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Latebloomers are fun!

L limom84100+ posts
Hey, all you parents of superstars out there. Are you really having fun or are you just waiting? From the time your little guys were 5, you knew you had a star. Will he make the LL All-Stars or the HS team? Of course, you know he will. Will he get a college scholarship? Of course, you know he will. Ahh, but will he get drafted? This is what you have worked for, from the time he’s 5…Were you thrilled when he made the middle school team or the JV or varsity as a freshman in HS? After all, this was expected of him.

Now for the LATEBLOOMER, he got cut in middle school, in 7th grade. But he worked hard and what was his reward? A spot on the 8th grade team where he started to show signs of being a player. Would tryouts in HS yield a spot on the JV? Of course not, he’s a late bloomer. So he worked even harder and lo and behold, he makes the varsity as a sophomore. Now that is exciting and completely unexpected. Is the latebloomer thinking ahead to the draft? Of course not, he just wants a spot in the starting lineup.

Now it’s junior year and some scouts are showing some serious interest and I can’t believe it. Everything is so new and exciting. But my thoughts and his are now past HS to him playing in college and maybe professionally. Now I know how some of you must feel. They are taking the fun out of it. If someone would have told me years ago that my son would be on the HS team, I would have thought that that would be the greatest. Hey, I would have been happy with him continuing to play the piano. I really liked that Fur Elise song.

I have noticed in conversations with some of the superstars’ parents the lack of excitement about the upcoming HS season. They’re more focused on the ultimate travel baseball club and showcases down south.

Is knowing so much about your son’s skills and talents and where they project taking away from just enjoying the HS season? Are people (parents, athletes) just passing time to get to where they really want to be? If you know that your son is going to get drafted somewhere down the road, how challenging and fun can HS baseball really be?

Latebloomers are fun because every experience is new, like his first homerun at age 16, not 8. Or getting to pitch for the first time at 13, not 7. Or playing shortstop at 14, not 5. Or batting 4th for the first time at 15.

I don’t want anyone filling my or my son’s head with how good he is going to be or where his potential might take him. HS season is coming up and THIS is the most exciting thing to happen to a latebloomer.
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justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
This may sound harsh...but I don't have a problem with kids getting cut in Middle School. That happened when I was growing up...no big deal. You found something else that fit you better.

Did anyone see the 60 Minutes piece on "Echo Boomers?" Those are our kids (now ages 12-22). Those kids are doing great, except for one thing. When they enter the workforce, they can't figure out why they aren't getting rewarded whether they do a good job or not. They're used to getting a "participation" trophy no matter what they do.

I didn't grow up that way. Not that the way I grew up was the best...but that aspect of it was better than now. Late bloomers are great...these are kids/adults who don't give up, who believe in themselves. They serve a special place in our society. But not everyone who doesn't make the team at 13 is a "late bloomer." Some just can't play baseball very well.

As my dentist says..."whats wrong with a kid being told he's not a baseball player at age 13/14?" "Why not just move onto something else?"
Last edited by justbaseball
FM Former Member
Mine got cut in the 7th and 8th grade, 2 years in a row, total devastation. 75 kids trying out for 15 position. He refused to wear his AAU shirt at tryouts and every kid who did and could wiggle his butt in the batters box and look the show made the team. But in the long run it made him work harder! When he made the varsity team in the 9th grade and some of the kids who made the middle school got cut he was stoked. He never look back and never forgot what hard work will do for you. He's a freshmen at Hampden-Sydney college and still working his butt off. And by the way he will be starting in left field, go Tigers.

fc v dad
Last edited by Former Member
A amom500+ posts
LiMom-I don't think it's a lack of excitement as much as modesty from the parents . High school is your peer group, and even if it's not as competitive as select ball (though some highschools are), they still want to perform well with their peers. These are the kids who come home to raid the frig with their teammates, no need to make a big deal of it if you are one of the parents of a "superstar". Many of their best hs friends don't play year round ball, and don't want to. Just another way of looking at it! Smile
A AParent1,000+ posts
Enthusiasn has nothing to do with whether your son is a young star or a late bloomer.

Whether he hit his first home run yesterday or 12 years ago doesn't matter when the ball exits the yard today. It is always exciting.

And a lot of us are just as excited when a team mate hits his first ever home run at the age of 17.

Enthusiasm is like optimism - it is an outlook on life.
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
Several years ago a very good friend of mine was having a retirement party. I got him by hiself for just a moment and he was pretty emotional. He looked in my eyes and told me this "When I started out all I could think about was making Sergeant. When I was a Sgt all I could think about was making LT. When I was a LT all I could think about was making Capt and then all I could think about was making Major. Now Im retireing and all I can think about is where has all the time gone. He said "Kenny live today. Enjoy today. Dont wish your life away. Enjoy the moment and relish in where you are at and dont worry about tomorrow. There is alot of truth in that. The future will come and Im not saying dont prepare for it. I guess what I am saying is dont miss today because your worrying about tomorrow. I have a son that is a Senior. I have a son that is a Freshman. It seems like yesterday that were in the yard catching pop flys as little kids. Where does the time go? Enjoy watching your kids at the level they are at. Dont get so caught up in worrying about the next level whatever that might be for them. Or you might end up like my friend.
C crollss100+ posts
TR-
The kids in your program a very fortunate. Our Township HS program is and always has been very weak. Unfortunately the AD and coaching staff do not recognize the need to strengthen the program by developing the younger players. Our head coach doesnt even know the kids that are playing in the for the middle school team. My son too was cut from the middle school team in 7th grade. He went on to see some Varsity play as a freshmen and started as a sophmore.
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
When I was in HS we did not have a JV and very few programs in our area did. Also HS was 10-11-12 no Freshman. The best thing that ever happened to me was my Soph year the baseball coach came up to me and told me he was going to have to cut me. He told me that he did not think I was good enough to help the team and I needed to work harder at my game. My senoir year I started at SS hit in the three hole and hit .333 (wood). Started every game and made two errors all year. I never would have been the player I was if I had not been cut. Im sorry some of you might think that I would have been just as good or better if they had a JV but I disagree. It sent a message to me like nothing else ever has. For someone to tell you you are not good enough to a part of their team will do one of two things to you. Make you step up or step down. I chose to step up. In todays world kids do not have to make that choice enough at an early age. Then they get out in the world and they can not handle it. Cuts are not a bad thing. They are a motivator they are a wake up call they are an opportunity. We have a Junior this year that will be our #2 or #3 pitcher he was cut his Freshman year. He has told me many times that getting cut motivated him to work and make sure that it never happened to him again. Adversity does not have to be a bad thing. It is all in how you react to it.
C crollss100+ posts
Limom,
My son’s story is very similar, a good player in LL, but always played up so he was never the star. Cut from the 7th grade team, made it in 8th but wasn’t a starter. HS coach saw some stuff he liked and talked a lot about projection so he did see some Varsity play his freshman year, a starter his sophomore year...still not a star...in fact he struggled that year leading the team in errors. Had an OK junior year.
Suddenly late last summer he grew into his almost 6'4" frame, started playing great ball, took him to a place where the right people would see him and great things started to happen. My son has only VERY recently gotten the attention of college coaches and some scouts...currently he is an 18 yo unsigned senior. This is a very exciting and busy time for us... college visits, MLB questionnaires, and especially the upcoming HS season. I have to remind myself to stay grounded and keep my son there as well.
If your son is already being looked at by coaches and scouts, your ahead of the game, the hard part is over. Its time to relax and enjoy this very exciting time in his (and your) life.
Best of luck to you and your son!
Last edited by crollss
W Will1,000+ posts
I once went to a little league banquet. As i entered I saw a table full of trophies and awards. I asked somebody why so many trophies he said "Everybody gets one" I know when I was that age you got a trophy when you won or something similar. I know this may sound cruel but this trying to make everybody feel good about themselves sometimes goes a little too far. Players and parents come up with this everybody makes the team etc etc and then middle school and high school come and then there are "cuts". Sooner or later performance becomes the standard. When that happens it is discussion for all the "experts" who deal with child behavior etc.
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
Limom84

Why do you assume that anyone worked just to get their kid to pro ball ?--I know that I didn't--our goal was for the boy to play ball in college and get his degree, hopefully with scholarship money easing the $$ burden--after the degree we would let the chips fall where they may

Please do not assume that all are the same in their desires-- each player stands on his own !!!
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
Will

Ironically this sort of situation as the topic of discussion last Thursday in Cherry Hill in the 11PM Roundtable Dare to Share rap session with Coach Tony Guzzo , North Carolina State and Coach "Itch" Jones chairing the discussion that went til 2:30 in the morning

It was agreed that it all begins to early interms of "Awards and Trophies" and that the fundamentals are not being stressed--It is all about win win win and all too early.
C CanesFan5100+ posts
Latebloomers aren't the only ones that continue to work hard to become better. Many of us have seen "Superstars" as L Leaguers that don't work and continue to develop their skills and gradually fall by the wayside. "Superstars" at the HS level are usually that way because of their work ethic and abilities. Not all "Superstars" dream of playing pro ball. Many of the kids that I know think that sure it would be awesome, but they realize the odds and want to play college ball and if they have succes there, then look towards playing pro ball.
W Will1,000+ posts
Trhit

Everybody knows it but why is it done? I work at camps in the summer times and I love working with the little kids 9 10. I have a lot of fun with them. Parent says he is picking the 9 year old up early for all star practice. Second week in June. I guess all the other 9 year old who did not "make" the "all star" team are just out of luck.
S SBK500+ posts
I just have to get this off my chest.

I missed this post when it was first started. I would like to commend Limom for a well thought out topic and post. There’s nobody here that has a kid going through high school that hasn’t seen a late bloomer succeed and meanwhile some of the junior high studs peak early and fizzle.

Here’s my problem with this post. Rather than expand on what I would think is an interesting topic, at least one regular poster immediately decided that they would rather nit-pick to satisfy their own agenda. Would the response have been the same if the poster were someone different? As Bill O’Reilley says, “Let’s let the audience decide, as usual”.

Now I am sure that there are times people feel that Limon may deserve to be called on something. There are probably times when all of us including myself may deserve some accountability. I don’t think this post is one of them. In fact I already chose to commend her. This time I believe someone else needs to be held accountable.
Last edited by SBK
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
We see many “Late Bloomers” every year.

I’ve told this story before, but I’ll repeat it because it might help some young player.

My youngest son was the absolute worst player on his 13 year old team. His team went to Colorado to play in a big tournament, but I could not go along. When he returned, I asked him if it was fun. He said, “Dad it was a blast, I never had more fun” Then I asked him how he did. He said, “Well, I only got to hit once and didn’t get to pitch”. Then he went on to tell me how good the other kids on his team played. I didn’t really think he was going to be a good player, but this conversation reminded me that he was very special.

When he was 14 he told me he was going to play in the Majors. I told him that was a good goal, but to be realistic because the odds are against anyone playing in the Majors. First work hard and think about college.

When he was 17 he was pretty good, the 3rd best pitcher on his high school team. He threw about 84 mph and had a nice curve ball. No colleges or scouts were interested except the Juco that his older brother went to. So he went there!

To make a long story shorter, the so-so senior in high school was at age 22 pitching in front of 50,000 fans in a major league game. Obviously, I’m a big believer in “Late Bloomers”. I really admire kids who just never give up!
S SBK500+ posts
PG,

Priceless!

I too hold special respect and compassion, (wow, haven’t used this word in months, now I’ve used it in posts twice today) for late bloomers.

I was a late bloomer because I was the youngest in my class combined with being a late grower anyway. Things were a little tougher but when you finally catch up, it’s all down hill from there.

From what I experienced and observed growing up, I have a piece of advice for coaches.

Coaches need to have the same instincts as a scout when evaluating players and identifying those that have the potential to become late bloomers. Be aware that the odds are that you probably have at least one late bloomer on your team already and take pride in identifying them and cultivating them or at the very least, don't kill their dream!
Last edited by SBK
LadyNmomLadyNmom1,000+ posts
Limom, this is an interesting thread you started. My son was not a late bloomer, he had the skills, but we moved a lot, and not just around the corner, but across country, and states. Eight moves alone before his 12th birthday...with each new team he had to prove himself all over again......he didn't have the "rep"...he wasn't known by coaches/players. We found that as he got older, and the level of play increased, not being a known player was a big disadvantage....and stressful at times. He learned the word perseverance early....and as with a late bloomer, he always had to work extra hard....to make up for "lost time"....but I think that has it's advantagous too....sounds like exciting news for your son...enjoy!
T trojanx2100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by SBK:
...
Here’s my problem with this post. Rather than expand on what I would think is an interesting topic, at least one regular poster immediately decided that they would rather nit-pick to satisfy their own agenda. Would the response have been the same if the poster were someone different? As Bill O’Reilley says, “Let’s let the audience decide, as usual”. ...


Well, you hit that one square and drove it over the wall! Probably over the heads also. On the other hand just ignore him, there are lots of other good replies.

Those replies also brought up another great topic worthy of discussion. The topic being how sports is one of the last bastions of education in reality and rewards, preparing children for the real world. There are winners and loosers, some people are cut or don't get the job, contract, etc. You are rewarded for working hard and extra effort, not for just showing up. Collegiate Baseball had a great column on this subject this last year, I'll try to find it.

Finally, why do you ASSUME they assume, assuming one?

PG great post, great story, thanks for sharing as always!
Last edited by trojanx2
gratefulgrateful1,000+ posts
I have a few wonderful late-bloomer stories.

In 1987 I was hired as the head baseball coach at an NAIA school. One of my first recruits that summer was a local kid who was not being recruited by anybody. My predecessor actually told him that he was not good enough to play for him. He played for me for four years and was the first player ever drafted from our program.

Another skinny kid came to us out of high school throwing 77-78 mph. He stayed slim, but was throwing 90 by his junior year, then signed with the Expos after graduation and played a few years in theor system.

Another kid was going to walk-on at a D-I school in the MAC. I saw him in the Legion State tournament the first week of August....he said nobody was recruiting him. Three weeks later he was enrolled and playing in my program, has played in the Reds and Yankee system and is still playing minor league baseball.

My own son always had skill, but was small and weaker than most. He played JV as a sophomore, then by his junior year the velocity was increasing, he was growing taller, and the D-I coaches started coming out, senior year the ML scouts came out (he even hit a couple home runs) and he is now a D-I pitcher.

As somebody else already noted, some of the middle school studs are relegated to the bench, or even get cut.

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