Tagged With "2020"
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
I remember these words of wisdom..."there's only so many bullets in the holster". Since your son has seen such good progress with a pitching coach, have you considered that he may have the same or better success with a hitting coach? He's average now (as are most 14 yr olds)...a few hitting lessons could take him to above...or exceptional...or...? And, there's not quite the risk of overuse/injury/pressure. And, playing multiple positions, developing as a hitter...provides more options in...
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
Im of the mindset that he should continue as a two way player at this point. Things may change once he makes the V team at HS but until then leave all your options open. I am going to use my 2017 as an example... Up until this past off season he was a 2 way player. P, IB and some OF. Going into the off season his HS coach mentioned that next (this just started) season he most likely would be primarily a P on Varsity and play some 1B in the JV games (if he wanted to play a position). His...
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
Yes..... He has not had the success at the plate as he's had on the mound. It's not that his hitting is that bad, I think it has more to do with his pitching is very good and his hitting doesn't compare.
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
He should do what makes him happy. But my approach would be to let the game tell you when it's time to be a PO. When the coach stops putting you in the line up then it's time to be a PO! In the meantime he can of course direct his efforts to improve more in the pitching area. Kind of what my son will do with basketball. Simply doesn't have any more hours in the day to give basketball a max effort. So he will play in high school for fun til the coach cuts him. If he plays four years great. If...
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
I also have a 2020 and I have to say I am confused by your post. Does your kid love baseball or not? It's all well and good to have a preference for a favorite position but playing on a team is suppose to entail the whole concept of "Yes sir, wherever you need me to play". We all gravitate to what we are good at, but your son will have more baseball options open to him if he can broaden his knowledge base. If he loves the game and wants to continue he should learn all that he can and become...
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
I don't see a problem with your wanting to pitch only. His talent as a pitcher will determine whether he can do that or not.
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
My son only became a PO when he became part of a team in which his bat simply wasn't as good as the rest of the lineup. This is summer ball. In high school, he will likely be hitting middle of the lineup. It doesn't bother him and we haven't spent a lot of time on hitting over the past couple of years, simply because it has been obvious for awhile that any opportunities to play beyond high school are tied firmly to pitching. the point is, I guess, that he didn't choose when to become a PO,...
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
At that age, he still has a lot to learn about the game. Scenarios, plays, defensive strategies, etc. Do you think he will learn at the same rate watching from the bench as he would being a part of the action during each game? I know a couple kids your son's age who might do ok with that task, but the vast majority would not. My 2018 LHP son learned so much about baseball between 7th and 9th grade that I can't imagine him taking this route. I guess I would just be thinking about his overall...
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
The time to be P.O. is college or a summer travel team that gets exposure to scouts. My son had an opportunity to be a P.O. for a 18U travel team that supposedly had the majority of players signed to colleges already (words from the coach) and some being looked at by MLB scouts. I think my son felt that if he stunk it up then there was nothing else to contribute and he didn't want to waste $600.
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
Welcome to the site. You said he does enjoy playing the infield and then you asked if he is too young to only want to pitch. So there is a bit of contradiction / confusion. Assuming he does enjoy playing the infield, I would encourage him to continue to do so for all the good reasons mentioned... continue to develop a first hand knowledge of the game, enjoy playing more and sitting less, use less pitching bullets, potentially develop a love for other aspects of the game as well, contribute...
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Re: 2020 just wants to pitch.......
Another thing to think about is how much kids mentally and physically change from middle school to their senior year. It sounds like he has just gone through puberty with the way you described his body changing. Usually it takes a good year or so for a kids hand eye coordination to catch up to his new body. Hitting has a lot to do with hand eye coordination. I would give it a few more years and see how he develops at both pitching and hitting.
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Re: 2020 with injury
Jam - Has any doctor been able to figure out the source of the problem? That needs to be the first order of business if he going to continue pitching. The word may be out that he has an injury and RC’s now want to see if he will be and can remain healthy going forward. Best wishes on a full and speedy recovery to your young man. I hope that it all works out in the end.
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Re: 2020 with injury
If they 've pulled their attention, do you really think they would have sent a NLI on signing day? You would have had false security. Verbals are not binding. Worse case kid attends fall and gets cut. Lost a year of eligibility.
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Re: 2020 with injury
I started to add something similar to my post. I really don’t think that you hedged and lost. It’s likely that, as Bandera stated, no school would have honored the offer IF he’s not healthy. The good news is that IF he can get healthy and return to form, the interest from schools should return.
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Re: 2020 with injury
You still have time. If doctors say he has a good chance of getting better, then do what they say. If they made offers and he was good enough as a freshman to get attention it will be there if he gets back healthy.
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Re: 2020 with injury
JAM24 - I greatly sympathize with your son's situation. If he was good enough to get P5 offers early, he'll get them later, too, if he can get healthy. The key is getting back to 100%. You definitely should take him to somebody who is an expert in shoulders and throwing injuries.
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Re: 2020 with injury
That’s a good question about whether there is a specific mechanical or physiological cause. I don’t know but we have a good doctor and can ask that question. Thanks for your comments and good wishes.
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Re: 2020 with injury
Thanks for the replies. To Bandera and HShuler, you make a good point. It’s possible schools would have dropped him but I do See schools stick with an injured player sometimes (maybe see what happens the following year). Certainly if he doesn’t heal and improve it wouldn’t have worked out either way.
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Re: 2020 with injury
Have you been to an orthopedist at all? From your response above, it doesn't sound like it, which is a bit surprising given the potential your son has shown to have gained high interest early and that fact that he missed his entire HS season. As others have stated already, seek some serious medical opinion, but you need to look beyond the family doctor (and apologies if you have, but your post above just mentions "a good doctor") and seek out an orthopedist that has some specialty in sports...
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Re: 2020 with injury
Nuke83 - thanks for your concern. we have been to an ortho. Had MRIs and know specifically what the injury is. But we haven’t asked if there is something he is doing - mechanically - that is causing it. Would need to sync up dr. /PT/ coach for that I guess.
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Re: 2020 with injury
I'm starting to think that the early commit pressure high school kids and their parents feel applies more to position players than to pitchers. Colleges never stop looking to add the right pitcher it seems. So I worry less about slots being filled as a pitcher. My 2020 LHP is in a somewhat similar situation where he picked up some elbow tightness this summer. No structural damage, but no real urgency to push it as a 2020 in the fall of his junior year... so he's going to rest it. Just want...
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Re: 2020 with injury
Spot on, especially for LHP. You're smart to take the fall off. Let him rest and get into the gym to build strength.
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Re: Which team?
Those are both huge programs with multiple branches. Make sure you are comparing the specific teams your son will be on. I know both programs go to a lot of national events, but for every 1 team that goes there are many that do not. I would ask which events your son is slated to go to and be wary of “if he earns it, we go to...” statements. Both have great men at the helm and I would think extensive networks, it’s just a matter of will your player be one of the ones they are talking about.
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Re: Which team?
Thank you. He is 2022. We are in Central Valley and there is not a lot of exposure here. Not used to asking the tough questions beings he has always started and done well. But this is a whole new ball game with tough kids. Honestly, it is his skill that keeps him at the top, he works hard and has a lot of support. He definitely thrives when he competes, like a racehorse. He is in a transition phase (10th grade) of stretching his wings a bit with opportunities that are very new to him. Thank...
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Re: Which team?
I would do some reading here and come up with a plan for recruitment. Then ask yourself which team fits in that plan better. Although I think for you, the hardest part will be to figure out WHICH team within the respective programs he'll be on and if that specific team is a good fit. Good Luck.
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Re: NCAA D1 Participation by State (Freshman Class)
So freaking cool! LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Where did you grab the information from and/or did you make this yourself? We'll be adding a Texan to Georgia for the 22' season!
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Re: NCAA D1 Participation by State (Freshman Class)
Florida values are on the right hand side as a callout
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Re: 2020 NAIA State Participation (Freshman Class)
Hi CBI, these seem to be the D3 numbers again.
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Re: 2020 NAIA State Participation (Freshman Class)
My fault, I pulled from the wrong library. Give me 5 minutes.
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Re: 2020 NAIA State Participation (Freshman Class)
Thank you for point out the issue. Should be good now.
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
My son had several sessions with a running "specialist". Took down his time immediately. The tips for starts and where to position arms/hand, etc...can help tremendously. Some have recommended a session or two with the high school track coach which may help. Does your son play varsity yet? When he does, that is the time to showcase, if he has something to showcase.
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
Those are certainly solid numbers for a 2020 grad all around. The key will be getting an eval from a coach to see if they think it's the 6'1/220 that is the cause of the numbers, or if it's the 6'1/220 plus the skill set that is the cause of the numbers. What I'm talking about is the magic crystal ball of projections. Do his skills project out to develop into a D1 player? That can't be answered from stats alone. The stats right now are not D1. However, that does not mean he can't progress...
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
Your son sounds like a pretty talented player. As far as D1 baseball goes , For a 2020 it's about working to improve the skill set, staying healthy and doing well in the classroom. D1 ball will show up if he's compatible at that level. THEY will let you know. As far as foot speed, my son didn't really have great speed until he spent a summer at UCLA working w/ a track coach. As far as D1 qualifications go it's subjective to the school or conference the school plays in. USC recruits a...
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
Kyle31, I have a 2020 and have been told that getting on Varsity can be subjective depending on the school. Also, the best time to start showcasing is 10th grade, providing you have something to show, which he does.
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
My son had numbers similar to what you posted when he was 15U. Major difference was he was 6'2" at the time and about 175 pounds. He continued to develop, but gave up pitching. In the end he attracted the attention of mid to low level D1 coaches and many, D2, D3 and NAIA coaches. In the end he made the decision to not play college baseball. This decision was made prior to the summer between Jr and Sr HS years which is the major recruiting year, so we are not 100% certain where he would have...
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
Going to add one more thing, start looking into how to make a recruiting video. Some are way more effective then others. For the most part its not what you think. No splash screens, no music, no subtitles, no game video. For the most part it should be a series of quick cuts of him taking BP, taking grounders, and pitching. Video should be no more then 2 to 3 minutes. Many schools that my son was in contact with asked for him to send video.
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
Good feedback above. Big kid for 2020 with upside; time to focus on strength, nutrition, speed, and continued skill development. Finding the best hitting, fielding, and pitching instruction will reap dividends. Make sure your son works with trainers dialed into strength moves appropriate for baseball players. To help find the right training facility, ask who the older recruited players are working out with? (When the collegiate players come in town for the off season and holidays they...
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
Great advice by others. I would add.. yes, a track coach can work on speed and running form but it would also benefit to include agility as part of the focus (most track coaches can accommodate - just be sure to bring it up). A big guy doesn't have to be straight-line fast but is much more attractive and effective if he can maximize his athleticism and move fairly well. This can also help a young athlete navigate the awkward growth stages with a bit more grace, among other performance...
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
Kyle31, welcome to the site! What does your son's coaching staff say about him being on track to go D1? From what you've described, it sounds to me like he's at a transition point. He could continue to be big and slow, or he could develop into big and athletic. I've seen kids his age go in both directions. If he wants to be a D1 position player, being slow is going to severely limit his options. That's going to matter much less if he pitches, but he'll still need to get much stronger to get...
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
A lot of your decisions should depend on where he is in his growth cycle; is he full height or will he be 6'8" and 220 in two years?I If he's full height, he should start to rearrange the bulk - which is not a quick process, but coaches will notice as his body begins to take on a different form. Also, since most boys his age do not really enjoy hard physical training, the discipline needed to rearrange his body will be a great start on a long road. As a HS freshman, most of his peers haven't...
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
Going to agree with the others....there's really no way to know based on numbers alone. Being fast and a good glove won't help if he can't hit. Hitting the cover off the ball and being a 7.5-7.6 kid won't work either. 80 as a freshman RHP is probably the best stat you've mentioned so far...especially for his size. Keep in mind that it's not impossible....but is VERY uncommon to play both ways in college. My son was an all state SS and RHP. Hit .478 with 16 doubles and 4 HR's his senior year.
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
+1 KYLE31, it's still early to conclude much about your son as there's a lot of physical and mental maturing that occurs over the next few year. As other's have mentioned, keep working on the skills . . . particularly those "5 Tools" that are so important where it's good to be really good at just one of those tools.
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Re: 2020 Grad- 3B/RHP
do PO running times matter as much? Im guessing you dont want to be stuck in the mud, but does he need to be sub 7.5?