Baseball Recruiting Benchmarks: Exit Velo, Pitching Velocity and What D1 Wants
Exit velocity and fastball velocity are the two numbers that get a baseball recruit noticed. Here are the benchmarks by position, rung by rung - and how to see where you really stand.
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AQ publishes its ladders by position. Find your position's exit velocity rungs below, or on exit velocity by position.
Exit velocity by position, rung by rung
Corner spots (1B, 3B, corner OF) carry the highest bar because the position demands power; premium up-the-middle defenders (SS, 2B, CF, C) get a little more runway on the bat.
| Position | D1 elite | D1 | D1 floor | D2 | D3 | HS varsity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortstop | 90.8 | 84.2 | 81.4 | 79.5 | 77.6 | 75.7 |
| Second Baseman | 90.8 | 84.2 | 81.4 | 79.5 | 77.6 | 75.7 |
| Third Baseman | 94.6 | 88.9 | 86.1 | 83.3 | 80.4 | 79.5 |
| First Baseman | 94.6 | 88.9 | 86.1 | 83.3 | 80.4 | 79.5 |
| Center Fielder | 92.7 | 86.1 | 83.3 | 80.4 | 78.5 | 77.6 |
| Catcher | 92.7 | 86.1 | 83.3 | 80.4 | 78.5 | 77.6 |
| Designated Hitter | 94.6 | 88.9 | 86.1 | 83.3 | 80.4 | 79.5 |
| Corner Outfielder (LF and RF) | 94.6 | 88.9 | 86.1 | 83.3 | 80.4 | 79.5 |
Fastball velocity by level
For pitchers, fastball velocity is the fastest filter - though command, secondary pitches, and projectability all factor in. The table carries separate right-handed and left-handed ladders.
| Position | D1 elite | D1 | D1 floor | D2 | D3 | HS varsity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right-Handed Pitcher | 95 | 90 | 87 | 85 | 82 | 79 |
| Left-Handed Pitcher | 92 | 87 | 84 | 82 | 80 | 77 |
Off-the-tee exit velo runs a few mph higher than live-BP or game exit velo. Coaches trust verified readings from a radar or a tracked event - always know your verified number.
Your numbers are on this ladder. Type them once and the scorer places them, 0-100, against our own D1 benchmarks for your position.
Score my numbersMeasurables open the door - performance keeps it open
Big exit velo or a mid-90s fastball gets you a look. What earns the offer is what happens after: in-game production, defense, baseball IQ, makeup, and academics that keep your options open. College programs weigh far more than one radar reading, which is exactly why a single number can be misleading on its own.
What is the AQ Score?
Athlete Quotient is the credit score of athletics: one objective number from 0 to 100 that measures any youth or high school athlete against our own Division I benchmarks - for their specific sport and position - across five dimensions (athletic, academic, leadership, community, and recruiting readiness). It is not stars, and it is not a scout's opinion. It is the truth about where you stand and exactly what to work on next.
Place your numbers on this ladder
A table tells you the bar. Your AQ Score tells you where you stand against it - all five dimensions, your gaps, and the level you actually fit, scored against our own D1 benchmarks for your position. Your first score is free.
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Frequently asked questions
What exit velocity do you need for D1 baseball?
On AQ's ladder the D1 exit velocity rung is 88.9 mph for first and third basemen, corner outfielders and DHs, 86.1 mph for center fielders and catchers, and 84.2 mph for shortstops and second basemen. Verified game exit velo is what coaches trust.
What pitching velocity do you need for D1?
On AQ's ladder the D1 fastball rung is 90 mph for a right-hander and 87 mph for a left-hander, and the D1 elite rung is 95 and 92.
What is a good exit velocity for a 15 or 16 year old?
AQ publishes its ladders by position, so there is no age chart here. Read your number against your position's rungs in the table above.
These are Athlete Quotient's own benchmarks. Where a published college figure exists we use it; where none exists, the rung is ours. We would rather say that than claim a source we do not have. Confirm your numbers with verified radar readings. Athlete Quotient uses its own proprietary scoring methodology to produce your AQ Score.