THE COMMITTED PLAYER
You know where you are going, but want another year to get stronger, develop and arrive on campus better prepared to compete for a role.
NORTHSTAR STATE POST GRAD · 2027 CLASS
ONE MORE YEAR.
ARRIVE READY.
An additional year to get bigger, get stronger, gain experience and prepare for the demands of college baseball.
DEVELOP. COMPETE. ADVANCE.
WHY POST GRAD?
College baseball is getting older.
Make sure you're ready for it.
When you arrive on a college campus, you won't just compete against your graduating class. You'll compete against players who may be one, two, three or four years older—and who have had more time to develop physically, mentally and within the game.
Getting to college is one thing. Getting there ready to contribute is another. A post-grad year gives you another season of development and competition before beginning your college career.
The question isn't whether you can get to college. The question is: when you get there, will you be ready?
WHO IS NORTHSTAR STATE FOR?
Different recruiting situations. The same goal: arrive better prepared.
THE RECRUITABLE PLAYER
You have college opportunities, but believe another year of development and competition could expand those opportunities or help you find the right fit.
THE DEVELOPING PLAYER
You want more physical development, game experience and exposure before beginning your college baseball career.
GET BIGGER
Build the physical foundation needed to handle the demands of a longer, faster and more competitive college season.
GET STRONGER
Train in a structured performance environment with the resources and coaching to make meaningful gains.
GAIN EXPERIENCE
Add another season of at-bats, innings, competition and daily baseball development before stepping onto campus.
PREPARE
Use the year to maximize your development and enter college ready to compete for opportunities from day one.
THE COLLEGE LANDSCAPE
Three changes reshaping college baseball.
THE “5-IN-5” MODEL
Beginning in 2026–27, Division I and II use an age-based eligibility model. The guide notes that athletes who are still 18 on September 1 following high school graduation can use a post-grad year without starting their five-year collegiate eligibility period.
ROSTER CONSTRUCTION
Division I programs subject to the House settlement framework operate with a 34-player baseball roster limit, while Division II and III roster sizes vary by program. Opportunities can be difficult for younger players on deep rosters.
THE MLB DRAFT
The guide highlights the proposed contraction of the domestic draft as another factor that could keep more experienced players in college baseball and increase competition throughout the college landscape.
COMPETITION
Development has to show up in games.
Northstar State is building a fall and spring competition model designed to give players meaningful at-bats, innings and game experience against college and post-grad competition.
50PLANNED GAMES
35SPRING
15FALL
4COMPETITION LEVELS
PLANNED COMPETITION INCLUDES
St. Mary's University JVGustavus JVSt. John's JVSt. OlafBethel JVNorthwestern–St. PaulDakota County Technical CollegeBenedictine CollegeArizona ChristianPost Grad Sports
Working competition plan shown for program context. Opponents, dates, locations and game counts are subject to change as the 2027 schedule is finalized.
FALL TRAVEL
ARIZONA
The working fall plan includes a trip to the Scottsdale area for additional competition, including planned games with Post Grad Sports and an Arizona Christian University scrimmage. The trip adds a different competitive environment to the fall development calendar.
Trip details and opponents remain subject to final scheduling.
WHY NORTHSTAR STATE?
Preparing you for what comes next.
Professional, Division I, Division II, Division III and high school experience across player development, pitching, catching, performance, coaching and recruiting.
Mike Kvasnicka
Head Coach
MLB Draft Pick · 6 Years Pro · MinnesotaTwo-time MLB Draft selection with six years of professional experience and coaching experience at Minnesota, St. Thomas and Cretin-Derham Hall.Kevin Walsh
Pitching Coach
Phillies Draft Pick · Pro Pitcher · College CoachFormer professional pitcher, two-time SWAC Relief Pitcher of the Year and experienced college pitching coach and player developer.Toby Anderson
Assistant Coach · Director of Admissions
Minnesota · Big Ten Champion · Prep Baseball MinnesotaFour-year University of Minnesota letter winner, 2016 Big Ten Champion, high school pitching coach and experienced player evaluator.Max Weesner
Director of Operations · Catching Development
Minnesota · Concordia-St. Paul · Southeastern CCCatching developer with college coaching, recruiting and offensive-development experience at the NCAA Division II and NJCAA levels.Jeff Meland
Director of Sports Performance
10+ Years Strength & ConditioningUniversity of Minnesota Duluth Exercise Science graduate with more than a decade developing youth, collegiate and professional athletes.“Northstar State has built a Post Grad Staff that has more experience in the game of baseball than I have seen anywhere in the country.”— Austin Wates, Recruiting Coordinator & Associate Head Coach, Kansas State Baseball
OUR FACILITY
25,000 square feet built for development.
Northstar State players have year-round access to a baseball and performance environment designed around daily improvement.
25KSq. Ft. Facility
9Full-Length Cages
4.5KSq. Ft. Weight Room
1Pitching Lab
- 9 full-length batting cages
- Portolite Pitching Lab with Trackman and a built-in three-rubber mound
- Extra-wide HitTrax cage, ATEC training machine and Blast Motion units
- 4,500 sq. ft. fully equipped weight room
- Arm-care and recovery equipment
- Wellness center with custom cold plunge and six-person sauna
- Players lounge and cafeteria
10 YEARS OF PLACING & PREPARING PLAYERS
A track record built before the post-grad program.
Since 2016, Northstar has helped more than 200 athletes earn college baseball commitments. Northstar State brings that same experience in evaluation, development and college connections to the post-grad year.
A PROVEN PATH TO COLLEGE BASEBALL
217Total college placements
78Division I
59Division II
51Division III
29JUCO
“The Northstar Baseball Staff has consistently pushed out prepared, high baseball IQ, and hard working ballplayers for a long time.”— Pat Casey, Recruiting Coordinator & Assistant Coach, University of St. Thomas Baseball
NORTHSTAR PROS
Development that has reached professional baseball.
Northstar alumni have continued into professional organizations including Pittsburgh, San Diego, Colorado, San Francisco, Washington, Milwaukee, Oakland, Philadelphia and New York.
Eli Wilson · Adam Mazur · Justin Loer · Nick Morreale · Jake Irvin — Washington Nationals · Hayden Vucinovich · Dalton Sawyer · Jake Stevenson — New York Mets · Nick Lackney · Jordan Jess — Pittsburgh Pirates · Tucker Novotny — Oakland A’s · Seth Clausen — Colorado Rockies
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Start with the questions players and families ask first.
Can I participate if I am already committed to a college?
Yes. Northstar State is also designed for committed players who decide that another year of development and competition can better prepare them for their college careers.
Will a post-grad year affect my college eligibility?
Eligibility depends on the individual athlete's age, enrollment timing and circumstances. The program guide notes that under the 2026–27 age-based model, athletes who are still 18 on September 1 following high school graduation can use a post-grad year without starting the five-year collegiate eligibility period. Players and families should confirm their individual situation.
What kind of competition is planned?
The current working model targets 50 games across fall and spring, including competition with college JV programs, JUCO, NAIA and post-grad opponents. The schedule remains in development.
What development resources will players have?
The program operates from Northstar's 25,000 sq. ft. facility with nine full-length cages, a pitching lab, TrackMan, HitTrax, a 4,500 sq. ft. weight room, recovery resources and player spaces.
How do I get started?
Begin with a player evaluation request. Share your baseball background, position, graduation year and current recruiting situation so the Northstar State staff can begin the conversation.