Dual Positions

Makes alot of sense. First of all the two way guy is very valuable. But the fact remains they are few and far between at the top D-1 programs and will continue to be. The first thing you have to do is be good enough at one posistion to get the chance to play the other. I would showcase at my best posistion. If I got the opportunity to do the other posistion then I would do that.

Ive got a 3B / RHP that signed with NC State this year he is an 08. He is an 87-89 guy bumping 90. But his LH bat and power stand out and that is what they want him for. Maybe he will get the chance to pitch one day at State but he was recruited as a posistion player.

JMO but I would go to the showcase and showcase my best posistion. Alot of showcase events will allow posistion players to throw a pen. You can always ask. Most coaches are glad to see an arm they have not seen yet. Good Luck

Louie, the NAIA school my son signed with to play ball next year seemed excited that my son was a dual player. He said he actually looks for this type of player but is rare to find one that is really good at both. With that being said, I'm quite sure there may come a day that my son will have to make a decision (his or not) on focusing on one position for whatever reason.

As far as your showcase dilema, we too faced what position he should focus on. It was hard to put down what was his primary and secondary position. We finally decided that with all that we had heard about pitchers and catchers being a "quick" way to the next level we would put "RHP" as his primary. Sometimes he was able to hit and other times he wasn't. Ultimately for him it wasn't a showcase that got him signed but rather a private tryout at the college.

Hope this post helps somewhat.

My son who is currently in HighSchool is also doing both. He is a very good hitter and a very good pitcher. I think it can only enhance your kid's chances and the fact that he is versatile is a good sign.

I know of a kid here locally that got signed as a pitcher for a college back east. He is also a good hitter and OF. The fact that he can do both enhanced his chances and he is about 5/9 5/10 inches tall. I also watched Matt Bush play here and he touched mid 90's and was a tremendous SS. Could also hit and he got a nice bonus. Not tremendously big as well.

Now there is a downside to this, if you are mediocore at both maybe it is time to focus on one position only. Heck, Robert Stock caught for USC and pitched in relief. I watched him catch for several innings and come in relief in an extra inning game. I think he may be focusing on the catcher position only but then again who knows.

To answer your question I think it will enhance anyone's chances.

This came up with my son this summer, attended a college summer camp (not a showcase) and was offered a spot on the team. Son has always been known as a pitcher, figured this was his future if he had one in college ball. When he talked to the coach a few weeks later he assumed the coach wanted him to throw, but the coach did not know he even pitched, did not happen to see any of his stints on the mound as there were a lot of games going at any one time. Just saw him bat and play OF, and do various drills. Coach says he will try him at both, and maybe have him go dual but it's up to the coach where a kid will help his program more. I would do both at a showcase if they let you, who knows what a guy will like. He has had other offers since as just a pitcher but it is an enticing offer to do both just like H.S. ball.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
Makes alot of sense. First of all the two way guy is very valuable. But the fact remains they are few and far between at the top D-1 programs and will continue to be. The first thing you have to do is be good enough at one posistion to get the chance to play the other. I would showcase at my best posistion. If I got the opportunity to do the other posistion then I would do that.

Ive got a 3B / RHP that signed with NC State this year he is an 08. He is an 87-89 guy bumping 90. But his LH bat and power stand out and that is what they want him for. Maybe he will get the chance to pitch one day at State but he was recruited as a posistion player.

JMO but I would go to the showcase and showcase my best posistion. Alot of showcase events will allow posistion players to throw a pen. You can always ask. Most coaches are glad to see an arm they have not seen yet. Good Luck

Good advice.

Thanks so much for the replies and advice. He has two hs baseball seasons left and will be a multiple position player through high school, same for football (quarterback, punter, kickoffs). One college requested that they see him at pitcher and one other requested they see him at hitting and infield, so of course we complied. My gut feeling is for him to go for hitting and infield as his pitching velocity is not at D1 level (yet). He is still 16 and a junior so I expect his velocity to improve, his movement on the ball is very good. He has two showcases in the next two weeks. I will talk to him about asking the coach if he can do both as suggested here. Thanks again!

The reason many showcase directors make you choose a posistion is TIME. If they allowed everyone to pitch and catch plus go to a posistion as well it would be out of controll. But - If your son goes to the man in charge and says "Coach I want to come as a posistion player so I can show my fielding ability and my hitting ability. And I would really love the chance to throw a pen because I also pitch".

I can not see them turning him away. Good Luck.

Coach May

We block out enough time for muliple positions---we have kids play 9 positions as well as DH over the the entire event----who knows what a college coache will see in the kid ?

When you are looking into a particular school you will need to see if they have a history of using dual position atheletes. If they do then they have figured out the benefits and know how to schedule the time to get in the needed work. If they don't then there is a good chance they won't change.

It is very difficult to get adequate practice at both positions. During fall ball you only have so many hours per week and if you pitch and play a position you have to split up that time. Only the most talented can avoid losing the edge needed to excell at one or the other.

My son attended several PG and other showcases and we always made him primarily a pitcher, he always graded out very well. PG would always note that they liked him as a hitter but preferred him on the mound. He was recruited initially as a pitcher but when his future coach came to a high school game he saw him hit and promised him a chance to play both ways. During his freshman year he got a couple of innings on the mound and did ok but one of the assistant coaches told me that they really wanted his bat in the order and quite honestly he admitted they weren't very good at getting dual role guys enough work.

My son saw that he would get a lot more playing time if he made a choice, every now and then he sounds like he would like another shot on the mound, but not too often.

Interesting thread since I was talking about this with my son last week.

My son was recently at a scout team work out (for a 16U team) and he was hitting behind a kid who was 6'6" 230lbs who was bombing it all over the field. (and over the fences - all sides)

He came back after that and said "the best hitting High Schooler I have ever seen. Now I understand why as you go up in levels you may need to specialize in pitching or hitting or fielding."

Turns out the boy was 18U (still a great hitter) but it certainly made an impression on him.

A friend of mine - who is an ex MLBer once told me that if you want to get noticed you MUST be exceptional at at least ONE thing. He said stick to it, focus on it and be better than everyone else at it, and someone will notice.

Not sure what the answer is since obviously if you have the god given talent, time, skill, etc, it is better to be great at more than one activity, but I think if you want to be picked out of the crowd you should EXCEL in one area if you can.

I am not sure if this is right but seems to make sense.

When asked which position he would choose if it came down to it....he emphatically said 3B. Why? He wants to play every single day!

That's my son!

First of all there are a lot of "good" high school players on college benches so saying your son is a "good" pitcher or a "good" position player/hitter doesn't automatically qualify them as legitimate two way players at the next level. EVERY pitcher in college is a great hitter according to their parents --- They have told me that over and over!!

What is your son's BEST position? His best position is the position he will probably end up playing therefore I suggest he focus on his best position. My son was asked to be a two way player at a big D-1 (catcher / pitcher) after he had signed to be a catcher only. I feel as if that ultimately hurt him. I do suggest a player showcase at multiple positions but only if they are truly able to contribute at multiple positions when they move on to the next level. I say this because college "A" may need (and want) them as a pitcher while college "B" may need and want them as a position player. Like TRHit says: Who knows what a coach sees in a kid. Showcasing at multiple positions definitely provides them with additional opportunities during recruitment. Don't confuse this endorsement of showcasing at multiple positions as trying to be a two way player in college. There is NO WAY I would recommend a player set their GOAL to be a two way player in college.
Fungo

Many college coaches don't care what position the kid plays (or has played)... they are looking for TOOLS; the more you have the better. You've got great tools, they find a place for you.

At these showcases, they dont allow the pitchers hit?
Most of the showcases we have been to in our region, have given the pitchers the option.

At the showcases where your son is showcasing as a pitcher (and if wants to hit ), I bet all he would have to do is ask.
Can't imagine a coach saying " no ". (?)

Thanks again guys and gals, I will pass this advice on to my son. Hopefully he can showcase at dual positions and maybe, just maybe, one day get to play one of these positions at the next level.

quote:

one day get to play one of these positions at the next level.

You betcha'!!

Lou09, had this very thread posting 2 yr's ago.
Thought yes my son's a 2 way player.
Was offensive player of the year in his league.
Also LHP.
Now a sophmore at a D1.
Hasn't touched a bat.
Even though I feel he could contribute.
It doesn't matter what I think.
His future in baseball, if he has one??
Is as a LHP.

And what advice I received here on the HSBBW.
Made thing's easier for me to understand that if the player concentrates on just one position.
How good can they become versus trying to do both.

EH

quote:

It is very difficult to get adequate practice at both positions. During fall ball you only have so many hours per week and if you pitch and play a position you have to split up that time. Only the most talented can avoid losing the edge needed to excell at one or the other.

Son was a very good catcher and top high school hitter but felt his future was pitching. He felt that if he had split his time between pitching and hitting in college, there would just not be enough time in the day. He would have loved to give up classes to accomplish this feat, but that wasn't an option!!!

I agree with coach may's 1st post There are 2 way players at juco,naia,d3&d2, very rare at top D1s . The ones at the D1 are lefthanded . I live in so cal , 2 way guys i remember that played in the so cal area are . Wes Wisler (ucla) drafted ,Jason Vargas (long beach state) drafted , Josh Romanski (usd), Shane Peterson (long beach state) both of these guys will be drafted this June ,all these guys are lefties , I'm sure there's more . If you can swing it , they'll find a spot for you !

Injury exposure is another reason to consider. My son was converted to full time pitcher this year due to lack of depth at pitcher. Playing both exposes the pitcher to a variety of injuries. I think many of us forget it is a team game in high school and yet coaches are trying to set the player up for the next level. Although he is a better hitter then some of the starters his future in college is as a pitcher.

louisiana09

If, as you have stated your son "would love to continue to do both if he is blessed enough to play college ball", I would certainly encourage him to do so. Why should he not go for it and chase his dream of doing both?

As for the showcases, he should be able to get evaluations at both pitching and the infield position that he plays. They have allowed that to be done at the showcases that my son attended. Additionally, this will likely increase his chances of getting some interest from a school if he does both and will be beneficial if he has an off day at either pitching or the infield position/hitting session. If he does only one and has an off day at it, he will not likely get any interest from any school.

At the PG showcase that my son attended in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he played in the outfield in addition to pitching. Based on his showing at this showcase, the university that offered him a scholarship and that he now attends as a freshman (a D1 school in the south) recruited him primarily as a position player due to his hitting ability and told him that he might be able to pitch some by his junior year. He did not have a great showing that day as a pitcher. In the Fall practices, he worked with both posiition players and pitchers. Based on his good showing this Fall, it now looks like he may be starting or sharing time as a starter at his position and also getting some mound time. During the practices they were able to get a better idea of his true pitching ability.

I would say your son should go for it and the scouts will let me know what they feel he is better suited at or if he can do both. Whatever way he decides to go: Good Luck!!

Wouldn't it be interesting to see someone play both ways a little at the pro level? I wouldn't be too surprised to see it happen a little bit this year in the NL West, with Micah Owings of the Diamondbacks.