A few of you have asked for an update on my youngest son. Thanks for asking. I'll give some background first...
As a HS coach, I have seen quite a few of our players take logical and predictable paths into and through college baseball. He isn't one of them. There is a recommended way to approach the recruiting and school selection process. Then there is his way.
As we speak, he is driving across the country, hitting several ballparks along the way (at Wrigley for the Cubs/Halos tonight), on his way to play his senior year at his 4th school in 5 years. Has he moved around so much because of problems with the coach, school, teammates or program? Nope. Because he is a problem kid? Nope.
1st year - Strong California JC, made the team as on OF, suffered significant injury late fall, reconstructive wrist surgery (non-throwing hand), out for the year, told he would likely never hit again. So, he decides he'll come back as a LHP at another school that has that need. Off to school #2.
2nd Year- Second strong Cal. JC, he ignores the doctors and starts hitting anyway. Decides he'd rather be a position player than a P. But this team is loaded with good returning OF's, one to be drafted. Eventually gets a break and works his way into a starting role. Does well, high BA, high OBP, strong defense, then OF collision, concussion, misses the end of the year but finishes with good numbers.
3rd Year - Same JC, has a great year, all-conference. Has some nice NAIA offers with enough love to feel good about. Nope, he chooses to accept a preferred walk-on offer at a big D2.
4th Year - Big Cal. D2. Starts the fall 9th on the OF depth chart (out of 9), climbs, MVP of Fall Series, earns a roster spot and significant early PT. After a few weeks, he starts hitting everything right at guys- the hits stop falling. His first ever lengthy slump. He was still called on defensively, for situational hitting and running. But, in the end, he just didn't have the numbers. The coach has three returning all-conference OF's and a strong recruiting class coming. Coach likes him but told him he had other plans for building young depth in the program going forward. Knowing son wants to eventually get into coaching, he offered him a spot as an assistant on the staff. OK, sweet. Nope. He still has a year of eligibility and, I guess, a fire still burnin'.
5th Year - He connected with one of the NAIA's that had offered the year before. He'll be moving across the country, from the most liberal big city in the U.S. to a tiny conservative town. Yup, his way. One more time.
I do have to send a big shout-out to our HSBBW member, Picked Off. As many of you know, our sons roomed last year and became good friends. Picked Off and his wife went way beyond in being surrogate parents to my son and the other roommates. Also, we have had the privilege of spending time with them and becoming good friends as well. I hope we can stay connected and remain friends for years to come.
Through it all, it's been a blast and I can't wait to see what this year brings.
