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My observation is most pitchers at the next level (D1, D2, D3) are either pitchers only. My son (position player) is at a D2 now and most of the pitchers are pitchers only. Only 1 or 2 play another position.
When he was at JuCo, I don't recall any 2-way players.
Unfortunately, it's really hard to know.
On the one hand, I don't know many coaches of 4-year programs who don't prize a player who can make a positive contribution on the mound and at a position. On the other hand, they also would tell you that it's exceedingly tough to find one who deserves to do both.
It's hard enough to earn consistent playing time at one of the two roles; much less both; and that's precisely what it takes. Then, once both roles have been earned, both the hitting and the pitching coaches are going to expect enough work in each of their areas to preserve the player's position in both.
Wonderful to find, very hard to make it work.
Best of luck to your son!
The question your son has to ask himself is "how can I be the best player the coach will put on the field at any given position" Forget that he might be able to do two things, the only decision for a coach is "who is the best guy I can put on the field" he will not give a hoot if he is the second best pitcher if they player can also hit maybe 5th or 6th or whatever. There are some very special athletes that can do both at a high level, but given your son is at a D2 JC I would assume he is not one of the very few gifted athletes that can do this.
This is coming from the parent of a two way player in college (Nationally ranked D3) who as a freshmen played about 50% in the field and got maybe 15 innings in relief. (which was a lot for most freshmen on the team on either side of the ball)
The other thing your son needs to think about is the amount of time he will have to put into his craft to be the best as well as get his school work done. Mine decided to hit only as a Soph, because of the load from school and trying to be good at two positions. He went back to trying to be a two way in his Jr year and once he was penciled in as a starting DH decided to only hit. He broke his finger (glove side) and went back to pitching only. When he excelled at pitching only he decided to just focus on pitching, which is what he is doing in his Sr year. His comments to me have been "I like the pitching only lifestyle"
Ultimately it is his call, but based on what I have seen I would recommend him to focus on what he thinks he can do the best to earn a spot at the next level. He probably won't have a second shot at it as coaches bring in JC players with the idea that they will have immediate impact on the program, and unless it is a lower level program I doubt he can be an impact player on both sides of the ball.
Just my 2 cents.
My son actually did both on the D1 level. As a freshman he eventually won the full-time RF job and was the team closer - where he was 2nd team all conference. As a senior he was in the weekend rotation as a starting pitcher/DH, then the starting CF/RF, and sometime mid-week DH, where he was 1st-team all conference and all-regional as an outfielder.
In between he struggled with a pitching injury and an injury in the field that lead to him missing significant time at both pitching and playing in the field.
The funny thing is, out of HS, he was likely a better pitcher (most schools recruited him as a PO), then as a senior in college he became a better hitter/field player. I would tell you that when he was being recruited the coach made a comment that he considered him "a player and a half" and gave him a scholarship offer that reflected that in the amount offered.
The time involved in being a 2-way player is a another subject altogether...
If the next level is to play for a 4 year program, I don't see why not continuing both would hurt until someone tells you otherwise.
JMO
I agree. Go for it...
