Here is my suggestion that worked for me. First of all, stop talking about the mechanical issues to your son. Could it be mechanical? Sure, but he doesn't need/want to hear about that. If he starts thinking it's mechanical, all that brings in is more thinking.
2nd, and most importantly. He needs to address his problem to a) his coach & b) his teammates. The hardest/embarrassing/depressing part of the yips is trying to hide it from everyone else. He is trying to hide it from coaches, teammates, parents, fans, etc. I was a SS throughout my whole life and played 2B my freshman year of college. I hid everything from my teammates, coaches, everyone by lobbing the ball to 1st on groundballs. That was until 1 day, 1 inning I had 4 balls hit my way. I threw 2 down and wide left and threw 2 into the dugout high and right (all throws weren't close). I was taken out mid-inning. My coach wasn't mad, he just didn't get it and he felt bad for me. After the game, I was down and depressed. I told the coach I would talk with him the next day. I told him everything: "I have Chuck Knoblauch disease. Do you know who Steve Blass and Steve Sax are?" I knew everything about it, but how to cure it.
I told my coach I thought about quitting, but this was my love, my passion. He suggested that I address the entire team. Tell them what I was going through. And I did. Instead of embarrassment coming my way, it felt like a gorilla off my back. I went early to practice, stayed late after practice. I took thousands of ground balls and threw hundreds of balls away to the 1st basemen (who stayed with me and the coaches before and after practice to help me). I NEVER NEVER NEVER lobbed a ball to him. I was going to throw it into the stands before I did that. Eventually, I expected to throw it away, but it wasn't embarrassing or frustrating anymore. And once that went away, my worries went away and I eventually got it back. I ended up being a 4 year starter. I can go outside and play catch and wonder, "wow, that was weird I can't even try to do what I was trying so hard not to do."
If your son can address his team, ask the coaches and/or players to help him work through it, and work his ass off when the coach / players help and accept him, he will learn so much about the experience. He will grow much more than as a baseball player. He will grow as a person. He will have the guts to stand up and own something. I need to really emphasize that he addresses the team as a whole. This cannot be talking to individuals one-on-one. He needs to tell them, this is what is going on. I don't get it, but I am going to work my ass off if you guys will help me. I'm going to throw some of the worst balls you've ever seen and each one of those throws will get him back.
It won't be over night, he may need to start the year on the bench, but he will get it. I recommend showing your son this message. Hell, have him show his coach. This was the HARDEST thing that has ever happened to me worse than failing a class or seeing someone die. I am so happy that I went through it now because I am a better person and ended up being a better player for it.
Feel free to PM me or ask more questions on this thread to me. If your son wants to PM me, I can give you my information as well.
