My middle son is a 2025 who plays C and 3b. Currently 5'11, 160lbs. Wants to get bigger/stronger and has the frame to do so. As far as I can tell, he's equally good at both positions. He has a decent bat and although a natural righty he can hit lefty as well.
Does focusing on one of those positions (C vs 3b) give him a better chance of attracting interest from colleges? Is one of them easier from a recruiting standpoint?
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Which is his "dominate" eye? Switch hitting catchers make good 3b as long as the player squares to the batted ball. Do not concern yourself about College recruiting at this time.
Learn the game! "Observe, evaluate, study, watch the professionals, attend a College game, study the Coaches, the catchers, the 3b and the hitters.
Is there a "common" tool? STUDY BODY LANGUAGE.
Bob
Switch hitting catcher (who can actually hit) has immense value.
My opinion: Both positions are recruited for power. It is hard to get recruited as a plus defensive catcher with an average bat. I don't think anyone is recruited as a 3B with an average bat. Clearly arm strength is critical at both positions. Sounds like he may get over 6' (helps a lot); focus on getting stronger and hitting for power.
Why limit yourself to either position? Let the college recruiter figure out the needed position when the time comes for that. Agree with @Texas to focus on getting stronger and hitting for power.
Believe it or not, his hitting skills will be a major factor in determining where he plays in the field or doesn't play in the field.
JMO.
There are 2 major things that recruiters look for in a position players: the ability to hit good pitching and the ability to olay multiple positions in the field (overall athleticism)
First thing, be a hitter. You hit, you play. Then work on being as big strong, fast and as athletic as possible. Players get to college and have their positions changed all the time. Recruiting is generally up the middle. Corner players have to mash.
A ranked college team a friend’s son played on recruited four stud catchers over two years. Then they moved the outfielder with a cannon to catcher. The recruited catchers could all hit with power. They played 1B, 3B, RF, LF and DH. Eventually, after graduation of the starting catcher two of them rotated as catcher. One is in his 9th season as a MLB catcher.
My kid is a freshman in College. My perspective is that is great to be versatile. Your kid should be trained to play every single position he can. College coaches will find ways to fit a good bat in the lineup, but will hesitate on putting a huge defensive liability in the field.
That said, being able to play Catcher well will open doors
Only caveat I would add is speed. Catchers and pitchers are the two positions where traditionally a slow 60/home to first is not a dealbreaker. If speed is an issue that might tip the scales toward catching (or have him work on his speed).
A good friend who was a catcher in the minors a while back had a son who was a D1 catcher...and also spent some time in the minors. The kid could flat out mash....and was committed to an SEC as a HS sophomore. My friend always told me "the easiest road to college is by being a good catcher with a good bat".
A teammate of my sons from last year is currently playing in the Marlins Organization. He was a phenomenal SS, but when he got to the minors, they decided to switch him to catcher. He has a super strong bat and a cannon for an arm. They told him the fastest way up to the majors is by him transitioning to catcher. There are already a lot of great infielders.
Buster Posey was an all ACC shortstop. Then the all SEC shortstop (new assistant coach’s son) transferred to FSU. Posey volunteered to move to catcher. The rest is history.
I am with @PTWood. Hitting is assumed to play anywhere. Speed matters...regardless of position. Have your kid spend some focused time (or get coached) over the next year on speed (especially starts).
During our Area Code games the pro scouts agreed with my suggestion.
time in the 40 yard and develop 1st step "quickness" and "read the bat".
Erik Davis [Reds] during our "hitting" clinics said to the young players "turn it loose"!! Dusty Baker one of our instructors look on with respect.
Bob
@BaseballJoe posted:Lots of good information here! On the issue of speed, how fast does a 3bman
need to be?
On Wed, Apr 20, 2022 at 7:50 PM HS Baseball Web <alerts@crowdstack.com>
wrote:
A sixty time under 7.0 is preferable
@BaseballJoe posted:Lots of good information here! On the issue of speed, how fast does a 3bman
need to be?
Under 7 in D1 unless they are such a great hitter that they might get drafted. In D3 7.3-7.4 is doable but then you better be able to really hit for power, or at a lot of schools you’ll sit behind a converted Shortstop. The best hitters in D3 hit .400+ with a .600+ SLG
Its important to really have the defensive fundamentals together to play 3B successfully in College, at all levels. In D3 there are a lot of players whose speed and/or arm strength aren’t sufficient enough for D1, but who have plenty of exit velo, and that ball gets on you quickly at 3B!
And in the SEC? You better have elite hand/eye coordination and a 90+ mph arm (preferably 95+) to hang at 3B! Oh, and also be able to crush the ball (or, again, they’ll find 4 other guys who can do that or put a 6.5 60 Shortstop at Third)
BROOKS ROBINSON the "benchmark" for 3B. Average foot speed, "outstanding 1st step quickness. Can it be taught?
Yes, with the help of a track coach, We achieved this during our Area Code games and tryouts. The pro scouts were amazed at the results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vPn8f5swdk
Bob
JOE; that is a great compliment for your son. Have your son read and study the history of Brooks Robinson. He was on a "great" Oriole team.
Bob
I grew up part of the time in Baltimore. Saw Brooks play live in person many times. What was really fun was to go early and watch Brooks take pregame infield. Even at age 37 or 38 in the mid 70’s, he was diving all over the place in pregame, making plays.
Old #5 was a real craftsman and a magician with that glove.
@Consultant posted:BROOKS ROBINSON the "benchmark" for 3B. Average foot speed, "outstanding 1st step quickness. Can it be taught?
Yes, with the help of a track coach, We achieved this during our Area Code games and tryouts. The pro scouts were amazed at the results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vPn8f5swdk
Bob
In the old days, we just played multiple sports: basketball or football, quick burst, external hip rotation, walk on the balls of your feet for the spring step.
What and when and why the change to one sport?
Our College WS team at MSU had three Rose Bowl QB’s and one Hockey player.
Bob
Insights,
You are 100% correct. question why not two sports?
Bob
@Consultant posted:What and when and why the change to one sport?
Our College WS team at MSU had three Rose Bowl QB’s and one Hockey player.
Bob
I've asked myself the same question.
Mine played basketball too until high school when he said he wanted to just focus on baseball. Tried to convince him to play both, but I wasn't going to force him to.
I asked him which position (C vs 3b) he likes better and he couldn't really say. But he said he's having fun playing 3b right now. So I think we'll have him keep playing both positions for now and see what happens. Thanks again for all of the input!
My son was an all-division football player, placed 2nd in State in wrestling and is the starting catcher his freshman and now his sophomore year at a D1 mid-major. He truly believes that wrestling made him a better catcher (flexibility, hip rotation, etc.) He wouldn't change it for the world. I wish more kids did continue to play multiple sports throughout high school. Just my opinion.
@baseballmom01 posted:My son was an all-division football player, placed 2nd in State in wrestling and is the starting catcher his freshman and now his sophomore year at a D1 mid-major. He truly believes that wrestling made him a better catcher (flexibility, hip rotation, etc.) He wouldn't change it for the world. I wish more kids did continue to play multiple sports throughout high school. Just my opinion.
In NJ, we had the manchild Bryan Dobzanski, nice young man. He beat my son's school in 2 rounds of states in sophomore year (91mph). Attended Delsea Regional High School in Franklinville, New Jersey, where he played baseball and wrestled.[1] As a wrestler, he won two state titles and compiled a record of 155-8 for his high school career.[2] In 2014, his senior year, he went 3–0 with a 0.91 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 46 innings.[ I don't believe he was running up and down the travel ball circuit. I believe he played for the 9ers.
Signed with Louisville(2014 class), drafted in 29th round in 2015. I believe he got 700k ??
The Volleyball coach at my kids high school kept wanting him to play. But he always preferred to play Fall Ball Baseball. In Fall Ball he almost always played up 1-3 levels and enjoyed the challenge.
My son played baseball and soccer. Freshman year he also played basketball. He figured he had a shot at starting point guard on varsity soph year. He was cut from the program for never attending “optional” off season workouts and not playing in the summer league. The coach decided since he was already playing two varsity sports he didn’t have time for basketball.
It was amusing soph year as the team struggled offensively in crunch time without a pass first point guard. A player’s dad (a former ten year NBA player) would yell at the coach, “Your best point guard is sitting in the stands.”
The thing is the time off in the winter and doing baseball and physical development work made him a better baseball player.
I agree with the above. The coaches limit kids playing 2 sports. Football coach told mine he was ok to play summer baseball. He attended every summer practice we were in town for. First day of fall practice he was told he lost his spot while he was out playing baseball.
Baseball coach told him it was fine to play football. Then he put him on the JV roster saying he was rusty because he missed time playing football. Never gave him the chance to show whether he was rusty because he never got to catch a bullpen with the top guys.
They both told him that he was fine to keep playing the other sport next year. But actions speak louder than words.
Wildcat fan; are you near Pine Bluff?
There is a HS player from Pine Bluff who play 4 sports in HS and the Coaches encouraged his activity.
The player; Torii Hunter traveled to Korea with our American Team and played a few years in the ML.
Bob
I am not near Pine Bluff. I am a few years older than Torii. I remember him in high school. He was a great athlete in high school and in the pros.
There were several multi sport superstars from PB around that time. For my money, this is the greatest athlete ever out of PB. What ever happened to Basil Shabazz? | ksdk.com
I am not surprised he was able to play 4 sports back then. Things have changed since then at the larger schools in the state. It is a shame.
@Consultant posted:Wildcat fan; are you near Pine Bluff?
There is a HS player from Pine Bluff who play 4 sports in HS and the Coaches encouraged his activity.
The player; Torii Hunter traveled to Korea with our American Team and played a few years in the ML.
Bob
Torii Hunter is 46 now. Times have changed.
I played three high school sports. Sports had seasons. Coaches didn’t think they owned players year round.
My son got away with playing two. He actually played three. But, I don’t consider showing up and punting for the football team in the evening after playing soccer in the afternoon as really being part of it. He rarely practiced with the team. His baseball coach was the JV football and baseball coach before getting the varsity baseball job. He didn’t have a problem with two sports.
My son was the only soccer player not playing on an elite summer soccer team. Even after winning the goalie position freshman year the coach tried to replace him soph year. This was even after attending an elite goalie day camp in the summer. After an 0-2 start he was put back in goal.
While the girls teams were also dominant there were less female athletes. The girls were encouraged to play as many sports as possible. My daughter played three sports and showed up Saturday nights to run on the second team 200 and 400 relays in winter indoor track.
In small high schools kids are also encouraged to play multiple sports. A friend’s son just finished his nine year MLB career. He was all state in three sports (QB, SS, leading scorer BB) in high school in a small state.
My son played year round club baseball AND 3 sports. What he was absolutely fortunate with was the fact that he had coaches that knew baseball was his #1 sport, but they also knew that they were better off having him on their teams the majority of the time rather than not at all. There are kids that are just true athletes and can play at any sport and be successful at it. His wrestling coach said, "We would rather have you here most of the time than not at all" and he was never punished for missing a match for a baseball tournament. It makes me sad that there aren't more coaches with that same mindset. It would allow so many more kids not to have to make that choice. Too many coaches who believe their sport is the only one that counts.
Basketball and baseball here. Focused exclusively on baseball his senior year in HS but his junior year basketball highlights are a lot of fun:
@PTWood posted:Basketball and baseball here. Focused exclusively on baseball his senior year in HS but his junior year basketball highlights are a lot of fun:
My son dunked like that in games. Then he woke up. What I do remember is pulling into the driveway one evening and my son (fifteen at the time) running out the door to greet me. He told me to “watch this.” He took three steps to the hoop, jammed it through and hung on the rim with one hand.
My response: That’s awesome. But that’s not a collapsible rim.
My kid dunked like than with the 8 ft rim. Only 1 jumper for the highlight?
@2022NYC he was 1-1 from three!! Hahahaha
My son plays 2 sports now in college. He plays fb because he enjoys it. He loves baseball. I have mixed feelings about two sports in college. He's kind of punished in fb because he's not there to compete in spring (he's a qb). Then, he misses fall baseball because he's playing football, which hurts him in baseball. The weight lifting program in fb helps him in baseball imo, puts on a lot of muscle during the fb season. Im not saying to NOT play two sports (in college), just a few things to think about. In high school I definitely recommend multiple sports.
