HS Possition Change

Sounds like the coach has faith in your son at 3rd and sees potential or he wouldn't have suggested it.  I would go with what the coach wants and start working hard to make that your son's new favorite position  BTW, is there another SS that coach will replace your son with? 

The thing to do is win the position the coach believes he can play. Then who knows what happens from year to year in terms of opportunity. As I once told my team there are nine positions on the field. All of them are better than positions on the bench.

 

As your son goes through his baseball journey he will find at some point almost everyone still playing was once a pitcher, shortstop, center fielder. As the talent funnel gets narrow be grateful for the opportunity to earn a spot in the lineup anywhere.

You move where the coach wants you to move and you learn that position.

^^^^^What they said.  The coach sees something he likes in your son and evidently feels he will fit in at 3B.

 

My son's HS experience was similar.  In travel he played catcher the most, followed by 3B, SS, 2B and occasionally outfield.  In JV he split time between catcher and 3B.  he made the varsity squad his sophomore year and beat out a senior as the starting catcher.  We were surprised when coach put him at 3B is Junior year.  And even more surprised when he was moved to 1B his senior year.  Son earned All District honors (2nd team) his Junior year and All District 1st team, All Region 1st Team and Honorable Mention State his senior year. No, it's not about earning the honors, but doing what's best for the team. It just happened that he did very well at the other positions.  It helped that he was considered to be a very good all round utility player.

 

He is now in his 2nd year at a JuCo where he is on pace to be the starting 1B. 

 

RJM is correct.  Win a position that's best for the team.  The position he plays can change from year to year.

 

My sons first yr he went from SS to 3B when not pitching, not because he wasn't good at short but another kid who played SS too did not have arm for 3B and my son did. This way the coach could place two players in a position good for the team. Just go where they place you. If kid at SS doesn't do well your son may be brought in.

Agree with all of the above.  There are only two positions in baseball: on the field or on the bench.

 

BTW if your kid has the arm to play SS,  he's got the arm to play 3rd.

I agree but doesn't speed play a big part of who plays SS?  

Sure.  I was responding to OP's comment about needing to build arm strength to play 3rd.

3B just needs to react and have a gun, SS needs the speed and be able to cover ground and posses a good arm.

Not always true!  Just saw a kid at Summer team tryouts who did well at SS and when they moved him to 3B he did very bad.

Both positions require a good arm.  Playing SS deep with nobody on, the throw to first on balls hit to the 5-6 hole is longer and more difficult than any throw you have to make from third.

IMO; think a lot of it is need based. My sons making the opposite switch from 3B to SS. He's played primary 3B but some MIF in travel ball. He's in a large class but most of the big arms are also big boys who aren't too quick & a couple have moved over to 3rd. Class ahead of him is thin at short also so he's moved. He's just glad to be on the field.

No one plays baseball to play defense!  If he gets in the line-up 1-9 don't worry about where he plays.  If a coach says play left field, be the best left fielder you can possibly be!  If he gets the opportunity to play at the next level, the more positions you can play WELL, the more valuable he will be.  I spent my whole college career playing catcher.  I was the worst athlete on the team and knew my only shot was to get good at it.  I could haved cared less about the defensive part but knew it was the only way I would get to play and hit.  Every day I saw my name on the line up card was a great day.