Generalist or specialist

There isn’t a “better”.  The college coaches will play you where you will help the team.

Based on what you stated in your post my advice would be to focus on one position as much as possible - and if he enjoys playing it I would suggest the C position. A RHP throwing 78-82 isn’t going to move the needle for anyone. And corner IFs & corner OFs aren’t highly recruited either compared to catchers.  There is a shortage of good catchers and every college team needs 2 that can play. If I were in your shoes that’s how I would play the odds. 

JETSR71

What is his ratio of RBi's per at bats. Where is his strong hits; left center or right center.

Is he right handed hitter? What is his personal preference?

Bob

How fast is he? 

As adbono said low 80s is not that impressive, so unless you think he can get up to high 80s hitting is probably the way to go.

Most important is how good he hits of course and then it comes down to tools defensively.

I think practice is important but you need the tools to play at the next level. If you have a weak arm you are not catching or playing 3rd. And if you are running over 7 you are not playing outfield or middle infield.

I think playing several positions is good, you even see that in the majors but you need to be honest about the tools as at some point polish won't be able to cover a lack of tools.

Based on your post, I see your son as a hitter (position player) who can throw a few innings. Batting 4th on a good travel team and pitching velocity led to my conclusion. What do you see as his chief tools? What position(s) does he play in HS? If catching is a passion (and it needs to be), what is his pop time (I key recruiting metric for the position)? That needs to be decided. His hitting likewise will carry his recruitment- don't lose the  versatility.

Many showcases allow the player to "showcase" himself at two positions. For my son, it was MI and CF. He would bring both mitts. A strong armed 3b, should also be able to playing corner OF too (especially as you have indicated your son's athleticism).  If at some point schools are targeting his catcher aptitude and skills, he can forget about pitching. I don't know what kind of schools/conferences your son is vetting. The schools who have smaller recruiting classes value versatility (or generalist as you write).  Good luck.

Colleges recruit, in this order and by numbers:

1. Pitchers.

2. Up the middle top athletes.

3. Mashers where they don't care where they play.

They don't recruit "generalists".

Pick a position where he can separate himself from the competition. LH batting catchers who can mash are a priority for many programs, however know that a Varsity team typically only has two catchers who get any playing time. 

Hope this helps and best of luck to you and your son. 

Great advice from adbono. My guy got moved to varsity way ahead of his peers just because he agreed to catch. Then played SS, and 3b. Now D1 commit as pitcher. Do what you have to do to get the reps in the games and work like hell.

This is a really big "depends."  In the last year that my son was engaged in the recruiting process, I came to the conclusion (which isn't rocket science) that there are pitchers, big hitters and then everybody else.  And it's also the order in which kids get attention.  YMMV.  My son is option 3.  A dime a dozen.  I was also one of the rare parents in little league that fought to keep my kid from being locked down into 1 or 2 positions.  We wanted versatility for when he got to high school because my son doesn't sit the bench very well.  If your son is not elite at anything now as a 2022, it's highly unlikely elite is going to happen over the next year or 2.

Having said all that, I'm with adbono in that 80ish mph doesn't do much for a 2022 pitcher so I'm not sure I'd go the P route.  Keep it going if it makes sense though.  Maybe a big velo jump is coming based on growth.  Based on what little I see here, I'd make hitting priority.  Yesterday.  Since you stated he plays 3B and OF, but didn't mention MIF, it sounds like he's corner guy when in the OF.  Those 2 spots and 3B are "traditionally" bigger hitters.  If you want to get even more strategic about it, again I'm with adbono.  If he can't be an elite pitcher or hitter, than the catching route is where Vegas would tell you to go.  Or you can try to seek out a program that really values versatility.  My son ended up committing to one of those a couple weeks ago, but we didn't understand versatility was one of their big MOs until our visit.  While the coach is slating him for MIF, he told my son point blank that he could just as easily play in the OF or at 3B.  Not 1B - too short, ha!  I could be off in saying this, but the more I look around, the more it seems like coaches are recruiting (outside of Ps and Cs) athletes instead of positions these days.  My son's top target is an AAC program.  Their starting 1B this year was the #1 SS in our state in 2017 as a senior in high school.  And a P who threw 93.  Now he's a D1 stud 1B.  A shortstop!  How great is it to be a coach who can afford to put SS athleticism at 1B?!

My kid caught and he was good at it. Like his travel team coaches told him he had MLB potential as a catcher. Unfortunately, he didn't hit at that same level. His college coach laughed when we asked if he would hit. He's now a PO.

Seems to me like your son needs to focus on being a great hitter who has versatility in the field .

Hit and you will play. The more positions a player is capable of playing the more opportunities he gets. I’ve always seen recruiting categories this way (in no particular order) ...

Pitchers, catchers, middle of the field players who could play any of seven positions, corner mashers who can’t play in the middle of the field. If a kid only plays first he better be a big time masher or learn how to play third and corner outfield positions.

Jet

you did not answer my questions. RBI, power alley. The eyes for of a scout include "warn track" power. Metal bat vs wood

Bob

Just turned 16. Warning track, gap to gap power.  Up the middle, rarely goes down either line. Right handed hitter with slightly more doubles to right field than left.  All wood bat. He does not really elevate the ball, more a Fred McGriff line drive hitter.  15 RBIs in 62 AB. Only 5 strike outs this year.  

@BOF posted:

Colleges recruit, in this order and by numbers:

1. Pitchers.

2. Up the middle top athletes.

3. Mashers where they don't care where they play.

They don't recruit "generalists".

Pick a position where he can separate himself from the competition. LH batting catchers who can mash are a priority for many programs, however know that a Varsity team typically only has two catchers who get any playing time. 

Hope this helps and best of luck to you and your son. 

100% agree.

He was a switch hitting catcher until last year he figured out he hit .400 from the right and .125 from the left.

Per RJM - "Hit and you will play"!  Son was MI in hs but has played all 9 positions during travel ball.  D1 coach told him/us he will find a place for son to play every day if he continues to hit in college.  True to his word, son played every game in the 3 years there, missing a few for an injuries.  Focus on hitting (unless PO), something that is easier to control personally and can carry you through college and beyond.