Best at 12 and at 17?

 

Can't control your height but you can control your strength.   Know a guy who is 5'8" on a good day.  Had the second highest single season ncaa D1 BA ever I believe.  Played some milb.  Strong.  Very strong.  Coached a kid who was about the same size maybe even shorter.  Strong, very strong.  Got drafted.  Size may stop you as a pitcher at some point but not as a positional player. 

height may not stop you but it can be one hell of a hindrance. based on the feedback we have received at least. there have been multiple comments of "I wish he were bigger" "I wish he was taller"

I have no doubt if he were 4 inches taller he would be committed to a D1 right now, as it is he is talking with D2 and some very good D3. The fact that he isn't fast hurts as well but he is strong, stronger and better then several guys in his spot who are committed already - it comes down to the height...you can bitch about it or except it for what it is and keep battling.

old_school posted:

 

Can't control your height but you can control your strength.   Know a guy who is 5'8" on a good day.  Had the second highest single season ncaa D1 BA ever I believe.  Played some milb.  Strong.  Very strong.  Coached a kid who was about the same size maybe even shorter.  Strong, very strong.  Got drafted.  Size may stop you as a pitcher at some point but not as a positional player. 

height may not stop you but it can be one hell of a hindrance. based on the feedback we have received at least. there have been multiple comments of "I wish he were bigger" "I wish he was taller"

I have no doubt if he were 4 inches taller he would be committed to a D1 right now, as it is he is talking with D2 and some very good D3. The fact that he isn't fast hurts as well but he is strong, stronger and better then several guys in his spot who are committed already - it comes down to the height...you can bitch about it or except it for what it is and keep battling.

I heard this twice over the weekend while my son was taking unofficial visits: "You look like the kind of kid we want."

I wasn't big at 12 but 12yos aren't big.   I was the best all around player just on pure talent.  But at 17 there were kids more seasoned.  I didn't even bother trying out and I was a better football player

roothog66 posted:

old_school posted:

 

Can't control your height but you can control your strength.   Know a guy who is 5'8" on a good day.  Had the second highest single season ncaa D1 BA ever I believe.  Played some milb.  Strong.  Very strong.  Coached a kid who was about the same size maybe even shorter.  Strong, very strong.  Got drafted.  Size may stop you as a pitcher at some point but not as a positional player. 

height may not stop you but it can be one hell of a hindrance. based on the feedback we have received at least. there have been multiple comments of "I wish he were bigger" "I wish he was taller"

I have no doubt if he were 4 inches taller he would be committed to a D1 right now, as it is he is talking with D2 and some very good D3. The fact that he isn't fast hurts as well but he is strong, stronger and better then several guys in his spot who are committed already - it comes down to the height...you can bitch about it or except it for what it is and keep battling.

I heard this twice over the weekend while my son was taking unofficial visits: "You look like the kind of kid we want."

Root it is what it is - he has a boy on team good friend, plays 3rd, in college he will play 1b. the reason he isn't there now is 1 he is ok at 3b 2. is my son is better at 1b...and the team is better with both of them in the line up. fair enough.

The other kid has a deal already in place, the kid is not close to the hitter my son is. that is not bragging or wearing blinders it is just true, anyone with eyes or ears can see it and hear it when they hit, everyone who knows both boys knows it is true. It is not close. The difference is 4 inches!!

Not a damn thing you can do about it but some team at a lower level is going to be very happy about it.

old_school posted:

roothog66 posted:

old_school posted:

 

Can't control your height but you can control your strength.   Know a guy who is 5'8" on a good day.  Had the second highest single season ncaa D1 BA ever I believe.  Played some milb.  Strong.  Very strong.  Coached a kid who was about the same size maybe even shorter.  Strong, very strong.  Got drafted.  Size may stop you as a pitcher at some point but not as a positional player. 

height may not stop you but it can be one hell of a hindrance. based on the feedback we have received at least. there have been multiple comments of "I wish he were bigger" "I wish he was taller"

I have no doubt if he were 4 inches taller he would be committed to a D1 right now, as it is he is talking with D2 and some very good D3. The fact that he isn't fast hurts as well but he is strong, stronger and better then several guys in his spot who are committed already - it comes down to the height...you can bitch about it or except it for what it is and keep battling.

I heard this twice over the weekend while my son was taking unofficial visits: "You look like the kind of kid we want."

Root it is what it is - he has a boy on team good friend, plays 3rd, in college he will play 1b. the reason he isn't there now is 1 he is ok at 3b 2. is my son is better at 1b...and the team is better with both of them in the line up. fair enough.

The other kid has a deal already in place, the kid is not close to the hitter my son is. that is not bragging or wearing blinders it is just true, anyone with eyes or ears can see it and hear it when they hit, everyone who knows both boys knows it is true. It is not close. The difference is 4 inches!!

Not a damn thing you can do about it but some team at a lower level is going to be very happy about it.

I stepped in it a little on this issue over the weekend. During a discussion with a D1 RC while we were on an unofficial visit, the topic of finding diamonds in the rough came up and I opined, very wisely I thought, on how the KC Royals had done such a fine job of finding deals with short pitchers who could bring it, despite the common stereotypes on pitchers. He gave me a strange look which at first confused me, but became clear when I noticed his roster was stocked with 6' 4" and 6' 5" pitchers.

roothog66 posted:

 

I stepped in it a little on this issue over the weekend. During a discussion with a D1 RC while we were on an unofficial visit, the topic of finding diamonds in the rough came up and I opined, very wisely I thought, on how the KC Royals had done such a fine job of finding deals with short pitchers who could bring it, despite the common stereotypes on pitchers. He gave me a strange look which at first confused me, but became clear when I noticed his roster was stocked with 6' 4" and 6' 5" pitchers.

I wish I didn't believe you. It is ok, it is actually a valuable lesson for life. You move on and find the right spot to be successful. The truth is he isn't going to be a pro anyway (sorry milb doesn't count in my opinion and independent league is even sillier) so get what you can out of the game, play it because you love it and if you don't you should stop. I do think people make things more complicated then they need to be.

When mine was going through completely by accident I found myself as a Designated Driver sitting in a the corner of a hotel room with 4 or 5 coaches and RC's and about 10 of their buddies that ran showcase teams while they drank.

They forgot I was there and maybe for the only time in my life I said nothing over 3 hours but the conversation was amazing.  Listening to them deconstruct players and what they thought they would be in a few years was fascinating. 

I wish I could have recorded the thing.  It would have made a fabulous informational video for parents and players.

I would tend to agree that most kids at the age of twelve that standout among their piers on the ball field, tend to be those that continue to be successful at the high school level.  Those that were dominant and then fall off during high school are usually limited by size and/or their commitment to the game.  However, I have noticed, that those kids that were physically developed at the age of 12 may not get worse, but often get surpassed by kids that may not have been as physically dominate at a younger age.  IMO the upside of a kid that is shaving at the age of twelve is significantly less than the above average size kid who has some baby fat and no hair on his legs.  

 As a Dad of the "big baby", I hear all of the projectablity talk and do my best to temper it with realism.   Everyone wishes for the 6'5"/195lb 2019 pitcher/CIF like mine, but it comes with years of awkward movements and being a bit less athletic than the kids that are shaving and dominating at 12 and 13.  Its not always roses when you are the big guy and can at times be as challenging as being the little guy. The big boys have to work just as hard or harder to be athletic.  Physical projection seems to be far easier than mental projection.  I dont think anyone can predict the ability of a 12 year old to be a D1 prospect unless they have some Nostradamus type ability to predict SAT/ACT scores, GPA's, work ethic or any of the other multitude of factors that make up an "actual" ball player.