Yes- we need to hear from RyyMann for his age and level of play- I am guessing around 16. There is a fascinating chapter in the book "Three Nights In August" by Buzz Bissinger where Tony LaRussa's view on the HBP and beanbballs are a factor. The chapter highlights how this can have a huge and permanent impact on the mental approach of a hitter. Until I read this book I never understood the "Self-Police" approach to paybacks and what it was about from a managers perspective. The book is a great read and I heard they are making a movie soon. There are a few books on hitting that address this issue and one called "Youth Baseball Coaching" that goes into details on how to maintain mental confidence by knowing how to properly avoid HBP injury with particular drills. Also relating to my first reply-In the Ken Burns documentary the episode on Ted Williams they mention his eyes were so good as a hitter that rarely could a pitcher hit him because he could always get out of the way. And this is a guy who while avoiding the HBP has the greatest on base percentage in baseball history.
Originally Posted by cabbagedad:
Originally Posted by Dadcoach:
Cabbagepatch, My son is actually a hitter, a sophomore who is leading his HS Varsity team in average and slugging so far this season. Scouts are fairly impressed with his approach and the training he has received. One of the keys to coaching is listening very careful to a player who is asking for help. You are right about HBP to the head. But this player has admitted he has true fear of the ball which is a special issue different than a regular hitter.It sounds like you have not coached a player like this before. My guess is he has been injured by a HBP or witnessed a serious injury and has an issue with his MENTAL approach as a result, is that correct?. It seems to me that RyyMann who posted this is not past this issue and not ready to confidently take a HBP to get on base and would like to see another reply. I know some weaker hitters choose to take a HBP as a result of not getting on base by hitting well enough.I know some coaches encourage this because they want a hitter to get on base at all costs. But a player who jumps out of the way of a ball he could have hit has a mental block to deal with first. He MUST get mentally past the issue somehow or he will never be a hitter at the next level.
Originally Posted by cabbagedad:
Yup, I'm used to same terminology as Standball but just semantics.
Dadcoach, everyone from at least HS JV up (if not younger) teaches and encourages players NOT to avoid HBP (unless at the head) but instead, how to get hit properly. Sorry, good hitters do not avoid HBP. OP is a teen and struggling with fear of HBP. The last thing he wants to be thinking about is to move to avoid being hit. You must be dad of a pitcher 
Dadcoach,
Congrats on son's good start!
I will admit this is a tricky situation with a player who has fear of getting hit at this stage of the game (assuming I am doing the age math correctly? - see my initial post). And I don't claim to know, definitively, the best answer to his problem. But I do know that the large majority of HS and college coaches will require a player to wear a pitch as opposed to "practice getting out of the way of the ball" and this is not limited to weaker hitters.
I have coached V (still do) and travel ball, study my craft and network with coaches at all levels. I have never seen or heard of a HS or college coach teaching a player to get out of the way of a ball or avoid getting hit by it, as you state. The standard is to teach how to wear it properly and take the base they are giving you. I don't see how Ryymann can benefit from working on "getting out of the way" as his solution and still expect to become a successful hitter. I'm open to learning new thoughts, though, so please expand.
Ryymann, please tell us your age and current playing level so we can fine-tune our advice.
