Swampboy, I also come from a family that values education and I have taught both undergraduate and graduate level courses. With that said, I admire the decision your son has made and think it reflects unusual wisdom for one so young. He is a rare young person who knows what he wants, understands the odds of his choice, and has committed to a course of action that will allow him to end his quest satisfied regardless of the outcome. Kudos to him!
Incidentally, my son sounds a lot like yours. He is a freshman in college who made his college decision based on his desire to see how far he can go in baseball. It's a fine school, but not as academically rigorous as other places he could have selected. And, like your son, he was a decent student in high school but far more dedicated to working out and practicing than hitting the books. I worried a lot about his priorities over the years, but finally came to admire his passion and dedication to the thing that was most important to him.