How long can he hit and pitch?

Can't speak for college, but if he can really rake they will most likely let him hit in HS.  It will all depend on your schools coach, but at least around here the kids that can really hit get to keep hitting.  Pitchers who are decent hitters, but not one of the top hitters on the team, usually don't get to hit.

I think Joes87 got the theme right. It depends entirely on how good you are. It's working for this kid:

www.gocards.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=31

As long as he can continue to do both effectively.

Just looked up some information on GameChanger for Decatur High School (AL) as I was wanting to see when Tanner Burns had pitched.  I read the recap story where it said Tanner had homered during the game.  I checked to see how many pitches he threw and found that he had not pitched.  Had to go through the individual plays where I finally found that they had him playing SS.  He not only hits, apparently he plays SS on his off days - kind of wild for a kid who might skip the college campus altogether.

2017 is a decent hitter when compared to overall team but coaches don't seem to want kids who are pitching to hit the same game.  They also prefer to rest pitchers so he probably doesn't see the OF on Saturday if he pitched on Friday (and he's not good enough to DH) so plate appearances are limited.  That said, another pitcher on the team is a top 5 hitter and they seem to bend the rules for that kid.  2017 had a few minor nagging issues last year that in part were attributed to hitting (some minor back pain) so hitting was discouraged.  I think if he had been 100% last year they would let him hit more often.  All that to say - the answer depends on several variables, the first being that he can contribute at the plate and secondarily that his plate appearances do not detract from his pitching or put it at risk.  2017 is a pitcher first, OF second and then a hitter.  Other pitcher is really a IF first, hitter second and pitcher third.

A lot goes into that question...I had one player from last years team go D1 as a 2 way player.  Mid-Major conference, middle of the road team within the conference.  School is 5 hours from home.  He was the only two way player listed on the roster.  Out of 18 pitchers he had the lowest ERA and WHIP in the fall.  Head coach talked to him before Christmas break and he was going to be used in middle relief and as DH...the future was looking bright.

His practice time was double everyone else on the team. He literally had to run to the cafeteria to make meal time...In high school he had a 3.6 GPA, solid test scores, never partied, was determined to play D1 ball and had it all together.  First semester grades come out...he failed every class...coach calls and says he's going to have to redshirt now...player quits and is now enrolled in CC taking classes and as of right now has no interest in playing baseball again. 

I would consider a lot of things very seriously if my goal is being a two way player.  How far away from home am I going (you aren't going to have time to come home maybe 1 or 2 times the first semester, you need some form of support system).  Talk to some current players and find out the time requirements for practice.  The NCAA has rules, it doesn't mean all schools go by them. 

I've got another player from last years team playing 2 ways at one of the best d2 programs in the country.  School is 10 minutes from his home.  He's leading the team in innings pitched, 7 ab's so far at the plate.  He knew going in that the first two years he would be primarily a pitcher.  He's very busy but he loves it, he's not overwhelmed at the time requirement for baseball at this school.  He's close enough home to get a home cooked meal or see some familiar faces and get away from baseball for a while. 

CaCo, is your son 15 now?  I'll add my 2 cents but I would caution what and how much you share with him.  

First, Cubbie offers some great insight regarding the extra work to the already heavy workload a college athlete has.  

Also, I'll run through typical progression of a good HS player...  

If at a decent school but not a powerhouse, a lot of players will be able to do both.  If at a large/powerhouse HS, many players that are very good hitters and pitchers are forced to focus on one or the other.  Then, college.  There are TONS of REALLY GOOD players that had outstanding HS careers as both hitter and pitcher.  Once recruited, the overwhelming majority (particularly D1, but also the better schools at other tiers) are recruited and/or funneled to one or the other.   Yes, there are exceptions.

The reason for my word of caution - I think it's fine to start giving players that age an idea of how hard they have to work to make it to the college level.  I'm just not sure it's a good idea, at this point, to dampen excitement about all aspects of the game and plant the idea that he will be "forced" to ONLY pitch or ONLY play a position possibly several years before he has to deal with that.  JMO.

Assuming your son is still catching and pitching, I think this is the more likely "decision" issue to come up in the very near future.

Hit and pitch until they tell you not to. 

I had a buddy who was recruited Big Ten (when it actually was 10) for his hitting.  He became a pitcher and never hit again. 

cabbagedad posted:

CaCo, is your son 15 now?  I'll add my 2 cents but I would caution what and how much you share with him.  

First, Cubbie offers some great insight regarding the extra work to the already heavy workload a college athlete has.  

Also, I'll run through typical progression of a good HS player...  

If at a decent school but not a powerhouse, a lot of players will be able to do both.  If at a large/powerhouse HS, many players that are very good hitters and pitchers are forced to focus on one or the other.  Then, college.  There are TONS of REALLY GOOD players that had outstanding HS careers as both hitter and pitcher.  Once recruited, the overwhelming majority (particularly D1, but also the better schools at other tiers) are recruited and/or funneled to one or the other.   Yes, there are exceptions.

The reason for my word of caution - I think it's fine to start giving players that age an idea of how hard they have to work to make it to the college level.  I'm just not sure it's a good idea, at this point, to dampen excitement about all aspects of the game and plant the idea that he will be "forced" to ONLY pitch or ONLY play a position possibly several years before he has to deal with that.  JMO.

Assuming your son is still catching and pitching, I think this is the more likely "decision" issue to come up in the very near future.

He's still 14.  JV coach is letting him pitch and hit but this is the third team in a row that LOVED him as a catcher, until they saw him pitch, now he doesn't catch.  He's okay with giving up catching. He's starting to embrace the pitching, it's actually been like a freight train since he had a huge velo jump this year so he better start embracing it, but doesn't like the idea of being a PO. He LOVES hitting. 

You make a VERY good point about not planting the idea that if he pitches he won't be able to hit.  I'll stick with the old line "depends on the program", and he can take it from there.

Roughly half of all college recruits are pitchers. Being a primary or secondary pitcher is very helpful in the recruiting process (presuming the player can actually pitch!)

My sons' college teams have had a total of 2, two way players over five seasons.

At the college level, pretty much every player is all conference, all area, all state, etc. Kids can really hit and kids can really pitch. 

My son's experience is that he pitched and hit in HS.  He is a little bit different, because he is a LHP, but he bats right. This means that when he hits, his left arm is exposed.  First year at JC, they told son he would never play 1B for them, because they didn't want him to have to throw that much when he would be the 1 or the 2 pitcher.  They would like him to DH though.  He DH'd some, and he had a pretty good year at the plate.  Honestly, he would be one of the top 2 or 3 hitters for his JC team, but the PC absolutely does not want him to hit.  I believe this stems from a few years back, when a potential 4th round pick was injured on the base paths.  (Hurt his non throwing shoulder sliding into second.) 

I will add that as others have stated, it is hard to juggle practice for pitching, hitting, and fielding with school.  Unfortunately, the pitchers practice separately, so most of the time, you have to stay later or come earlier.  With class this is not always possible.  I think you have to have commitment form the coaching staff, and if you have a PC that is 100% not on board with his #1 or #2 pitcher hitting, it is probably not going to happen.

It's really too bad, because he is a really good hitter, and they could definitely use him; even if it was only as an occasional DH or PH. 

At this point, he has decided he doesn't want to hit anymore, because I think he got tired of swimming upstream.  He loves the PC, and I think he doesn't want to upset the apple cart.  He also has come to enjoy concentrating on the game that he is pitching, and not having to worry about bad at bats. 

When he was being recruited by several D-1's, D-2's, etc., many said they wanted him to hit in the middle of their line-up, and be one of their main pitchers.  Looking back, I think they were only telling him what they thought he wanted to hear.  I think it is really rare for one of the top of the rotation guys to be one of the main hitters too.  When you are 6'4" and a LHP, you are probably going to be a pitcher even if you can hit the ball.

Look up Brendan McKay. Don't know much about smaller colleges but at a Power5, you need to be really good at both to do so.

CaCO3Girl posted:

He's still 14.  JV coach is letting him pitch and hit but this is the third team in a row that LOVED him as a catcher, until they saw him pitch, now he doesn't catch.  He's okay with giving up catching. He's starting to embrace the pitching, it's actually been like a freight train since he had a huge velo jump this year so he better start embracing it, but doesn't like the idea of being a PO. He LOVES hitting. 

You make a VERY good point about not planting the idea that if he pitches he won't be able to hit.  I'll stick with the old line "depends on the program", and he can take it from there.

Sounds so much like my kid.  Primary catcher until his 14U summer.  He was supposed to be a catcher, ended up getting some mop up innings on the mound.  Did well. Got some save situations. Did well. Moved to starter. Did very well.

The coach happened to be the varsity coach at the school he was going to be attending.  He told him flat out, "In my program, you're too good of a pitcher to be a catcher." So, that was that.

The downside was that he rarely gets an at bat, despite being one of - if not the best hitter in the program.

The only time he was able to hit was his JV fall season.  The program had a new coach who knew none of the players, so he just put all underclassmen on JV and upperclassmen on V.  After the first few days, the JV coach decided to have my son DH when he wasn't pitching.  He ended up leading the team in every hitting category that fall.

Come spring - back to being a PO.  He still hits in the cage every day.  I think he is convinced one day, with the game on the line in the bottom of the 7th, and the winning run on base,that the coach is going to point at him and say, "You've been waiting for years - here's your chance." Personally, I don't seeing it happening - but a kid can dream right?

Very very very unusual to do both at upper levels of college.  Smaller lower levels perhaps. But golf said it best. Just do it til they don't let you anymore!  

Honestly, he would be one of the top 2 or 3 hitters for his JC team, but the PC absolutely does not want him to hit.  I believe this stems from a few years back, when a potential 4th round pick was injured on the base paths.  (Hurt his non throwing shoulder sliding into second.) 

I have to brag on 2017 here.  He is probably the best or second best pinch runner on the team (can read a dirt ball sooner then anyone else and used to get a lot of stolen bases standing up) and really good awareness on the basepaths.  He has a tendency to slide head first and actually had a pretty decent 4-5 inch gash in his forearm opened up this past fall  sliding into 2B. They let him run the other day but chewed him out when he went into 2B head first (they had told him feet first from now on). Needless to say, his pinch running days are over.  He loves BP but I think he knows the pressure is off and he is not expected to produce offensively.  As others have said, don't tell your kid when you think he will have to decide - when that time comes he will know it.

CaCO3Girl posted:

He's still 14.  JV coach is letting him pitch and hit but this is the third team in a row that LOVED him as a catcher, until they saw him pitch, now he doesn't catch.  He's okay with giving up catching. He's starting to embrace the pitching, it's actually been like a freight train since he had a huge velo jump this year so he better start embracing it, but doesn't like the idea of being a PO. He LOVES hitting. 

You make a VERY good point about not planting the idea that if he pitches he won't be able to hit.  I'll stick with the old line "depends on the program", and he can take it from there.

One thing you could suggest is to think about getting good at first base. That gives him two potential hitter spots when he's not pitching (1B and DH).

MidAtlanticDad posted:

CaCO3Girl posted:

He's still 14.  JV coach is letting him pitch and hit but this is the third team in a row that LOVED him as a catcher, until they saw him pitch, now he doesn't catch.  He's okay with giving up catching. He's starting to embrace the pitching, it's actually been like a freight train since he had a huge velo jump this year so he better start embracing it, but doesn't like the idea of being a PO. He LOVES hitting. 

You make a VERY good point about not planting the idea that if he pitches he won't be able to hit.  I'll stick with the old line "depends on the program", and he can take it from there.

One thing you could suggest is to think about getting good at first base. That gives him two potential hitter spots when he's not pitching (1B and DH).

Personally I really like him at first, he is really great at reading the ball coming in and scooping.  However, once he became "fast" coaches have put him in the OF rather than on 1B.

CaCO3Girl posted:

MidAtlanticDad posted:

CaCO3Girl posted:

He's still 14.  JV coach is letting him pitch and hit but this is the third team in a row that LOVED him as a catcher, until they saw him pitch, now he doesn't catch.  He's okay with giving up catching. He's starting to embrace the pitching, it's actually been like a freight train since he had a huge velo jump this year so he better start embracing it, but doesn't like the idea of being a PO. He LOVES hitting. 

You make a VERY good point about not planting the idea that if he pitches he won't be able to hit.  I'll stick with the old line "depends on the program", and he can take it from there.

One thing you could suggest is to think about getting good at first base. That gives him two potential hitter spots when he's not pitching (1B and DH).

Personally I really like him at first, he is really great at reading the ball coming in and scooping.  However, once he became "fast" coaches have put him in the OF rather than on 1B.

I hope they don't put him in the OF the day after he's had a draining pitching appearance. That's why I like 1B for two-way guys, they can play every game.

Semi-related observation. In my neck of Virginia, it is pretty much DOGMA that in HS catchers are not allowed to run the bases when they get on them through hits or walks, etc. Courtesy runner allowed (pitchers and catchers) so they get the hook.

The "problem" is that my 2017 has wheels, especially for a catcher. He legitimately clocked a 6.96 60 at a top D3 camp when someone showed him how to start a 60 properly (dropping from 7.1 to 7.2). In JV he had 19 SBs, the next closest was 12. Perhaps because he's a catcher and people try to steal on him constantly, he likes to return the favor. And he was a pretty savvy runner when allowed to stay on the bases. In HS, he'll leg-out a stand-up double and gets pulled instantly.

Is this a common practice in HS? I get it, 2 outs go ahead and make the switch. Hot and humid and pitches getting bounced. But on a nice day, and if he's got speed, let him fly...

Batty67 posted:

Semi-related observation. In my neck of Virginia, it is pretty much DOGMA that in HS catchers are not allowed to run the bases when they get on them through hits or walks, etc. Courtesy runner allowed (pitchers and catchers) so they get the hook.

The "problem" is that my 2017 has wheels, especially for a catcher. He legitimately clocked a 6.96 60 at a top D3 camp when someone showed him how to start a 60 properly (dropping from 7.1 to 7.2). In JV he had 19 SBs, the next closest was 12. Perhaps because he's a catcher and people try to steal on him constantly, he likes to return the favor. And he was a pretty savvy runner when allowed to stay on the bases. In HS, he'll leg-out a stand-up double and gets pulled instantly.

Is this a common practice in HS? I get it, 2 outs go ahead and make the switch. Hot and humid and pitches getting bounced. But on a nice day, and if he's got speed, let him fly...

Catcher is "always" replaced for courtesy runner in my neck of the woods. In addition to the reasons you mentioned, I can't think of a single case where the catcher was a faster runner than the courtesy runner, so it's more about gaining an advantage than dogma here.

A semi-related observation to your semi-related observation... one of my son's 17U teammates was a very good catcher. He started every varsity game in high school from freshman year on, but didn't play travel ball until 17U. The travel team was playing a local tournament and quite a few kids couldn't make it so this kid had to run his onw bases. The poor kid had no idea what he was doing. He didn't know the signs, didn't know how to take a lead, didn't know how to position himself on balls in play. At one point he goes from 2nd to 3rd on a ground ball in front of him. Out at 3rd by a mile. Coach says very calmly, "Son, when was the last time you ran the bases?" The kid pondered the question for moment and says, "12U?"

He's playing D2 baseball now, and I think he took a crash course in base running.