Door #1 or #2?

To comment would need information on:

• Grad year
• Target schools 
• Current projection level, any type of ranking
• Dream school

I thought I put grad year...my apologies. He’s a 2025. That was one of the factors in going the route we did. He’s never been to a showcase or anything like that. He’s 14 yo, 6’4”, 195 lbs. Topped out at 81 mph before the pandemic and hasn’t thrown off the mound since. Had some soreness in his elbow (Another reason we chose Door #2) that ended up not being much according to the ortho. However, the way things played out we ended up shutting him down and he just played first. Of course, living in SEC country, his dream school would be one of those. As far as target schools, we haven’t gotten to that point being that he’s in 8th grade.

Hey Cocdog,

First, I do recall our previous PM discussion.  

I think you made the right choice.  I can think of far more benefits to a player like your son (based on age, size, velo, some recent arm concerns, costs, etc) being involved in the training facility at this time than the other option.  Although, the missing piece of info is did he already have a P instructor and how good is he?  

If he keeps progressing and developing, he will almost certainly continue to have opportunities with the bigger travel orgs, as you have already somewhat experienced.  His odds of making sure he continues to progress and develop are more likely while under the regular guidance of qualified instructors and trainers at a facility (combined with competing) as opposed to just rolling him out to compete with the bigger travel orgs.  At this age in particular - while good competition is important, along with good exposure, it is also very important that he has an environment to work on adjustments without the constant pressure of performing on a big stage.  

If you were to project and compare the likely two versions of what your son will look like 12-18 months from now, I'm pretty sure the better version would be the one that chose the regular training at the facility (assuming they know what they are doing and are able to connect with him).

CabbageDad-

Yes, you’ve been very helpful and thanks again for the reply.

As far as past instructor, our son really liked him but was no longer an option due to the instructor moving. The team he’s playing on will be playing in many of the same tourneys so we feel like he will see some good competition. I wouldn’t look for the current team to still be playing late on Sundays, but, then again, who knows. 

While I don’t think it’s likely, at his age, 12-18 months from now he may decide he doesn’t want to play baseball anymore. As they say, car fumes and perfumes will change a lot of young men. 

We had similar choices and went somewhat blended. Playing 3 events with a solid program but practicing/working out with a facility. While the comp has been great, we probably could have gone with a more local team and travelled less and saved a lot of money. This team is loaded and there are a lot of kids, so the playing time is spread out among 14 or so position players. Also, my son can pitch well and much better than some of the PO’s, but he won’t pitch at all for this team. I don’t necessarily regret the decision, but I think he would have ended up getting more out of the more local team. 

I would say two is a good option for a pitcher. For a hitter exposure and competition is more Important (anyone can hit 300 if the pitching is bad enough) but for a pitcher 92 is 92 no matter who you are facing.

Depends a bit on the player though. For option two to work he needs to have gains. If he is a "maxed out" 5"10 200 guy with good mechanics who is more a pitch ability guy who can maybe hope to add 1 mph exposure might be the better option.

But if he is 6'3, 170 with some mechanical kinks and thus could hope to add 5-6+ mph if he gains 30 pounds and improves mechanics he should do that.

Oh, just read it is about a 2025. then of course exposure doesn't matter at all and it is all about getting better.

I also think it is less crucial for pitchers to face good opposition to develope than it is for hitters.

Door#2 - learn how to take care of the arm/body/mind, how to workout/eat, core exercises, mental side, etc.  Imagine being at home for 3-6 months without the ability to go to a gym and still being able to workout... Sons #2 & #3 both gained a lot by a workout regimen / discipline.  Door#1 is a trap for comparisons.  Read this board awhile or go thru history and find discussion after discussion related to injuries - some as a result of overuse, some from freaky crap that happens...  Door#2 won't prevent injuries, but it will provide coping and the knowledge of what it takes to take care of yourself.

I have a 2025 LHP who is 13,  5'10, 165lbs and throws mid upper 70s.  He's just working out daily and working w a trainer weekly.  Not throwing aside from some weekly coaching from an ex-college coach.  Our thoughts were to rest his arm until  December.  He turned down an offer to play on a national team: No fall ball at all.  I was actually thinking about not fall balling next year also but admit that might change depending on if it looks like he starts to get recruiting looks.  That's our thoughts if that helps. 

Pitchers can do both. Their not mutually exclusive. PO's always wanted for big tournaments.

What does your son want to do?

Exactly what Go44 said.  I'd say stay with the training, but go to at least 3 big events as a guest pitcher and during sophomore year, at least one PBR and one PG showcase.  He still needs to be seen.

Thanks for all the replies. For someone that hasn’t gone through any of this, it helps hearing from others. 

Go44Dad- At first he was somewhat “star struck” when I started getting calls from the bigger orgs. Small town kid that had always played on a “travel” team with kids from our county. They played PG events and always saw the big orgs winning. 

However, after deciding to give the facility a try he’s 100% on board. He goes 5 days a week for 1 1/2 - 2 hours and loves every second of it. I have no clue what his pitching will look like in the spring, but I do know he’s learned to prepare, take care of his body, sleep and eat (still getting there) properly. 

Having said all that, he’s told my wife and I multiple times he’s glad we as a family chose Door #2. So much so that he’s wanting to hang up his basketball shoes. He gave up football last year after breaking a bone two years in a row and the second requiring plates/screws in his non-throwing collarbone. 

Up through ninth grade, my son played for a local team that emphasized learning the game, preparing. Your door number 2. As part of that, the coach required the kids to do a fall/winter sport (partly because his wife coached basketball). Mine dropped football as well, so coach got him to go out for cross country. It was awesome for him, although he hated every minute and so did I.

Really developed his leg strength overall and stamina. He did that for two years. Also played basketball until his junior year in high school. He learned there to be a good teammate even when he wasn't one of the stars of the show. I think that experience of learning to work hard even when you aren't getting the results you want has been very valuable for him. I'd suggest trying to convince him to stick with it for a few more years.

We gave up football after the ambulance backed onto the field, taped him to a backboard and took him to the hospital to have his uniform cut off of him so they could scan his head and neck. He was fine, but he was done. As he said "I don't want to get hurt doing something I like and not be able to do what I love."

Absolutely 120% the right decision. He has plenty of time and based on his metrics at his age he is a P5 and potential draft candidate. If he continues to develop he will be found regardless who he plays for IMO. 

Best of luck to you and your son. 

"Having said all that, he’s told my wife and I multiple times he’s glad we as a family chose Door #2. So much so that he’s wanting to hang up his basketball shoes."

Keewartson also played basketball through 9th grade.  That is when he started to work out at a facility with weights, etc.  There just wasn't time to do that, baseball, and homework.  Plus, he knew baseball was his first sport.  Well, he missed it, so he played on a local rec league team against other teams that had baseball players on their teams and had a blast.  Only one practice a week and one game a week, but it got him moving and playing and social.  He has told me more than once over the years why I didn't force him to continue to play basketball on the school team....but it was really his decision and a good one.

Door #2 will open subsequent doors, so you don't have to worry about Door #1 as you are already witnessed.   Knowing how to care for your son's body and arm at a young age is important especially given your son's size and the stress he will be putting on his body.   There are tremendous gravitational forces put on a body throwing a baseball overhand off a mound.   Educate yourself and your son on pitching mechanics, forces and how to take care of his body.    

Also, don't forget to have fun.   All three of my kids were pitchers, but they loved playing the field and hitting as well....this makes them better ballplayers.   Enjoy!

Best of luck!

@keewart posted:

"Having said all that, he’s told my wife and I multiple times he’s glad we as a family chose Door #2. So much so that he’s wanting to hang up his basketball shoes."

Keewartson also played basketball through 9th grade.  That is when he started to work out at a facility with weights, etc.  There just wasn't time to do that, baseball, and homework.  Plus, he knew baseball was his first sport.  Well, he missed it, so he played on a local rec league team against other teams that had baseball players on their teams and had a blast.  Only one practice a week and one game a week, but it got him moving and playing and social.  He has told me more than once over the years why I didn't force him to continue to play basketball on the school team....but it was really his decision and a good one.

I agree completely with this. Son dod not make the 8th grade team in Basketball, but they wanted to keep him in the program. So they had him be a trainer and score keeper. During that season he played in a local rec league and had a blast. Over the summer the hs had open gums for Basket ball and camps for the incomming freshman. Son was done with HS basketball. He had way too much fun playing in the rec league. I started to get calls from parents asking why son was not attending, and the HS coach would like him there. I explained the situation and still received several additional calls. I heard latter that the HS coach was not happy with the Middle School coach. I did not care and either did my son. He played Rec all through HS, He loved dfense and stealling the ball. His Rec coaches always put him on the guy bringing the ball down court. He said it was a lot more fun than what would be required playing for varsity.

I always encouraged our kids to do an activity in every season. Did not care if it was ports or something else. As long as they were out of the house and having fun.  All Baseball players should play other sports, but it does not have to be ant the varsity level.  Play at a level where you will get playing time especially if it is a second sport.

My son went with option 2 on his 8th grade summer through freshman year.  He was injured (elbow) at the middle of summer and needed to take off anyway. He did miss opportunities not playing on a national team but his goal is HA and most of his schools of interest are in the Northeast region so I thought it was not a setback. He did make big gains training at the facility and he ended up joining a strong regional program with connections to local D1s including HAs.  He too retired from basketball in the 8th/9th grade...I see a trend here.

I think you made the right choice.  a 6'4, 195 pound eighth grader will have plenty of opportunities to pitch if he wants to....the training will do more for him at this point.  If he progresses or starts getting college attention, you'll have no issues finding someone to take him to tournaments

Don't have a pitcher so the considerations are very different but PTWoodson stuck with basketball until his senior year. Also avoided true national teams for as long as possible. Did play on a team that played in several high profile events the summer between his sophomore and junior year (the key recruiting period for him).  

@fenwaysouth posted:

Knowing how to care for your son's body and arm at a young age is important especially given your son's size and the stress he will be putting on his body.   There are tremendous gravitational forces put on a body throwing a baseball overhand off a mound.   Educate yourself and your son on pitching mechanics, forces and how to take care of his body.    

Also, don't forget to have fun.   All three of my kids were pitchers, but they loved playing the field and hitting as well....this makes them better ballplayers.   Enjoy!

 @fenwaysouth- I do not know enough about arm care. I’ll be the first to admit that I should know more. Our oldest hurt his elbow twice and finally gave up baseball as a HS sophomore. Luckily, he found his passion and it’s worked out. However, my wife and I became familiar with Dr. Andrew’s pitch count guidelines and strictly followed them with our younger son. It pissed some parents off when we let the coach know son was done in a close game. The facility has been incredible in this aspect. They not only show him what exercises to do, but tell him why, and explain how it’s helping a certain muscle group and how that specific muscle group is impacted during the pitching motion. In fact, last week the player development guy told him he didn’t have to study anatomy or physiology BUT there were certain muscle groups he had to familiarize himself with and learn what/why they do what they do. 

HAVE FUN!!! That’s something we’ve done up until this point. Due to my past, and being a D1 recruit in another sport, I want to keep it fun, and when it’s not, we will do something else. I pushed myself to the point it wasn’t fun when i had finally “made it”...whatever that is.

As for playing the field, he told me a few days ago that 1B was probably his passion but knew eventually if he was fortunate to get some looks from colleges it would be pitching. However, he’s working on his bat (it’s gotten more and more awkward with each growth spurt) and plans on playing 1B as long as possible. 

Again, thank you to everyone who’s been so willing to help. I would like to give a special thank you to @cabbagedad for his previous words of encouragement.