quote:Originally posted by UticaBrewersGM:
What happens if he never throws any harder as he gets older, yet if allowed to hit and play a position, he completely mashes and develops into a left power hitting outfielder or 1B. Without continuing to do both, you never know...[/QUOTE]
Were talking about a 15 year old. Chances are if he maintains a consistent pitchers training routine and add in the maturity of the body there's a chance he will throw harder if his arm works right. It's tough to say without seeing how his arm works. Scouting is almost always based off projections.( Can he become a big leaguer in 3-5 years?). If for some reason he doesn't throw harder than he becomes a good college pitcher and it will be much easier to find a home than as a position player.
You'd be surprised at how LHP's are drafted and the velocity of many LHP's in HS or college that are now Big Leaguers.
My best example is Pat Misch. Pat was 85-86 at Western Michigan. Was taken in the 7th round in 2002 and is now in the Big League's.
It comes down to how the arm works.[/QUOTE]
In the same respect, you miss my point. How do you know at the age of 15 he is not meant to be a hitter. While I agree his best chances for moving forward and playing at the next level would be greater as a pitcher, particularly a lefty pitcher, why not proceed and do both for now.
Within the next couple of years, it will all decide itself, to what he is meant to be.