Are some kids cut short by parents insistence on being 2-way?

Yes. And it happens a lot.

Sometimes it hard to know for sure where their best opportunity lies. It's also hard to know when to commit fully to one or the other.

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Originally posted by Coach_May:
Yes. And it happens a lot.

Spot on, money... as usual. GED10DaD

Good points there JB--
I tried my best to stay out of the way of on the field decisions. Son was always a good hitter, but coach always got to make the call on how he would be used. Good coaches always do better jobs evaluating than good parents.
It seems we hear more Joe Nathan stories than Rick Ankiel types. There is a common notion that once you put down a bat you'll never get to pick one up again. Maybe that's got more to do with what ends many pitching careers.

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Hello Spizzle!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!



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Have run across my fair share of parents and players who have an idea in their head that they they are destined to play a specific position. The truth is that the person or persons actaully making that decision, is not always going to be them. I believe it is important to have an open mind so that when the time comes that someone else gets to decide(and the time will come), not only where you play, but if you play, options are available.

Young players are way too often labeled into certain positions simply in the pursuit of getting a victory. I have observed that often times a players development as an athlete, and as a young man(or woman), put last on the list of priorities. The "victory" means everything.

Younger players should be given the opportunity to experience every position, including pitching. By the time they reach HS age limitations on where they are able to play, or willing to play, will limit a coaches decision on whether they even make a roster. I think this will ultimately effect the possibility of playing a a higher level.

It is not unusual to see college levels players and professional players selected not only for their ability to play the game but also to play multiple positions. I realize at the college and pro levels that often pitchers are pitchers and maybe nothing else, but it was their willingness and experience in earlier years that gave them the opportunity in the first place. How many major league pitchers are there now who refused to even give pitching a chance at younger levels.

Probably making a bigger deal out of this than I should but thought I would throw my two cents worth in. Just think it's foolish to limit opportunities in that way.

[quote]...but parents didn't want them to pitch or......

Ok here goes an old timer but it is christmas time so bear with me

maybe I should have asked the parents where their kid should play or not play. maybe I should have asked where they should hit in the lineup. Sarcasm? i just can not help it. I always thought you put your players where they not only could be successful but where they best can help the team to win. do parents now tell the coaches where their kid should play. I do not know. never happened to me. I was always tinkering with the lineup and putting kids into different positions during practice. Kids got a strong arm? maybe he could pitch? I remember one time telling a player to go take some ground balls at third base during practice. He said "I never played third base" I asked him are you a baseball player he said yes. Is third base a position on a baseball team? he said yes. WELL. NO PROBLEM.

my son is a true catcher utility and I think it really helps him now and will help him even more in the future but its really hard being a pitcher as well. Every team he has ever played on needs him there however but I worry about his arm. He once threw 140 pitches in a MS game... because his team needed him.

There are two sides to this argument about demanding kids/parents and coaches always getting a pass simply b/c they are the coach.

Will - The way I've seen it play out is that parents do seem to be able to say, "Coach, I don't want my son to pitch...I want to protect his arm" and coaches honor that request. After all, what coach wants to be accused of hurting a kid's arm? Especially at the youth ages.

The purpose of the request is often that the parent prefers to see their son hit...but its usually not put that way.

quote:

I always thought you put your players where they not only could be successful but where they best can help the team to win.

That is exactly right. Every player should be proficient at every postition 1-9. This should be done in their youth so that the player can fit in on EVERY team he EVER plays on.

I dont see as much insistence by parents of their child being a "two-way" guy as much as I see parents totally insulted if Johnny is asked to move from the 6 position to anywhere else for the benefit of the team.

Some parents may not wish to travel the path of the injured arm in high school. We see a lot of high school pitchers pretty much maxed out by senior year. It seems an easy decision to avoid the path to arm injury and multiple elbow or shoulder surguries.

Parents ultimately have that decision.

Coaches will have to accept that the kid with sore knees will not catch.

Many high school coaches show little to no regard to the health of their players, especially pitchers.
When a pitcher comes up lame, all you get from the coach is a 'Who me?' look.

Players who are position players play the game to play the game, not sit the bench. I would rather see a player make a move to a better opportunity than accept a bench role or a year of chasing foul balls.

I've seen some good coaches who accept that a kid has a desired position that they have always played and I have seen coaches who will put that player anywhere but the position that the player expresses to have an interest in.

It is one thing for a good coach to try to fill the needs of the team, but too often I have come acros egotistical coaches who try to lord over the players who are trying out to play.

Parents have the final word in my view.

My son moved over to 2B from SS/3B/P due to growth plate issues at age 12-14. Concentrated on hitting and became a very good 2B and has stayed there ever since. We never demanded anything either way, but were always told that because he'd probably top out at less that 6', pitching probably wasn't in his future at the next level.

Now at age 17, 5'10", pitched a little to help both the HS and travel team, did surprisingly well, and what do you know. He'll play 2B and pitch at the next level. Probably not pitching all those years helped to keep his arm healthy. Pitching in college probably won't last long, but he's looking forward to it because he loves it.

Here is a good story about David Cales who is in the Cubs minor league system.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl...ey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

He was from Chcago and went to Missouri to play a position. The head coach wanted him to pitch. As it turns out he got all upset about it and tranfered out so he could play the field. Turns out the coaches knew what they were talking about. A lot of times coaches can see things the players and parents cant see.

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That is exactly right. Every player should be proficient at every postition 1-9. This should be done in their youth so that the player can fit in on EVERY team he EVER plays on

playfair,

You know not every player has the tools to play all of the postions. Some can, but many have limitations, even at the youth level.

We've seen a couple strong armed two way kids we know go into pro ball insisting on being position players. I'd have said they made the right choice going in but neither one has hit all that well so far.

It's an interesting question. 4thGen was recruited by some schools as a pitcher, by others as a position players and by a couple as a two-way player. The pro scouts that saw him told him to concentrate on being a position player until someone proved he couldn't hit at the next level. His school had a need at SS so that's were he played.

From what he saw last season and his results in the summer where he was a two way player, he knows he could be a starting pitcher for his team. What he can't do is pitch and play short. He wants to contribute any way that helps the program the most and he does not have any regrets. I support that attitude.

If you knew for sure at lets say 15YO that someday your two way player would bust 90 the decision would be a lot easier. But you can't know that.

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playfair,

You know not every player has the tools to play all of the postions. Some can, but many have limitations, even at the youth level.

Well, I dont know about the youth level but higher up yes, ofcourse I know this. But, players still need to know how to play them. During high school my son played every position at least once. This is not a brag. Sometimes situations dictate that you move around. Now he is a much better catcher than he is a shortstop but he can play it. We just firmly believe that the coach gets to decide where the player best fits in. We wanted our kids to fit in everywhere so we taught all our kids where to back up, cut, throw, etc. from every position.


This year in college my son expects to pitch a bit. Guess what he is working on this offseason.

Baseball is a contribution sport. You have to be able to contribute when you are asked where you are asked.

The way I see it, it depends on the age of the kid, and the validity of the coach. I agree that every "kid" should be given opportunity to succeed at positions 1-9.

That means a couple of tries (not just one error and you're out) and it also means looking for a natural physical match to position. (Maybe the big guy at 1B doesn't need much time at short or center -- but rounds at 3B are a good idea).

Additionally, and really no offense to Dad's who coach youth leagues, coaches who are serious, knowledgeable, experienced and looking to provide opportunity for the player at the next level are the coaches that I look to for guidance on whether my kid plays a position or pitches.

In our experience, the HS coach needs him to play both ways. The summer coach gave him priority as a pitcher, and the college coach sees him as a position player first and a pitcher second for now.

It's about trusting the people who make the decisions for your kid.

I don't know what school you guys go to, but kids playing every position in high school? Never seen it. Slow kids are never going to be in the outfield. Bad fielders are never going to be at 3B or SS. Your best SS is not going to be catcher. Maybe in a game that will be a blowout.

Each kid should have 1-2 backup positions so he has a better chance to break through and make the team, but that's it.

I see this the other way around more often than not. Coaches quite often try to pigeon hole a kid too soon, starts some in travel ball, really accelerates in scout ball, and in HS coaches think they are running an MLB team and try to make kids pitcher or position players only. IMO players should play as many positions as they can as long as they can because you never know when they may fully blossom – one way or the other.

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I don't know what school you guys go to, but kids playing every position in high school? Never seen it.

My son played in one of the top conferences in the state in high school. His junior season, he started at 8 different positions in a 23-game season (only position he didn't play was second base).

Did I get frustrated that his coaches moved him constantly? Yes. Did it hurt him in the recruiting process? Probably. More than one recruiter wondered out loud what position was his natural one.

Now that I am a couple of years past that season, I feel differently. My son's team had a bunch of kids who could only play one position, so his flexibility was a big asset to his coaches. Plus, they started the season with a problem at catcher. My son had never caught in his life, but agreed to try it and ended up doing quite well. That experience also came in handy in recruiting. College coaches were excited about my son's potential as a left-handed hitting catcher, but after playing the position that season my son could honestly answer he preferred not to catch after high school.

I guess what makes me feel good looking back is how willing my son agreed to do whatever his coaches thought was best for the team. It may have cost him some in his individual development, but his attitude and mental approach were shaped by that experience.

My experience with helicopter-baseball parents has been more toward parents arguing that their kids should pitch and play short rather than limiting them. I have never heard a parent complain that the coach used their kid too much.

In little league, my son played every position. He learned the outfield at 10 when he made his all-star team and on his regular teams, he was a SS,P & C. In Babe Ruth & Legion, he played SS,CF,P,C and in high school, he tried out as an OF/P because even though he could play IF, his best shot at making the team and playing full time was as an outfielder. In HS, he played 6 positions including catcher, which he never tried out for but when the primary catcher had to miss about 1/4 of the season, my son stepped up and told the coach he can catch and wound up the #2 catcher. As a starter on the varsity, he mostly played all three OF positions, primarily RF because of his strong arm, some 1B and no pitching.

While my son's favorite positions were SS & CF, he didn't care where he played as long as he could help the team. If his name was in the lineup, it didn't matter to him where he played. Even when his pitching decreased each year, he seemed not to mind too much because typically, the varsity pitchers didn't hit and he enjoyed playing as an every day player so he didn't miss it too much. He liked hitting and the team needed his offense and he got his 3-4ABs a game.

I say play as many positions as possible. Take your typical LL all-star team. The top 6 on these teams can play just about any position on the diamond. Some better than others but you get the point. Sure, as they move up thru little league into high school, they may need to scale down to positions that they can help a team the most. In fact, most kids who don't make a high school team are those who play a limited amount of positions and get limited opportunities to make the cut because they're stuck behind more talented players at a position or they got pidgeonholed in a position over the years and never got the opportunity to develop where it may bring out a player's strengths.

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Did the parents hurt their sons' chances of playing/evolving/blossoming beyond HS by insisting they remain a hitter?

If the kid wasn't a high level hitting prospect, then yes.

From a Coaches viewpoint; (I'm relating my experience here) I always felt I had a better perspective concerning a players potential than did the non-baseball parent. In regards to pitching, I would never force a player to pitch that didn't really want to. If after advising them that "I see pitching as their best path to the next level", but they didn't want to travel that road, then so be it.

As a parent; I knew early on my son was a far better than average hitter. As such, I was happy that he didn't have to risk a pitching arm injury that could prematurely jeopardize or end his baseball career. Thus, I kept him "removed" from pitching to protect his arm. As I see it, I had the most interest in protecting his body. Not leaving that to a Coach at an early age, was the right decision as far as I'm concerned (they have other priorities). Now I say that knowing that he had both the arm and the body type that scouts love for pitchers. The caveat though is, he didn't really care to pitch anyway or it would have been tougher for me.

My feeling was, he didn't need to be exposed until High School (past age 16-17 and elbow growth plate closure)anyway. Fortunately by then, things had sorted themselves out as he was in the line-up for his bat (a conclusion I reached by the time he was 10 or 11 yrs. old).

During our competitive baseball journey I've seen far too many young arms abused, surgeries that should not have happened, and careers ended by high school that could have, should have progressed further.

I think the kids talent, at position play or pitching, seeks it's own level by late high school, early college anyway.

Playfair,
Really no surprise that a catcher with a strong arm, good bat and decent speed for a catcher would play most every position in HS. A smart coach who has the option will give a catcher like that off days from catching and move him around in the field, especially if he's got someone else who needs to be in the DH role.

Being a pitcher can also be a drawback if a player really doesn't have a future at the next level as a pitcher. CASon's JC last year had a pitcher who threw strikes in the mid 80s with a decent breaking ball. He was primarily a position player and their best hitter and would have helped them a bit on the mound in relief. I'm not sure of the chronology but they stopped having him pitch and he played mostly third base. Midway through the season he had to switch to 2nd base due to a labrum injury and an already weak defense got worse since he didn't really have the range for 2nd base. He still got a scholarship at a top D1 but perhaps he might have been better off if he hadn't been used as a pitcher and the team might have won that one more game that would have put them in the playoffs. Good old hindsight.

Then again we know a kid who pitched well and played well in the field at a JC last season. He was primarily a pitcher. He's got a scholarship lined up for the 2012 season but may have some arm problems that could limit his pitching so it is a good thing that he got his innings in the field.

CADad, There was a player who was needed in the DH role.

Being a two way guy this year might be a drawback for the boy as I think he has no future at pitching. But what do I know, I always thought he would get moved to third and he hasnt.

And, I have to admit that I worry more about him being a two-way guy catcher-pitcher (think Luke Bailey 2009) than if he were a pos 3-9/pitcher.

But his coaching staff is top quality and I feel he is in the very best hands. Being two-way certainly did not hurt Austin Romine. (Who was a catcher and a closer all through hs and is now a Yankees minor leaguer.)

I think JB is talking about the players in particular that weren't given a chance that had potential to be effective pitchers, most likely those with rocket arms.

Lots of time the player (and parent) is afraid the bat will be taken out of the players hands if they become a two way player. I know that because that was what happened to my son, and it was tough on him not to be able to contibute in every game.

That's what usually happens, the bat is the first to go.

However, a player should never pass up the opportuntity to learn a new skill, because not doing so may someday remove him from the game.

JB,

Interesting question...the answer is Yes, with a little hesitation. The majority of young players coming up through youth baseball are 2-way players. By the time they're 13-14 years of age, they've logged a number of innings, and in some cases have already dealt with arm problems. I can understand a parent's reluctance to have his/her son pitch, especially if arm problems occurred in the past. We know that there are some coaches at All levels that sacrifice a player/pitcher for the "good/bad" of the team. It's the reason why there is a pitch count in little league now. However, if you have a 16-18 year old playing on his HS team with a fresh arm that has an opportunity to help the team, I would hope that he'd be willing to step in.

I look at the 2-way possibilities at the next level with my son like this...Personally, from my junior year of HS through sophomore year of college, I had approximately 10-12 AB's. I knew that I couldn't hit and quite frankly didn't care. I loved pitching, I enjoyed the competition and the fact that I was a major contributor for the team at least once a week. After surgery on my R-knee and R-ankle (driving leg) in subsequent years, I began having arm problems in my elbow and shoulder...most likely due to the lack of proper rehab on my leg and poor mechanics that followed? Ultimately, I had to stop playing. I couldn't move to another position because I couldn't hit a lick, so I was done!

Fastforward many years later, and I have a kid with a pretty good-live arm, but unlike myself, is also very athletic. I taught him proper mechanics at an early age and I've done my best to continue to learn throughout the years to help him the best I can. I have been his sole pitching coach/teacher (besides his HS coach) the entire period. Hitting is a much different story, we've spent a few dollars over the years. Most hitting instructors have minor tweaks for him, and like his swing. It's his approach and mental side that he's struggled with. Anyway, to make a long story short, we realized after his Frosh year in HS that he had the potential to possibly be a 2-way player beyond high school. I didn't know what level, but I knew he'd receive an opportunity. I didn't want him to rely on pitching only, because I was already dealt that hand and had to stop playing after my arm problems. But, I also knew that although he has a decent stick and above average wheels, pitching would probably be his ticket on a college roster? I was correct, his hitting/speed got him attention the last couple of years, but his pitching ultimately punched the ticket for his scholarship. He's been recruited and signed his NLI as a 2-way RHP/OF. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to handle the load...but as of right now, he's just going to enjoy his senior year of high school!

As a hitter/pitcher our experience at the JUCO level has been that both aspects of the game suffer, for a variety of reasons, not the least being fatigue. Early in my son's sophomore season he strained his oblique (pitching) which had an impact on all aspects of his game. He was always in pain and eating a lot of advil.

He had a team that needed his arm, as well as his bat, so it was a long season with many at bats and many games with 120+ pitch counts.

This year I expect will not be the same now that he is with a program that has more depth.

I guess my son has not always been a 2 way player. he was in Little league and AAU, but not on his Connie Mack Team and just as a closer his Junior year in HS and did not play at all his Senior year. He did not pitch at all his freshman year of College and was the 3rd starter his sophomore year for a different program, he has never pitched in his Summer League.

I never insisted one way or the other and neither does he. He just loves to compete and play, and I have to say...I love watching!

Fingers crossed for an injury free season!

quote:

I think JB is talking about the players in particular that weren't given a chance that had potential to be effective pitchers, most likely those with rocket arms.

You are right, I always start "on topic" then float "off topic"..

Coach May had it right on the first response...Parents can really mess things up. (I have to admit.. I have not been perfect but when I was not I certainly learned from the experience.)

Florida fan sums it up well,,,"He just loves to compete and play, and I have to say...I love watching!

Fingers crossed for an injury free season!"

Here here to that!

Very interesting thread - I have enjoyed every post! Every time I begin to post in this thread, someone comes along with a different take and causes me to change my mind. I guess justbb has gotten me hopelessly confused

Seriously, these are important issues to consider and seeing well thought-out responses like we have here may really help someone someday

I have mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, I believe that if a kid is capable of doing it all at least up through the HS level, I feel he should do it. But, on the other hand, if he were to concentrate on 1 position or the other, how much better could he be? Would it get him a better scholarship? Would it attract the attention of a better school? Would it get him drafted just a little higher or get him a little higher of a signing bonus? I think those are all questions you have to at least think about and evaluate as a parent and player.

My middle kid was a 2-way guy up through HS. Signed his NLI as a 2-way to an SEC school but got drafted fairly high as a position player and decided to pass on college. Although things, to this point, seem to have worked out for him and he will have the chance to hit at the next level, I’ve often wondered if he would have raised his stock some if he had only concentrated on one position or the other. We had many discussions with his advisor throughout his senior year in HS about other kids across the country that my son knew and had played with/against and the fact that those Pitchers were not cutting their pen’s short in order to take some ground balls at short or take a round of BP. Nor were the hitters skipping an extra round of BP or defensive work in order to go throw a bullpen or do some extra running.

It’s a fine line and I think each player/family has to pull out the crystal ball and try to look into the future and see where the kid’s real future is.

quote:

I have seen coaches who will put that player anywhere but the position that the player expresses to have an interest in.

Having an interest and having ability can be 2 different things

I do not know but common sense would say that a coach would not put a kid at a position so he could fail. I once had a kid who as a sophomore made the jv team. They needed a catcher and he had some tools. He refused to have anything to do with it. So he quit. The next year as a junior he tried out for the varsity and needless to say he had 2 strikes going in. I had a long talk with him and told him we would work with him as a catcher. He caught on real quick and was the backup to a senior. the next year he started as a senior and did real well. well enough to get second team all conference. Now he lost a whole year of development because he did not want to do it. Despite what some might think coaches do have a clue.

Thanks for this thread. My son is currently going through this. It is very helpful to read all of the differing opinions.

My son has always been a hard thrower. I purposely never let him get any pitching lessons because I didn't want him to pitch much when he was younger. I had seen to many kids going under the knife. Plus my philosophy had always been the competition will let you know if you should stop being a two way player and what position you should play. At 16 it will be interesting to see how this year works out.

I don't think so. Coaches can get past this "insistence". I think most successful coaches are faced with this "dilemma" when they recruit a pitching staff from 2-way players (most pitchers are 2-way in HS). I think they know how to leave the player and the parent with the impression the player, if capable, will get the opportunity to be a 2-way player. My son was recruited primarily as pitcher by some colleges with the option of being a 2-way player. His primary goal was to be a position player/hitter at college but would pitch if called on. The "sales pitch" by some of the college coaches on him being able to be a 2-way player was less than convincing.... he moved on. He (we) decided he should go where he was being recruited primarily as a position player and if 2-way happened he would cross that bridge when he came to it. Did he hurt his chances? In his case no, he actually helped himself as he had a very successful college career as a two way player.
Fungo

quote:

As I look back, I can think of a number of those teammates who were really solid 2-way baseball players but didn't have much success beyond HS. No big surprise, thats a really hard thing to do.

Really strong arms...but parents didn't want them to pitch at age 12/14...even 16/17 (HS) in some cases. Parents far preferred their kid to play a position and hit. Travel and HS coaches tried to get these kids to pitch, but the parents thought either a) it might endanger their arm or b) they'd never get to hit again or c) both. In the end, even though I know these kids have/had really strong arms (high 80s - 90+ in some cases), we never really found out if they could pitch at a high level. My guess is some...yes!

Did the parents hurt their sons' chances of playing/evolving/blossoming beyond HS by insisting they remain a hitter?

I look at this a couple different ways. Yes it is typical for talented players to be two-way in High School. The talent pool is less than what a college program would be in most cases. Typical HS team or travel team is 15-20 players. College is typically 30-35 so the two-way thing is not as important relatively speaking. I don't know that many parents that have held their position playing son back from pitching once they get to the varsity high school level or elite travel team. My son's national travel team was extremeley successful on the field with all players from his team getting into D1 programs. The best pitchers on that travel team were pitchers-only with a couple position kids throwing (occasionally) an inning or two in middle relief or to close. Many pitchers and position players from that national travel team THOUGHT they were going to be two way players in college....then reality stepped in.

I'll defer to the HS/travel coaches here who have the inside track, but I just don't know that many people saying that I'm holding "junior" back as a position player so he can pitch in college. If he has the skill & talent, they may be missing a golden opportunity at that next level as 50% of college rosters are pitchers.

Once in college, a potential two-way player has to develop, practice, and pitch as well as a regular pitcher. He also has to develop practice and hit as well or better than the position players he is competing against. It is a tough spot with double the work, and difficult to MASTER many high level skills. My cap is off to the players that can do it and do it effectively.

From my experiences this is pretty much a typical situation I have ran into.

"Mr Smith we really like your son as a player. As you know we have a very good program and our young men in our program are great kids. We would like to invite you and your son to join our program for the summer and fall season. We think your son is a talented pitcher who has the tools to play at the next level. He will get some great instruction from our staff. He will be a pitcher only for our club and will focus 100% of his attention on getting ready for his starts and getting better. We feel with the schedule we play and the coaches that come to watch and evaluate our players he will have some great opportunities. If we did not think this was the case we would not be invited you guys to join our program."

"Well Billy is a great hitter too. He hits clean up for the high school and he belted 5 home runs last year. We think he can do the same thing in college. You know he plays SS too?"

"Yes almost all of our players play other positions in high school. And almost all of them are the best hitters on their high school teams including the pitchers. But from our evaluation of your son his future at the next level is on the mound. And the fact is our SS is the best mif in the state hands down. Our hitters are some of the best hitters in the state who are some of if not the best position players in the state. In our opinion your sons future at the next level is on the mound. That is where we feel he will garner the interest of the college coaches. That is where he will help our team be the best team it can be. And if he focuses on pitching only with our staff this summer and fall he will take his game to an even higher level of play."

"But the coaches on the _________ said they will let him play SS and hit in the 4 hole when he is not pitching."

"Well thats great. But you do understand that every player on in our program is a major college talent? You do understand that your son will be playing at UNC, NC State, ECU, Coastal Carolina, So Carolina, UNC Wilmington, High Point, Western Carolina, Clemson and many other venues this summer and fall? You do understand we will be attending all the major WWBA events as well? Do you understand what it is going to do for him to throw to the level of the catchers we have and have that type of defense behind him? And our pitching coach has been a Major College Pitching coach for several years before joining us? Not to mention the other players he will work with and learn from as well? Also the level of the competition will challenge him and help him become even a better player?

"Well this team is going to let him hit and he just loves to hit. And they are going to let him play SS when he doesn't pitch. I just dont think he is going to have any fun if he is not getting to hit and play SS."

"Ok thank you for your time I hope he has a great summer."

The player ends up playing for a traveling rec team with the dads coaching the team. He gets no instruction. His defense is so bad he thinks he has to strike everyone out. When the dads get the team in a good tourney they get run ruled every game. The player plays the entire summer and fall but does not get any better. The parents are perplexed that they play all summer but no one was ever at the games. They dont understand how Jimmy got an offer from UNCW and their son made all conference but Jimmy didnt. They become bitter and say its all about politics.

Again if your son is a Buster Posey or a Matt Wieters type of talent I am sure he will be a two way player. If he is really good at hitting and pitching then how good is the team he is on? If its a big time program there will be other guys that can do one thing better than he can do two. But it will all sort itself out. But the scenario I posted above happens many times. The big time stud from the small town program simply can not understand that in order to be the very best at what he can do the very best he must concentrate on what he does the very best with 100% of his effort. Or instead of being the very best at what he can do the very best he ends up being good at both but not good enough.

And to be honest about it most of the time its the parents that can't handle it. The players want to do what you believe will help them achieve the highest level they can achieve. The parents want the kid to be the star and be in the summer and fall what he is in the spring playing hs baseball. They cant handle going to the games and not seeing their son in the line up and hitting in the 4 hole. The fact is parents insistence on being a 2 way many times leads their kids the wrong way.