle infielders are measured first by infield arm strength, then speed and bat. Second base and utility players share the shortstop ranges. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infield throw, mphGuideline | 62–68 | 58–63 | 55–60 | 55–60 | 55–60 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 68–76 | 64–71 | 62–69 | 62–69 | 62–69 |
| Average exit velocity, mphGuideline | 60–68 | 56–63 | 54–61 | 54–61 | 54–61 |
| Home to first, secGuideline | 2.75–3.00 | 2.85–3.10 | 3.00–3.25 | 3.05–3.30 | 3.05–3.30 |
More detail: Home to first times by level.
Third base
Third basemen need a quick, strong arm and more power than middle infielders, so their exit velocity ranges run higher. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infield throw, mphGuideline | 61–68 | 58–63 | 55–60 | 55–60 | 55–60 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 71–79 | 66–73 | 64–71 | 64–71 | 64–71 |
| Average exit velocity, mphGuideline | 63–71 | 58–65 | 56–63 | 56–63 | 56–63 |
| Home to first, secGuideline | 2.83–3.08 | 2.93–3.18 | 3.08–3.33 | 3.13–3.38 | 3.13–3.38 |
More detail: Exit velocity by level.
First base
First base is a bat-first position. Coaches start with exit velocity and power, and speed counts for less. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 71–79 | 66–73 | 64–71 | 64–71 | 64–71 |
| Average exit velocity, mphGuideline | 63–71 | 58–65 | 56–63 | 56–63 | 56–63 |
| Home to first, secGuideline | 2.83–3.08 | 2.93–3.18 | 3.08–3.33 | 3.13–3.38 | 3.13–3.38 |
More detail: Exit velocity by level.
Outfield
Outfielders are measured by arm strength first, and their home-to-first ranges are the fastest on this page. The first number checked is in bold. For times, lower is better.
| Number | D1 | D2 | D3 | NAIA | JUCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outfield throw, mphGuideline | 62–69 | 58–64 | 55–61 | 55–61 | 55–61 |
| Max exit velocity, mphGuideline | 69–77 | 65–72 | 62–70 | 62–70 | 62–70 |
| Average exit velocity, mphGuideline | 61–69 | 57–64 | 54–62 | 54–62 | 54–62 |
| Home to first, secGuideline | 2.73–2.98 | 2.83–3.08 | 2.98–3.23 | 3.03–3.28 | 3.03–3.28 |
More detail: Home to first times by level.
How to use these ranges
- Each range runs from where a level’s typical recruit starts to the top of that level. Players are recruited above and below them.
- The ranges describe recruits finishing high school. A freshman or sophomore isn’t expected to be there yet, and the evaluation credits younger players for normal growth.
- One number below range rarely rules a player out, except the first number coaches check at her position. If that one is short, the level is usually a reach.
- Guideline ranges follow published college recruiting guidelines. Estimate ranges are Softball Future’s own estimates where no published standard exists. None of them are official NCAA or NAIA standards.
See how every level works on the D1, D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO pages, or read how the evaluation scores these numbers.
These are the same ranges the Softball Future evaluation uses, reviewed October 2026. They are planning targets, not official NCAA or NAIA standards, and they don’t guarantee recruitment, admission or a scholarship. Softball Future is not affiliated with the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA or CCCAA.