As usual with my questions I am confused by a thread. Rather than muddle up that thread I thought I would ask my own question. I did look in the search box but there were mostly topics about whether being a PO hurts recruiting potential, not what the norm is.
So, with regard to HS or Summer teams, do your pitchers ONLY pitch?
One poster said they often feel that their best pitcher is their best hitter/fielder as well. This kind of shocked me because where I come from if you are 16/17/18 and title yourself as a pitcher that is ALL you do. Sometimes coaches will allow other positions to pitch an inning or two but if you are considered a pitching prospect you don't hit or field or do anything else. You are a PO (Pitcher Only), and this even allows you a discounted rate on your summer team.
I wondered how it went in everyone else's neck of the woods. Does your pitcher only pitch? How many of your pitchers get to hit? What is the norm?
As others have posted, it really depends on player talent, team needs and student population. When my son played HS the team basically had three pitchers - the ace was 5 tool player throwing in the low 90's, second pitcher was in the mid-80's and the last was our junk ball pitcher (FB at about 80, but had a wicked CB).
The ace was always in the lineup as he hit very well (7 HR's his senior year). For pitcher #2 it varied. When he was pitching, the coach usually (but not always) had another player DH for him. If #2 not pitching he was in the OF and batted in the lower third of the lineup. Pitcher #3 was truly a PO. He would come in relief unless he was the scheduled starter. Only time he would bat is if the DH went away during the game (rare - but it did happen).
FWIW - at the time the HS was AA with a student population of ~1,250. Since the reclassification they are now a 4A school with a student population of ~1,300. In 2013 (or was it 2014?) the VHSL revamped the classifications. It was up to AAA. Afterwards it was changed to go as high as 6A. So our HS went from AA to 4A.
It really depends on the teams needs. Keep in mind the normal roster in our area is about 15 so that only leaves 6 on the bench. My son's senior year they only had 13 on the roster though the coach did bring up two from JV when they hit the playoffs. So more than likely if a pitcher can hit (even a little) he will probably play another position and bat.
The only time I saw a roster with PO's was when my son went to college. Out of 35 on the roster about half were PO's. The rest were position players.