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14 replies

Does playing out of position hurt recruiting in HS?

D DuckinDD10+ posts
Player is happy to make varsity as a 2012. Once you make the cut now you strategize on how to get on the field. Pitching & outfield are the focused skills the player brings to the diamond. Upperclassmen fail to field infield positons well enough to maintain starter status and HC tabs soph to fill in permanently because he can at a position not unfamiliar, however not fielded in years. Errors disappear, foul balls turn into web gem catches and coach is loving it, nasty upperclassmen parents...not so much and TEAM is winning. We are grateful for the opportunity but if the player is out of position does it affect how college recruiters may evaluate him? They will see a totally differently positioned player on the select circuit in summer but the same player nonetheless. Select coach does not think it optimum and thinks recruiters won't get to see player at his best. Player just wants on the field. We support player and are very proud. "Diversification rules" I say!Does it matter?
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coach2709coach270910,000+ posts
Not a big deal overall. Colleges look for guys with talent and skills. They are going to recruit guys that are athletes and then put them where they need them on their team.

An old saying is that everyone on a college roster was a high school shortstop. Meaning in high school the most athletic player is the shortstop but they are not all equal. So when they get to the next level they have to find a new position based on their talent level.

Tell him to play hard, play with passion, be a great team mate, keep his grades up, produce and then the colleges will come around.
P Prime91,000+ posts
Our experience is that son was recruited for a position he never played in High School! He played a number of positions that were unfamiliar to him on his Summer team and was seen and recruited, by different schools, at both..... go figure.

College Coaches are looking for hitters! Yes, they recruit a shortstop and a catcher, but after that they often see your player much differently than either you or his H.S. Coach.
TurnTwoNetTurnTwoNet100+ posts
You really don't have to look further than the Upton brothers to see that if you've got the talent, they'll find the right place for you...In my opinion you play where they need you - the flexibility can't do anything but help your son's value if he can perform at more than one position...

Of course, I'm just a Dad going through the same recruiting process with my 2011...
B baseballdad13100+ posts
Whatever position(s) he is good at and needed most is for the high school coach to determine. Not all kids play exactly what they prefer. Athletes are good at most positions. My son is on a select team where he shares infield/outfield and bench duties. This teams requires all players to play at least two positions for diversity. It will pay off when getting looked at for college.
sgvbaseballsgvbaseball100+ posts
Trhit makes a great point. On my 2010 team I had 9 players start thier HS careers at SS and only one is moving on to D1 as a SS but all the rest are moving on to D1 pitchers, OF or 3B. I have one 2010 who played IF his entire life. At the Jr. Fall Classic I put him in CF at times because I saw something there. His mom wasn't so sure. The kid had a great attitude and just went with it. He ran balls down and threw guys out like he had been there his who life. Colleges guys said they loved they was he swung the bat but weren't so sure he was a 2B at the next level. They all saw his outfield play and and signed as on OF.

I say be open to get on the field any where you can.
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
We have players who come to us who we think are not getting the most out of their attributes on their HS team but are doing what is needed to help the team--that is great but why not expand the paramters---A first baseman or a catcher with below 7.0 60 speed--they have seen the outfield with us-- a HS infielder with outfield speed may play outfield with us--an athlete is an athlete and can always go back to their HS position-- Sometimes coaches see different things in players--My self and our coaches like speed and hate to see it trapped in a position where it is not needed--it just helps the overall team by using attributes as best you can--sometimes a HS cannot do that


What we do does not hurt the players recruitablility--in fact it helps it
Last edited by TRhit
NIC15NIC15100+ posts
Do not worry about your son playing out of position, and it hurting his potential to receive a college scholarship. I can tell you from experience, when I was coaching at the JUCO Level, my shortstop who was a 1st Team All American, was given a scholarship to a small D1 School, and was moved to the Outfield.

So no worries. Versatility is a valuable tool.

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