High School

This was my son's goal going into 9th grade, too.  However, it was a loaded year. The coach had to cut about 5 juniors moving up to the varsity level that could have started at most any other high school in our area.  It didn't help that there was a senior transfer into his school of a player in his position that had already committed to a D1 university.

 

But he batted 1st and played his heart out on JV.  They called him up to varsity for the last several games in the regular season and he got to play in the state semi-final game as a freshman.

 

There is a long time poster on this site who's son was throwing 97 and drafted out of high school, but he didn't make his varsity team as a freshman.  "It's not where you start, it is where you finish"....a quote from this site.

 

So, only your coach will know if you have what it takes for his up-coming season.  And, his needs could change during the season.  Be ready.  Work hard this winter, and be the best player and teammate you can be whether it on JV or Varsity.

 

Good luck!

My experience as an Assistant Varsity Coach was that there was very few 14 year olds that could play with 18 year olds.  There were only five players that made varsity as freshman in the last 20 years in my area.

 

My advice is play JV get comfortable with the HS program an the coaches.  There is plenty of time for varsity. 

This is true, but I don't know your (OPs) school or area. The year before keewartson's freshman year, there were 2 freshman on varsity (both now in top ACC schools) and keewartson was the only call-up to actually play as a freshman (2 of the 3 call-ups that year are now D1 commits).  But of these 5 players, only 1 was a pitcher and he could also mash the ball.

BaseballstheLife-

 

IMO you have the right goals and attitude.  Compete hard, let the chips fall where they may, and know that your recognition that it may be better to play at JV than to sit at Varsity is mature of you - and IMO what's best.  Always better to be at the level where you will PLAY at your age.

 

All that said, I agree with those who've observed that in most areas of the country, freshmen are usually not physically ready to compete against seniors.  It's hard to say, really, because we don't know the quality of competition in your area/league, but I would say that your description of your pitching is very good for your age, but might be tough to compete with if you were in the league where my son plays.  There are always exceptions, especially for pitchers with good breaking balls (and that goes double when also coupled with a plus change up), but in our area 78 would be a below average velocity for a Varsity pitcher, but probably better than average (again, especially considering your secondary stuff) at JV.  That's not to say that pitchers with that kind of velocity aren't sometimes successful Varsity pitchers, because some certainly are.

 

Work hard this winter to gain strength and velocity, and to add some weight, and you never know.  Either way, I predict you'll be fine and will ultimately have a GREAT High School Varsity career.

78 is the average h.s. fastball.  There are plenty of dads and players who claim they throw harder than that, but I've seen enough h.s. baseball to know the truth.

 

78.

That's why "average" isn't a very useful response to the OP, because it "averages" a lot of kids who may or may not have much relevance to the context of the competitive strength of his area/league/team.

 

I'm not really disagreeing with you, Bum, just saying it depends on so many things we can't really know that we can't really say anything as definitive as you seem to be saying.  I'm at least trying to offer the context of my son's league (a strong conference in the biggest classification in Washington, one that regularly produces D1 pitchers), and  I usually score those games WITH a radar gun so I don't feel I am exaggerating anything  FOR THAT CONTEXT. But I do generally agree with you that HS pitching velocities are widely exaggerated, and in most areas/leagues, 78 would be pretty close to average Varsity velocity.  And darn good for a freshman.

Edgar. Bum, Jr. pitched against a few of those D1 guys in Washington and did pretty well.  But I hear what you're saying. 

I applaud you for setting goals and wanting to achieve those goals.  The reality of the situation is a lot of this may be out of your control.   While you have a certain skill set, there will be older, stronger more experienced varsity & former starting JV players that are competing for those same varsity slots.  Rule of thumb - those that hit, play. The easiest way into a lineup is hitting.   If not hitting, you need an extraordinary skill.  It can be running or defense or something else.  Sorry, 78mph is good for a freshmen but not extraordinary at the varsity level where we live.

 

Frankly, history and luck may also come into the picture.   In the past, how frequently has the Varsity taken taken freshmen, and how many upper classmen will be competing at your position this year?   In our district (same as keewart) you don't see freshmen on the top few teams, because the teams are very deep and extremely competitive for playing time.  Plus, junior and senior class players are required to play varsity.   Most of the talented freshmen & sophomores are paying their dues, getting experience, and starting on JV.

 

Continue to develop your game & skill.  If you compete strongly for a Varsity position,   you may win it or you may not win it but either way you'll probably get the coaches attention.  Good luck!

If your school is small then you have a shot. 

 

However would you rather see a lot of playing time as a JV or potentially minimal time at varsity? 

 

No doubt with your speed, and if your pitch location is good, you will do well.

Each year there are 1 - 2 freshmen who make varsity at our hs, and while they are flattered to make the team and benefit from practicing with upper classmen, they would have been happier playing on the jv team for at least 1 year.  The freshmen receive very little playing time compared to the upper classmen, and the upper classmen have the freshmen do more of the field work - like carry the water thermos and haul equipment.  It's tough on them socially since they don't see the other guys in their classes and don't have anyone to commiserate with who is in the same position.  As a parent, I'm not thrilled about my 14 yo spending so much time with 16, 17 and 18 yos!  At our school, though, if you are selected for varsity it's really hard to say "no thank you" as you risk not being asked again!  Tough choices!

The kid seems to have a good head on his shoulders.  He should be fine, and I like the advice of play hard and let the chips fall where they may...you never know.  IMO, way better to stay down and get play time and work on the stick.

 

It seems as though sometimes the younger kids get so caught up in getting a "V" letter that they forget about everything else, including working hard to earn it. (I don't think this is the case with the OP), but at my sons HS, I have watched several young players get so jealous of one of their classmates that got pulled up to "V" last year.  The kid that got pulled up was for P only.  He had/has a sub-standard fastball, minimal breaking ball and a hit/miss change-up...but he always found the box and filled it up.  He never started and was basically just an inning chewer when the team needed to save some arms for a district game, he saw maybe 7-10 innings on the mound.  The couple of kids on JV were so ate up about him being on V and not them, that they couldn't see the forest through the trees, they were PLAYING every inning of JV, but the wanted that "V" letter.   Well, 2 of them transferred over last summer to different high schools, and found out the the grass is not so green on the other side.

 

OP, keep you r great attitude, play the hand you're dealt and play it as best as you can.  You will get there.  Good things happen to good positive people that work hard.  Good luck

 

My son is a freshman also.  He played about 12-15 games with the varsity players in the summer and fall of this year, playing against other varsity players in our area.  In most facets of the game he has shown he can handle varsity.  In others, although he needs a little more time, I believe he'd figure that part out this year.  

 

Personally, I'd prefer he play jv for most, if not all, of the year.  As it is he'll skip the freshman team.  HS in general is a big step up.  Practices and or games 6 days a week.  Getting home after 7pm and still having to do 2-3 hours of homework.  I don't think he needs the varsity letter that bad, that he should possibly sacrifice some academics.

 

As others have said, train hard and get better.  Your time will come soon enough.

 

And let me add, my son is fine with spending some time on jv.

 

 

We're at a fairly small school.  If the OP's son was at our school, he'd likely be able to play both JV and Varsity.  A 78mph pitcher with a good curve ball would likely get some time on the mound in a DH or non-league game.  We move kids back and forth from JV to Varsity fairly regularly depending on the situation.  No idea on whether or not that's an option for him, but at smaller schools, it's possible.

The other thing we need to consider is do you want your 14 year old hanging out with 17 an 18 years olds??  There is a big difference between the two.

I thought I remembered reading that Bum, Jr. Was a Washington pitcher!  We're in KingCo 4A.  

 

I thought about your post and it's possible I succumbed to the natural human tendency to remember the better pitchers more.  It's not like I actually averaged velocities or anything, just a general feeling that the vast majority of pitchers threw somewhere in the 80-85 range (with the inevitable couple in the 90 range) at Varsity in that league.  Then I realize I am thinking pretty much of starting pitchers only, and pretty much only RHP at that (LHP in our league were easily 5 mph slower on average last year, mostly used in middle relief, and most were able to succeed even though throwing slower than most RHP).  My generalizing in the first place was probably not a very helpful response.

 

I'll put it this way: when my son was a freshman, as a RHP, he sat 79-83 and touched 85, with a good curve and a show-me change (which he has since improved - I would add that to my advice to the OP: keep working on that good change, it's a really underrated pitch, especially in HS).  He was a couple inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than the OP as a Frosh, with a bit more velocity but otherwise what seems like a similar arsenal.  His team was stacked with Juniors and Seniors, and a fair number of pitchers (several PO's).  He got a good look, but never saw Varsity.  Now, had he been on one of 2-4 other teams within the same league, he might've been in their Varsity rotation. 

 

As it is, he was one of three primary starting pitchers on JV (two by the end of the season), hit in the three hole all year, and caught every game he didn't pitch.  He got WAY more time and experience at JV than he would've at Varsity (if he'd made V, he would have seen a few innings as a backup C or 3B, but mostly sat and served as a bullpen catcher; he might've gotten a few mop-up innings).  Last year, as a soph, he was an everyday starter at either 3B (shared with the KingCo 1st team 3B), DH, or pitcher.  That team had SEVENTEEN seniors, and 9 pitchers, 7 of them POs (my son and the other 3B being the only two-way players), and spent most of the year ranked as a top ten 4A team in the State.  This year, he'll be the only returning Varsity pitcher.  If he was coming in as a freshman THIS year, he would easily make Varsity, probably in the starting rotation.  Context is everything.

 

The OP to me seemed a little undersized - not for a freshman, but for a V player - but with a great attitude and good stuff if as reported.  At many, maybe even most schools, he'd have a shot, but might want to consider whether playing V is what's best for his development (though if there are good local summer programs, I wouldn't worry too much about that as summer is the bigger part of most players' development these days). At others, depending upon the quality of competition in his league and on his own team, he probably won't.  If I were the OP's Dad, I'd advise him to look really carefully at his competition and realize that upperclassmen with similar skill sets will almost always get the first chance.  Compete and play hard, keep that good attitude, and good things will eventually come - maybe sooner than later!

Fenway, nowhere did I imply 78 is exceptional, just average.  Exceptional in h.s. is 88+.  My observation is that the original poster has a chance to pitch varsity if his fastball sits 78.  A chance is just that, and subject to many variables.

 

Edgar, yes, Bum Jr. actually won Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington and definitely threw harder than 78.  He was one of those undersized pitchers you refer to. 

BaseballIsLife, as others have stated, there is no way for us to be able to tell you whether or not you will make varsity as a freshman.  It depends on way too many variables.  Most of those variables depend on the make up of your team.  If they are short on pitchers, regardless of the competition you face, you have a shot.  If you are better than the existing pitchers, you have a shot.  If your team is chock full of very good, upperclass pitchers, it may be more difficult.  All you can do is get as good you can get and go out and show the coaches what you have.  If it's good enough to make varsity, great.  If not, play JV and work to get better and you will get there eventually.

 

My son pitched varsity as a freshman in probably the best region in the highest classification in the state.  Started against the two teams who wound up playing for the state championship and held his own.  Won one and lost one with complete games against both.  However, part of what got him there is that his team just didn't have a deep pitching staff.  He threw 82-84 with a change and curveball.  He was around 5'8", 150 lbs.  It can be done, but it really depends on what is going on within your own team.

Wow, that's impressive.  Washington usually produces pretty good pitching talent every year, so Player of the Year is a very special talent.  Very, very cool (and if I remember this correctly as well, he's pitching professionally now, right? No real surprise there...).

 

I have such admiration for the "undersized" pitchers.  They definitely have to overcome some scouting biases, so those that do seem to have more than their share of heart, desire and competitive will. I love those kinds of players.

 

There's a senior pitcher up at Lake Stevens that fits that bill that I have high hopes for.  Might only be 5'10" or 5'11" but is hitting 92 pretty consistently from reports I have heard and seen.  Hopefully he'll follow in your son's footsteps....

Originally Posted by bballman:

…It can be done, but it really depends on what is going on within your own team.

 

That’s really the crux of the matter, and why I’ve always maintained that there are a lot of pitchers out there who don’t get much of an opportunity because of various reasons, but could have a great deal of success if given a good opportunity.

When I was playing JUCO ball, I had the opportunity to catch bullpens for an undersized MLB pitcher who was the brother of one of my teammates....."Flash" Gordon....dude cold bring it, nasty, NASTY, curve ball.....

I'm with the give it your best effort and let the chips fall where they may. As others have stated there are many variables other than just one person's talent regarding making varsity especially when a young player. No matter what level always be mentally and physically prepared to deliver. Then the coaches will decide when it's time for varsity. Good luck.

A lot of jr and sr will hit a 78 fb but most fresh/soph may  not. A better goal imo is too stay at jv as a fresh and continue to work on location/offspeed pitches and get better and try for varsity as a soph. Better to play down than sit on bench or pitch/play very little on varsity. Good luck, update after next season and let us know how it went.

Update: So I ended up not being able to pitch last year due to tendinitis. I played on JV and split time at third base. I was used to playing in every game so at first it stung a little. But then I started to observe. I learned how to pick up mechanical flaws in swings and pitchers. I could focus on my hitting and got better plate discipline and power. I hit around .450 and hit my first 2 home runs. Over the summer I started pitching again and I was clocked topping out at 83, developed a biting 2 seam and cutter, and learned better command of my change up. This fall I am on the varsity fall team and I am expected to pitch often. Thank you everyone for the advice and sorry for taking so long for a follow up.

2-3 hrs of homework, what kind of school does your kid go to. My kids only have 2-3 days where they have homework that takes, at most 1 1/2 hrs. Maybe I should be requireing them to do more studying.

Depends on the course load. My son is taking 3 AP courses this year and he has 2-3 hours of homework every night.

2-3 hours is an easy to average night around here.

That's a great update.

 

It sounds like you had a fantastic freshman year. Being on the bench doesn't mean your not in  the game and learning. Utilizing that time to be a better ballplayer and teammate will help you advance.

 

Nice to hear you had a good summer on the mound, have a productive fall,  take care of that arm, hit the books hard, hit the gym hard and kick some butt next spring.

 

Did I say hit the books hard? 

 

keep the updates coming. 

Congrats!  on figuring out Tao handle what you can handle.  Nice velo jump from last year, just think if you continue to work good things will continue to happen.  Good luck this season.

Young fellow, you've definitely got the prerequisites you need to play varsity at my son's former high school. You throw 78 and you're breathing!

 

Oops! I didn't realize this thread was from 2013 and hadn't read all the posts when I posted!  Congratulations !