http://www.minorleagueball.com...ng-age-of-top-talent
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Nearly 20 year old high school players. Yikes! I would hope a player that age would be dominating 15-17 year olds.
On the flip side, there's been threads that discuss gap or post grad years for very young high school players. My 2012 was a 13 year old HS freshman and needed another high school year to mature.
Everybody has a story. Age can definitely matter for some. For others (see the very young potential draftees in the article)...they have the talent now.
Good luck to all the players.
If your kid can play...another factor to consider is what they get exposed to by playing Varsity ball at 14 or 15. They get to hang out with 18 and 19 year old young men who do what young men of that age do.
There is a whole new perspective on young ladies and the introduction to drugs, alcohol, language, attitudes etc. that can have a significant impact on a younger player who isn't prepared to block it out.
These older players may have a lot of sway since they might be among the coolest guys at school and your freshman or sophomore can gain a lot of status if he is considered cool by those guys.
So looking back if I had it to over again...I wouldn't have held mine back not so that he could play earlier in his career....I would have held them back so he'd be more prepared for the junk. I'd also have considered moving him up to 14U ball at 12 so that process could begin and he could have been more prepared.
Originally Posted by luv baseball:
If your kid can play...another factor to consider is what they get exposed to by playing Varsity ball at 14 or 15. They get to hang out with 18 and 19 year old young men who do what young men of that age do.
There is a whole new perspective on young ladies and the introduction to drugs, alcohol, language, attitudes etc. that can have a significant impact on a younger player who isn't prepared to block it out.
These older players may have a lot of sway since they might be among the coolest guys at school and your freshman or sophomore can gain a lot of status if he is considered cool by those guys.
So looking back if I had it to over again...I wouldn't have held mine back not so that he could play earlier in his career....I would have held them back so he'd be more prepared for the junk. I'd also have considered moving him up to 14U ball at 12 so that process could begin and he could have been more prepared.
Or, he might get exposed to kids that really know how to play at an advanced level, show the effort level it takes to be a great ball player, take AP classes and focus on studies after practice, etc. Not all high school juniors and seniors are kids I don't want my kid around. In fact, most of the advanced ball players I see are very hard working decent kids.
luv and Smitty,
We experienced both scenarios. I've got one guy who's still struggling, in part from the exposure as luv highlights. I've got another who gravitated to the high achievers and is now achieving himself. I wish I had the right formula...
There was also a post that linked to an article outlining the number of "older" draft picks out of HS that ended up out of baseball earlier and more often than the "very young" draft picks out of HS...coupling this one with that could be interesting to review. Interesting to see the number of "almost 19" HS players...
MTH- Thanks for posting.
Son is a 17 yr old senior, will 18 just before Fall college semester.
His young age is one thing a few scouts mentioned.
We'll see what happens.
Interesting read.
Enjoy your weekend
Originally Posted by Smitty28:
Originally Posted by luv baseball:
If your kid can play...another factor to consider is what they get exposed to by playing Varsity ball at 14 or 15. They get to hang out with 18 and 19 year old young men who do what young men of that age do.
There is a whole new perspective on young ladies and the introduction to drugs, alcohol, language, attitudes etc. that can have a significant impact on a younger player who isn't prepared to block it out.
These older players may have a lot of sway since they might be among the coolest guys at school and your freshman or sophomore can gain a lot of status if he is considered cool by those guys.
So looking back if I had it to over again...I wouldn't have held mine back not so that he could play earlier in his career....I would have held them back so he'd be more prepared for the junk. I'd also have considered moving him up to 14U ball at 12 so that process could begin and he could have been more prepared.
Or, he might get exposed to kids that really know how to play at an advanced level, show the effort level it takes to be a great ball player, take AP classes and focus on studies after practice, etc. Not all high school juniors and seniors are kids I don't want my kid around. In fact, most of the advanced ball players I see are very hard working decent kids.
Smitty28 - Didn't suggest that was the case globally. But if you have a kid who can play and is exposed to the older kids as Forrest Gump would say...it is a box of chocolates...you don't know what your gonna get. Remember 90% of HS SR's last game is HS so they are not highly skilled players...they are just older. They do what older kids do at 18-19 on their way to working a real job in 60 days when their HS days are over. Your up and coming 14 year old is being stirred into a pot with young men doing what young men do.
Best case is what you describe. Hopefully that is the rule. The hard partying kids that will haze the younger players exist and to pretend they don't and to be prepared for it is nothing but head in the sand. Because the first time your precious clean cut kid comes home and mouths off and you lose that battle...you will lose your kid. It is a constant battle from that point forward.
Maybe in a town with one HS that everyone is focused on what is going on might be a well known deal. In my neck of the woods there are 7 HS in our city and they all have different flavors. We had a redistricting just before HS so it was a crash course. We spent 2-3 years getting clued in to the school he expected to go to and poof we find out in May it is a new school in Sept. Stuff happens.
As for the pro issue...it really shouldn't be a surprise. A 19 year old will get more time and opportunity than a 21 or 22 year old if things are equal. That is why you have the fake birth certificates with the Latin players. It is better to 17 than 20 with the same skills. They figured that out about 40 years ago by my reckoning.