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Interesting Question

TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
With all the " professional hitting instructors" and the ongoing debates does anyone have figures on the top hitters in college and pros who had " professional instructors"/ What is the % of those that did and those that did not? '
TRhit THE KIDS TODAY DO NOT THROW ENOUGH !!!!! www.collegeselect-trhit.blogspot.com
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CoachB25CoachB25Honorary "Old TImer"
TR, I'd think not many since this new phase of private instruction is not available throughout the U.S. as of yet. Heck, I spoke to gentleman the other day who came to watch my dd practice and he said there is no instruction around him at all. I correspond with a gentleman in Illinois who told me he has to drive over an hour for his daughter's instruction and the same with the guys on the baseball team. In metro areas, I'd think there is saturation in some areas. Up until 2005 when I resigned my baseball position, I had one young man take private lessons and that was from January until the first hs practice. He took, perhaps, 4 lessons. Now, at our school, not half of the players at any level take private lessons. Perhaps not 1/4th. On my daughter's team, I know most do not take private instruction.
Q Quincy1,000+ posts
Every player in college and the pro's have professional hitting instructors.

It's very telling when the better hitters are the ones with the least exposure to that hitting instructor.

In Florida, there are almost as many hitting instructors as clergy. Always look for the teams with the trophies and rings and ask who they get instruction or tips from.

I would think that the majority have visited at least one hitting instructor before being drafted or entering college.
CoachB25CoachB25Honorary "Old TImer"
Quincy, what do you mean by "pro?" If you mean someone on the collegiate staff, then you are correct. If you mean that these guys take private lessons then you are not. In fact, I just talked to one of my players today who spent a long amount of time at the professional level and very high. His comment to me was that when we worked together that was about the extent of what he was supposed to do per their workouts and so, he didn't have a private instructor. I think you have seen those off season workouts per each professional team. Also, I talked recently to a young man who is now climbing the system and will be very good. I worked with him in high school camps and we have stayed in touch. I threw BP to him a few times this winter. I don't think he is taking any lessons in the off season. Again, when some of these guys return home, they don't have that available. At least that is the case here in the Heartland. Of course in the Sunshine State, I'm sure it is much different. Big Grin
P Prime91,000+ posts
I can't think of any, in our extended circle, who haven't utilized pro instruction.

Interestingly, the number one prospect of a mid-west franchise, who is now in AAA, brought his minor league instructor and another from the "mother team" to meet our local guy so they could see first hand what he teaches ....... then hopefully would quit trying to screw him up. He had been getting all kinds of conflicting instruction in their system!

He always works in the off-season with this guy. Likewise, Jason Heyward (not a bad debut today; 2-5, HR and 4-rbi's) used a local hitting guy for the past few years. I believe it's much more prevalent than many believe.
coach2709coach270910,000+ posts
MLB hitters - I would say that this level is where you would find guys who have their own hitting coach on payroll in addition to what the club offers.

MiLB hitters - I doubt very many have their own hitting instructor. They just can't afford it. The high draft choices maybe but overall I doubt the average player does.

High level college - Most probably don't have anything special or fancy in terms of a private coach.

Low level college - not a chance.....at all.

Now as for if they had access to private coaches in high school which helped them get to the next level I think it depends on where they live. Players who live in a bigger town or city probably have access to some sort of hitting academy or private instruction. But for the kids in the middle of nowhere I highly doubt that the average kid has this opportunity. Everywhere I've been if a kid wanted private instruction they had to travel to the next biggest town to get it.

Overall though I would say around 30% had access to some sort of hitting instruction past / presant.

But then again what do I know - I'm just a dumb high school coach.
Q Quincy1,000+ posts
MLB, MiLB and college teams have hitting instructors on staff that get paid.

It does't mean that they are good, they are just professional.

The perennial winners have good instructors while the perennial losers have poor hitting coaches.

Here in Florida, some hitting instructors hook up with the Little Leagues to promote business. I forget the title but it is something along with Development Staff.
Coach_MayCoach_May10,000+ posts
The vast majority of the players I have coached in high school that developed into very good hitters had very good instruction before they ever got to me. They were players that got that instruction from their dad who had some good instruction coming up in the game and played , their uncle or older nephew or another family member who also had some good instruction coming up in the game , a private hitting instructor that they paid for instruction , a former coach who taught them some very good things at a young age. Or a combination of some or all of these.

There are two things that a baseball player can learn at a young age that will set him back and many times keep him from ever becoming a very good player imo. Poor throwing mechanics and poor hitting mechanics. Many times these poor mechanics are learned very well. And it takes way more work to unlearn these poor mechanics than it does to learn good mechanics.

I would much rather get a kid as a freshman that has never had any hitting instruction or throwing instruction that get a kid that has been taught very well for a long time the wrong way.

If I could give one piece of advice to a parent out there it would be make sure if your son wants to be a baseball player that you make sure they get good solid hitting instruction at a young age and proper throwing instruction as well.
BobbyTewksBobbyTewks100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Coach_May:
The vast majority of the players I have coached in high school that developed into very good hitters had very good instruction before they ever got to me. They were players that got that instruction from their dad who had some good instruction coming up in the game and played , their uncle or older nephew or another family member who also had some good instruction coming up in the game , a private hitting instructor that they paid for instruction , a former coach who taught them some very good things at a young age. Or a combination of some or all of these.

There are two things that a baseball player can learn at a young age that will set him back and many times keep him from ever becoming a very good player imo. Poor throwing mechanics and poor hitting mechanics. Many times these poor mechanics are learned very well. And it takes way more work to unlearn these poor mechanics than it does to learn good mechanics.

I would much rather get a kid as a freshman that has never had any hitting instruction or throwing instruction that get a kid that has been taught very well for a long time the wrong way.

If I could give one piece of advice to a parent out there it would be make sure if your son wants to be a baseball player that you make sure they get good solid hitting instruction at a young age and proper throwing instruction as well.


Perfect.
Q Quincy1,000+ posts
The greatest learning tool us older folks had was the TV and the occasional ball game.

Also by playing multiple sports, we developed other skills that melded nicely into baseball.

I always found it ironic that the usual 'pro' may have been up to the show for a cup of coffee.

I always figured if I wanted to learn how to fly a plane, I'd learn from a pilot. Tf I want to be a great professional MLB ballplayer, I should seek one out for instruction. Even then there are no guarantees.
Blue Collar BaseballBlue Collar Baseball10+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
With all the " professional hitting instructors" and the ongoing debates does anyone have figures on the top hitters in college and pros who had " professional instructors"/ What is the % of those that did and those that did not? '


To be totally honest with you, none of us at St. Johns had any as youngsters and after playing summer ball in the NECBL and Cape Cod, I know a few did but not many at all. Good coaching along the way means alot
T tfox100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Coach_May:
The vast majority of the players I have coached in high school that developed into very good hitters had very good instruction before they ever got to me. They were players that got that instruction from their dad who had some good instruction coming up in the game and played , their uncle or older nephew or another family member who also had some good instruction coming up in the game , a private hitting instructor that they paid for instruction , a former coach who taught them some very good things at a young age. Or a combination of some or all of these.

There are two things that a baseball player can learn at a young age that will set him back and many times keep him from ever becoming a very good player imo. Poor throwing mechanics and poor hitting mechanics. Many times these poor mechanics are learned very well. And it takes way more work to unlearn these poor mechanics than it does to learn good mechanics.

I would much rather get a kid as a freshman that has never had any hitting instruction or throwing instruction that get a kid that has been taught very well for a long time the wrong way.

If I could give one piece of advice to a parent out there it would be make sure if your son wants to be a baseball player that you make sure they get good solid hitting instruction at a young age and proper throwing instruction as well.


The problem with this statement imo is that what is considered good and correct to one is completely wrong to another.I agree with the premise,just seems to be a difficult goal.


My son has learned a certain set of mechanics from 1 instructor and I have continued with that teaching myself but when he goes to practice,all the hitting cues he hears go completely against everything he has learned but yet,he hit 2 homeruns in his 3rd practice(as well as power shots to all fields) after moving up to a bigger field at the age of 11(longer fence,not bases).None of the 12s have done that yet and he batted 4rth in the first scrimage as well as for the travel team he played for last year.

So,is he getting bad instruction from me or the coaches? I did notice that after the first practice,they quit giving him cues and just let him hit. Wink
Last edited by tfox
T tfox100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
quote:
Originally posted by tfox:
So,is he getting bad instruction from me or the coaches? I did notice that after the first practice,they quit giving him cues and just let him hit. Wink


If he's jacking the ball, he's on to something. He will get cues from coaches for the rest of his life. He must learn when to listen, and when to smile and ignore.


Very true,my favorite coach of his to date never gave him 1 single cue all season long.Put him in the cage,let him hit and sent him on his way.This guy played some minor league ball from what I understand as well as a former high school coach.
Blue Collar BaseballBlue Collar Baseball10+ posts
Tottally Agree, Recently I was lucky enough to have dinner with Andy Stankiewicz who was at Arizona state. He worked with the hitters and infielders and always preached basically the same stuff to most players however when a kid name Brett Wallace came in, he had an akward swing and didnt look great. But he was hitting the ball 450 ft, so andy simply would say "great job brett" keep doing what youre doing. lol wouldnt touch the kid because whatever he did, works for him

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