freshman and varsity baseball.

I guess it goes without saying that you think you are up to the challenge of playing against teams whose lineups -- not their rosters, but their lineups -- will all be boys older and stronger than you. Let's just say I'll take your word for that; there are freshmen who can compete.

Even if that's so, though, give some serious thought to whether you really WANT to be on varsity. Very few freshman actually play once they're on the roster. Ask yourself, which squad gives you the best opportunity to grow as a player? Because it's not what you do this year, but the next two years (soph. and jr.) that really matters over the long term.

Personally, I'd rather play on JV than sit on varsity. And in reality, that's the choice that top freshmen usually face. (Usually. There are exceptions.)

I will tell you, there are two top ranked (PG and BA) players in our district who BOTH were on their JV as freshmen. They moved up to varsity as sophomores, made their marks there and in travel ball, and both had scholarship deals done before the first pitch of their junior seasons. So if you think you really have to be on varsity right away to get where you want to be in the end, you're wrong. In fact I think this path is often better than going to varsity right away, since varsity can often mean either not playing at all, or maybe getting demoralized by the difficulties you find maybe you weren't so ready for after all.

This is especially true for guys who want to be both pitchers and position players/hitters. Maybe you're good enough to do one on varsity, but not both, at least not without development. Or maybe your varsity coach doesn't fully appreciate your potential in one of your areas of interest. Or maybe you really are good enough, but there's a senior ahead of you at your position and he's earned the right to start and play most of the time. JV is your chance to show you can contribute in many ways. And to gain experience and improve in all departments, not just one.

I would go so far as to say that if your coach keeps you on varsity, seek him out and talk to him. Thank him for his faith in you, but ask him for a realistic assessment of what your role will be and whether you might be better served to go down to JV. Or, maybe you can "yo-yo" back and forth some as the season goes along, esp. if as the varsity season progresses you find you're not getting on the field at all. That leaves the door open to be a bench player come tournament time, but with some AB's and innings, you can be better prepared to contribute when you get the call.

Personally, I don't think kids get much better by not playing. Even with lots of practice, you need game action to grow.

quote:

what do you all think it takes for a freshmen make Varsity

I think there are two main factors here: Your coach’s philosophy and your talent.

#1. COACHING PHILOSOPHY:
Some coaches will play freshmen and some won’t. Did freshmen play on varsity last year? If so then one would assume the coach will make his selection based on talent.

#2. TALENT:
It’s not just how talented you are but how talented you are COMPARED to the other players competing for a varsity spot. Players will always have to compete against their teammates for a position on the field at the high school level and above.

It sounds as if you are blessed with a strong arm. More than enough to compete for a varsity spot. However it is a common practice to give the nod to an upperclassman if the freshman and the upperclassman are equal. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t make varsity as a freshman and allow that disappointment to affect your attitude. There is a lot of baseball ahead of you and plenty of time to prove your worth ----- your attitude and work ethic will make an impression on every high school and college coach that sees you play.
Best of Luck,
Fungo

Midlo, very good post but I have seen in many cases where coaches bring up the freshmen it is to PLAY because their talent is ahead of their peers. In fact, I haven't seen a lot of freshmen sitting in our 4a league.. but there are very few on varsity. This kid sounds like he needs to add a little size and strength.

Keep working hard kid. There's no rush. Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint.

My Son will be Varsity Starting pitcher at a 4A school as a true 14 year old Freshman.. He's big and fast enough 6'3 Lefty..He has been accepted by the seniors on the team so the transition looks good.. The biggest part was showing the team that
He's not there to take someones postions away but to help the team win!!

All I can say on this matter is it is usually a case by case matter. I coach at a rather sucessful high school in Baltimore. I have had a kid start on varsity as a freshman and others who thought they deserved to be on varsity play on JV. To give you a coaches thought on it, mine is if you are going to start and contribute then varsity it is. However I don't like to keep a freshman on varsity to sit the bench. I can pull them up at anytime I need them. You might not agree or like it but will be better off playing JV to start and getting better.... I know there are coaches out there who feel otherways but like I said it just my beliefs..

I've read through a lot of different posts that are about making varsity as a freshman on this site...

Asking a question like "Here's what I can do (list great MPH numbers and height/weight and trophies here). Do you guys think I can make varsity?" On this site, we have parents of Major League players. We have Minor Leaguers. We have loads of parents and players at top college programs. We have some of the best scouts known in the game. We have some of the best coaches of the best amateur programs in the nation. None of those people can possibly answer the question that you post.

When I was a freshman, there were loads of upperclassmen on the varsity. In fact, there were 10 juniors and 11 seniors. So the idea of me being moved up to varsity as a freshman was out of the question. Was I the average size for a varsity player? No, but I could handle it, I wasn't small. If I remember correctly I was about 5'9", 155-160 lbs. (Now about 6 ft 175-180) I was a LHP who didn't throw extremely hard but could work the zone and swing the stick a little. But staying down on JV was the best thing for me. I started every game, either pitching or playing CF, and hit 2nd every game. Was I successful? Yes. Was the level "challenging" enough? Yes and no. I could have probably handled playing varsity ball but at the same time I wasn't striking everyone out and hitting 1.000.

When I was called up to varsity towards the end of my freshman year, the coach used me in 2 innings of (surprisingly) a fairly important league game. I didn't do terrible (0 earned runs), but I didn't pitch amazingly (they hit me around a little bit).

In the past at my school, only select freshmen get called up (4 or 5 in the past 10 years I believe). Out of those, few start.

I am not saying that a freshman can't handle playing varsity. My school's rival team had a freshman who led off and hit over .400 for them. In general, however, freshmen just aren't ready to play at that level. 17, 18 year old guys are playing against 14 year olds. Those 4 years makes a huge difference.

The decision is solely up to the coach. If you believe you can make varsity as a freshman, bust your a$$ and go for it. But don't be disappointed if you don't make it. It's not a knock on you, just the coach's decision.

Reread Midlo Dad's post. One of the young men he mentions is currently ranked the #2 prospect in the nation for the 2008 class and has a scholarship deal finished already to an ACC school. The young man's name is fairly familiarized among this site. Even he stayed down his freshman year...

AS-SS3
I have 2 boys and both have played varsity as freshman at 2 different schools. My older guy didn't play his primary position with a senior a head of him. He did very well and started every game. The following 3 years he caught and made all the post season award teams and is now playing in college.

My younger son played SS as a freshman. He hasn't finished growing yet so his size was not a factor but his ability was. He started every game, hit 2nd in the line-up before being moved up to leadoff. He made 5 errors on the season as well as hit over .375 with 1 HR and was honered with an all-league selection.

I coach at a different school and in the last 10 years we have had 4 players on the varsity as freshman. Each was a starter since our philosophy was to only keep them up if we were committed to starting them and sticking with them. It has worked well.

I think this is what you need to find out from the program. What is their philosphy? Will it benefit your son in the long run? Is it about his benifit rather then just the mystique of playing on the varsity. A bad experience can sometimes be tough to overcome.

All Star SS - Let me add one more thing to the posts - In our high school league, the JV competition is generally pathetic (our school being dominant and scores often being in the range of 20-1), but the Frosh play the biggest and best baseball schools around (outside our league), all of whom have Frosh teams too. Thus the competition for the Frosh is first rate. Plus, your son will play with these boys for 4 years (and you'll sit with these parents for 4 years) - so get to know them. The argument would be the same if you have no Frosh team - get to know the JV people in your class. You have plenty of time to show your stuff. Worst case scenario, your son comes up to varsity, either doesn't play or squanders his opportunities while being overpowered by 18 yr. olds blowing pitches by him, or hitting his offerings off the wall, or booting balls because of the pressure, and he loses confidence or even the confidence of a coach. Don't know about your school, but our son's is constantly in the tournament finals, playoffs and championships, which can be a bit overwhelming for even the best freshmen. Yes, it could be a great experience too, but just trying to give you a balanced view.

You really don't see the difference in the speed of the game at the Varsity level until you experience it. MOST freshman at the Varsity level are over their head.

The talent level at the school factors in as well. I have seen freshman on Varsity teams who would be on JV at other schools, and some who would not make JV at others (all in the same area).

My son is a freshman and did not try out for Varsity but was pulled up to varsity. I was some what worried about playing time, but he played every game and every other was pitching. Emotionally it was tough on him, always feeling like you have to perform well. On the mound at 14 and facing boys 17 and 18 can be pretty intimidating. But he handled it very well. I think his pitching could have been better but they changed some of his mechanics and he had to work through it. Changes were for the good, has really developed his curve ball and much more movement on his fastball. I guess what i am trying to say is that although my son had the skill, emotionally he had to adjust. Had to learn to hang tough. My son was voted 1st team all-conference for our league in pitching. This was a first for a freshman in the league history.

Season is almost over my son freshman playing varsity. Coaches work him in as needed, he could not quite earn a true starting position due to inconsistnet play. All in all I think it was a good exprience for him. Finishing about .270 on the season. mentally it has been a challenge for him, not achieving the level of success he has always had before. we will see how it plays out the next three years, He has had about 14 hits with 50 Varsity at bats he faced three bonafide prospects, 2 will be drafted the other has a good chance, so at least he will have those experiences to build upon.

My son is a freshman who didn't try out for Varsity. The Varsity coach called him up to play a game. He was in for 2 innings and 1 at bat. The coach called him back up for the Regional playoffs. Not sure what will happen next year. I thought it was a good experience for him. We'll see what happens next year.

Each team/situaton is a different one.
We have sophomores that were pulled up to play varsity this year and I have seen enormous growth in their performances by the end of this season. Physically some were short others were tall. Physical attributes didnt matter, ability did.
I feel a sense of ease that next year our team will be that much more experienced because of their participation at the varsity level. Two years ago we had 12 senior's on our Varsity team. We are slowly rebuilding after losing them.

Also happen to know a shortstop kid who has been playing Varsity (6A) since he was a freshman. Overall experience has been a good one, but I give credit to those senior boys who really pulled for him a few years ago and took him under their wings.
If he hadn't had that type of situation, I think the experience would have been very different. This shortstop was able to work on his game and he didnt have to battle against mental issues such as resentment, etc. The seniors had his back and he had theirs. There was a mutual confidence. He was on the field as part of a team. His age didnt matter, his ability did.
We are greatful for the way things have panned out, but know that each situation for others may not be the same.
Just keep playing, growing, building, and learning. The coaches will know where the team needs you and where you need to be.
Hard work, no matter what level you play at is the key.
Focus on your ability and not what level you play at for now. Its about being the best player you can be and making a difference on the team.
The rest will fall in place.

This got bumped out of the blue!

AllStar - How did the season go?