Perception of versatility

One way or another the player needs to show he is good enough to play a position the coach is looking to fill, but even more importantly, can he hit?

If he can't hit it won't matter where he CAN play, unless he is an ace pitcher.

Assuming he can hit, it doesn't hurt to show some versitility at valuable positions such as SS and C, assuming a strong arm.

From what you say the coach wants to make sure that he is in the line-up, which indicates that he is skilled as a hitter. For a position player being able to hit is the key to playing at the next level. It sounds like your guy has what it takes in that arena.

That said, the things that my guy has needed to work on to prove himself in the middle has been his lower half and his feet. He has tried to develop the skill of being able to run low to the ground, as opposed to standing up to run, then getting back down into a fielders position.

Also, arm strength. If he has arm strength and above average speed, it is unlikely that he will remain at 1st for too many coaching staffs.

I've never been a big fan of playing multiple positions once you get past the youth age. If you are athletic enough, and strong armed enough to play SS, you can usually play any other spot well. It isn't too difficult. But to be excellant at one spot on the field it takes a ton of practice and game time to hone your craft. I would prefer a player that is excellant at one spot. That is the hardest thing to accomplish in my opinion. Every spot on the field takes an immense amount of work to perfect.

A college coach is going to look to see if he can hit first. Then he's going to look at overall skills. Once they step foot on campus if the coach wants to move them they will. Where they play in high school or travel is not that big of a deal.

Brandon Inge Catcher, Third Base, Outfield, 1st base...all at the major league level.

I'm certainly not the guy that you're looking to for the answer, but my perception has always been that coaches look at shortstops and think they can play anywhere because they are the most athletic players on the team.

I know you don't want to here from me, since I am not a college guy, but CPLZ is right. A lot of schools only sign SS's for position players unless they have an insane bat. They can be taught the skills needed and they have the tools.

RJM, coach said it above.

If he hits in the top 9, he'll play.

If he hit's in the top nine as a freshman, he'll likely play in the outfield until he gets some collegiate infield experience.

The coach will determine defensive positions based on the strengths and weaknesses of the defensive skills of the top 9 hitters.

You won't have to figure out where he'll play.

They'll do it for you.

And, you'll be proud that he has a spot on the field.

Man I miss all the good stuff. Oh well.

I'm not too sure on this "sign SS for position players" concept. I do believe that some schools go with this philosophy but I don't think it's that widespread. I could be wrong but not sure but I can give what I've seen.

Players that have played for me

Catcher - went DI as a catcher

SS, 2B, OF & P - I told him if he would play at the next level it would be as either an OF or 2B. He thought he was DI SS but played JUCO 2B and OF

Pitcher - NAIA pitcher

OF, P - JUCO pitcher DII pitcher

OF - OF at NAIA

3B, P - JUCO pitcher, DII pitcher

Guys I have coached against (when I say IF I have seen those guys play every IF position against me or while scouting)

University of Louisville signed 3 guys from a school I competed against.

High School --- College
P,IF .... pitcher but could play 2B
OF, P, IF .... OF but he could flat out hit
P, OF .... pitcher

Western KY University has signed

3B, SS, 1B, P .... 1B, OF
SS, P .... SS


JUCOs

OF, SS, 3B, P .... pitcher
3B, SS, OF, C, P .... OF, some IF

All of these guys played at schools ranging from 200 kids up to around 1500 kids. These guys got beat in the first round and some of them got beat in the state championship game. Some of these kids got drafted out of high school, college or both.

All these guys have several things in common

1. I hated pitching to them because they could rake.
2. They were the best players on their team.
3. They played everywhere against me and other teams
4. They were the best players on the field regardless of position they played.

Now like I said - I may be wrong (won't be the first time) but this is what I have seen. If you can hit they will take a chance on you. If you have good baseball skills they will take you. You don't have to be just a SS.

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
A lot of schools only sign SS's for position players unless they have an insane bat.

I can't think of any college whose position player roster consists entirely of ex-shortstops or the second coming of Ted Williams.

It's one thing to point out that shortstops can usually play other positions well; it is quite another to suggest that many colleges are only interested in shortstops. If that were actually true, it would be difficult to have more than one player from a given high school class end up playing college ball.

This is just observation and some light chat with some college & minor league coaches.

The number one position to switch to a catcher? 3B! The reason is the quick feet and quick reflexes...100% fast twitch. If you look though, usually 3B doesn't possess a lot of speed after the first step. I think that's the big difference between SS & 3B at the upper levels.

Knowing that, if my son played both SS & 3B, I would just list the SS, it seems to come with a more complete package of attributes.

I'm not sure what to do about the OF positions, I'm not sure I would list them, as they all come with some negative connotation...
CF, best OF least bat
RF big bat, big arm, not enough speed for CF
LF Big Bat, weakest OF arm, not enough speed for CF

Again, I don't see any downside to being listed as a SS, but can with the OF. I think the downside to listing all those positions, would be the thinking that, "if he were really a SS, how come he isn't there all the time?"

JMHO

Just to help reposition the original question, I believe the responses (other than CPLZ's) I'm getting are to the question "Can he make it?" That's not my concern. My concern is how does he present his situation. Does he persent it as "I play all over" or I'm a thirdbaseman/shortstop."

My son is in the middle of summer ball after soph year. He has some resume bullets now. He's going to start contacting college coaches and begin the exposure from this fall to next fall.

Also, I sometimes feel when posters ask questions the responses return as if the player expects to play in the SEC, ACC, Pac 10, etc.. Others see my son's potential as high end D3 to mid level D1. If he develops better than that, great.

"if he were really a SS, how come he isn't there all the time?"

There are several parents wondering the same thing after watching what happens at short.

The versatile, cooperative Team Player who can play all over can certainly get the proverbial. We'd like to think they leave this situation behind in youth ball, but it can extend through high school, maybe even beyond depending on the program.

The coach has to place his players on their strengths to the team. And there are players who can only play one place (Think 'slug with a glove' on first or the GHNF LFer) So coach places his 'limited' players first, and Versatile Guy plugs in the most important hole that's left. Sometimes he gets to play his own best position as a reward.

I would suggest listing himself as his best position --- if that's SS, then so be it. Why doesn't he playe there all the time? Because there are times when the team needs him to move positions and he's able to do so. It's not going to be the first time the coaches/recruiters have heard this. Obviously, he emphasizes the Best For The Team aspect, and not the 'quality' of the other players on his team .

I feel for him, as my son was that versatile guy in youth ball. At his first hs tryout, he decided he was a catcher and nothing else, he'd make it or not on that because he didn't want to deal with the Jack Of All Trades thing anymore. Still ended up pitching and playing first & OF some.

College coaches, I believe, will look more for a fit (just like our sons do). If guys change positions in the pros, they certainly can change positions in college. They're not taking your son's, yours, his hs coach's, or his travel team's coach's description of skills; they'll come to their own decision.

quote:

The coach has to place his players on their strengths to the team. And there are players who can only play one place (Think 'slug with a glove' on first or the GHNF LFer) So coach places his 'limited' players first, and Versatile Guy plugs in the most important hole that's left. Sometimes he gets to play his own best position as a reward.

I would suggest listing himself as his best position --- if that's SS, then so be it. Why doesn't he playe there all the time? Because there are times when the team needs him to move positions and he's able to do so.

On his resume, you can list:

Position -- Shortstop (play several other IF and OF positions when needed)

I pretty much agree with the above. Have him put down what his favorite position to play is but in conversations with the coach make it known he would be willing to play others. Think of it like this - very few Freshmen will step in and be huge producers in college. The coach is hoping to find a young guy who can fulfill some roles until they develop into a full time whatever. Your son might unknowingly be competing against another kid three states away for that one spot. If they are of equal talent and one is willing to move around and the other sort of balks at it - who do you think the coach will go with?

Also, reading Orlando's post made me think of another kid. He is at U of L as the starting catcher - never saw him in 4 years of high school step foot behind the plate. In fact until his senior year and I was talking to his coach did I find out he was a catcher at all.

What many overlook here is that the college coach will position players where he feels they will do best for HIS team.

Just list your primary position and then let the cards fall where they may---it very well may be that you will play where you are told when you get to college.

#3's plays on a team where the entire infield is made up of high school shortstops - and obviously only one of them plays short now. One college coach told us he recruits up the middle - catchers, pitchers, MIFs and CFers. I'm sure most coaches have their own "formula" that they follow. And obviously they look for hitters - if you can hit, you'll play.

List your best position, with maybe one or two alternates - most recruiting forms ask for at least primary and secondary.

Son's team was playing in a tournament and an in state JUCO coach was there along with another coach from out of state JUCO. They had worked together in the past. Out of state JUCO coach had been getting the good leftovers last couple of years and this coach mentioned this fact, could not understand why the kids left the state. Both these schools play in dry climates, I told him in our area the weather in spring was too wet, season too short. I also mentioned many of the kids he lost, never really got recruited except by this coach, especially my son. He said in my sons case he had plenty of his position already. I told him, if he can hit, field and play game well, don't you guys find a spot? Maybe too many people in baseball think, good 3rd baseman, oh but I don't need another and pass a kid by? Maybe that is why out of state coach gets good players, he knows his kids can play other positions. Last year he converted an outfielder to catcher, kid did real well, got drafted too.

quote:

Son's team was playing in a tournament and an in state JUCO coach was there along with another coach from out of state JUCO. They had worked together in the past. Out of state JUCO coach had been getting the good leftovers last couple of years and this coach mentioned this fact, could not understand why the kids left the state

He should present himself as a 3rd baseman, who loves to play outfield also. Once he starts getting to play SS this upcoming spring he can change it to SS who also loves to play OF.