May of Junior year + sudden injury = Post Grad year / re-class & many questions (pls help! 😳)

Hi All, This is long, very sorry.  But we SO much appreciate any help if you know about this subject.

My son, a Junior/2022 was something of a late bloomer. Now, (May 2021) is 6'4", 225lbs, very athletic broad shouldered build, though not “full grown man” ultra muscular yet. (Don’t get me wrong - he’s jacked - just not full grown strong yet) Pre-Covid had not gotten much recruiting action, but has grown a lot, and with 106EV & 86AV - and just recently started all of a sudden to get communications from mid D1’s & ranked D2’s.. Was becoming a truly effective pitcher as well, though probably most valuable for his bat & size I would guess. His defense, his passion, his gamer/“do whatever it takes” & “all in” mentality all seem positives as well.

Last week, at a HS game in temps in the 40s, he was put in the middle of a game to pitch without his normal warm-up routine. He should've said something to the coach but being eager to please & not having the guts to say “no, I need my warm-up” or whatever. Six consecutive strikeouts later - against a team that up to that point was having us for lunch - & my son just walked off the mound.

Turns out he had torn his UCL & will need surgery to continue baseball at any high level. He had worked SO hard. And with that one moment, this upcoming Summer FULL of showcase tournaments, college visits & camps - & Fall & rest of this recruiting year has just disappeared before his eyes.. (maybe early next year too - depending on the type of surgery he will have - repair vs full TJ)

His main focus is baseball. As long as he maintains good academics we are ok with that. He does have other interests, but wants to pursue baseball as far as it can go.  Not looking to debate “college should be first” just for help on how to continue to have the best baseball opportunity possible.

We are in Pennsylvania, so I don't know what the reality is of HS re-classing. He only played freshman ball as a freshman, which in the past didn't count as far as his four years of high school eligibility.. But, from the little I've read & heard, that has changed it seems - so the choice would be a private high school - or the more likely scenario, the "PG" year.

He is still 16, so I don't have a problem with an extra year before starting college. I know some argue “losing a year in the workforce”, but we’re not won over with that one. I played music on the road until I was 30 & now am financially more than just fine.  He has plenty of years left to go be that hamster on the work/life wheel, but only a limited number of years remaining to play baseball.  Again, am not here to debate that.

All that said, I have read the few threads that exist on PG years & can't say I completely understand all of the ramifications & how it would work as far as that extra year & recruiting..

So a bunch of random questions if anyone can answer any of them we would both be SO grateful.  🤗

- Does he now somehow “become a 2023” for recruiting purposes? (Currently 2022) HOW? What does he need to to become a “2023” - list himself as 2023 or “PG2023” (or something?) and how would we “say” that on sites like PerfectGame or PBR, etc (his own web/social pages) - where he already has a profile/info? WILL they then list him as a 2023? (Or ?)

- What about NCAA? Does he notify NCAA & somehow change that with them? (He already has an NCAA ID with expected/stated Grad year 2022)

- How do colleges view elbow repair - or reconstruction (TJ) ? I mean in college he’s 99%+ likely to be a position player - not a P - so it’s the rest of it;  bat, defense, etc. and as long as he can return to throwing mid 80's, that part should be ok.  

- Should he reach out to any coaches he has communicated with & tell them he’s planning an extra year before starting into college - and the “why”?

- He is 16U eligible this year (but playing 17U) so should he play on the best 17U tournament team he can next Summer to try to be “recruited” then? (Or play 18U?)

- IF recruited next year, could/should he do a PG Fall semester, then start at that college in the January semester as a redshirt, & practice/workout with the team & hopefully have them help get him into a Summer team that next year?

- OR do a full year PG program?

- Ok, try not to laugh at us - but how does any of this affect his chances to be drafted? Yes, I know how long of a shot that is - but with his size & bat there is that snowball’s chance, & why not try?

- Will his SAT & GPA still work for him after that PG year? (currently 1340 as of Junior Fall but if he actually does some prep & re-takes could maybe get that magic 1400+ and his GPA will likely be something like 3.9-4.2 weighted)

- DO any of these PG programs give any partial scholarships? I have looked at IMG, which is insane to me & Combine - which even that, non-boarding, is $30k (yikes!) We expect to pay & we are fine to pay, but, - ideally - not that much. FIBA (Sarasota) for example lists a PG program (non-boarding) for $15k & says “scholarships available” - that is closer to more like it. Also Elev8 “elevate” in Delray Beach is another one I’ve found.. BUT there HAS to be many more of these who don’t optimize their website for Google search (lol) that I have yet to find.

- Don’t need this extra year for academics.. I think he’s decently positioned to get into many colleges - & if he gets SAT to 1400+ then I'd think he would be attractive to even more schools. BUT - definitely think missing this Junior-Senior Summer - especially after COVID recruiting year lost - having this extra year will be a positive. PLUS, the additional maturity & extra baseball focus won’t hurt either.

So - thoughts, info, anything you can tell us on this subject & it's nuances would be most genuinely appreciated.

THANK YOU SO MUCH !! ❤️