Pitcher Only

For mine, it was when he realized that being a PO was his best shot at playing past high school. Honestly, I think the answer comes a little easier to lefties than to righties, just because the field positions are more limited for the vast majority of lefties. Some of the key factors leading to his understanding:

*He is a lefty

*He is not fast. Most college recruiters, especially at the higher levels, recruit up the middle of the field. The faster you are, the better your shot.

*He can hit for some power, but he is not a consistent masher. Takes him out of the college level hitting debate, especially with his slower speed. 

That doesn't mean he can't still play a position for his high school. At the high school level, he can hit well (has been a designated hitter since sophomore year) and he can make up for his slightly slower speed in the outfield by getting good reads on the ball. 

For this summer (as a rising senior), he was offered a PO spot on one of the best club teams in our area. He decided it was a good offer. It has been a positive learning experience. Now he has a more realistic understanding of what college baseball will be like for him.

We do know a couple of 2017 grads who will be playing at the D1 level as two-way players, so it's not unheard of. But, you need to really have something special to play both ways. BTW, both kids are lefty pitchers/outfielders who can hit the snot out of the ball on a consistent basis against very high level pitching. 

For some reason, this has been a really hot topic around here the last few weeks. There are quite a number of threads with a lot of really good info that you can search for.  

Junior year of HS. Declared that was all he wanted to do and made all the coaches aware.He saw his playing time at the corners decrease. He's not a beast at the plate(good hitter, but not a power hitter) and his nickname of "cheetah" was well deserved( in jest). Starts the next phase of his career as a PO this Fall.

kandkfunk posted:

For mine, it was when he realized that being a PO was his best shot at playing past high school. Honestly, I think the answer comes a little easier to lefties than to righties, just because the field positions are more limited for the vast majority of lefties. Some of the key factors leading to his understanding:

*He is a lefty

*He is not fast. Most college recruiters, especially at the higher levels, recruit up the middle of the field. The faster you are, the better your shot.

*He can hit for some power, but he is not a consistent masher. Takes him out of the college level hitting debate, especially with his slower speed. 

That doesn't mean he can't still play a position for his high school. At the high school level, he can hit well (has been a designated hitter since sophomore year) and he can make up for his slightly slower speed in the outfield by getting good reads on the ball. 

For this summer (as a rising senior), he was offered a PO spot on one of the best club teams in our area. He decided it was a good offer. It has been a positive learning experience. Now he has a more realistic understanding of what college baseball will be like for him.

We do know a couple of 2017 grads who will be playing at the D1 level as two-way players, so it's not unheard of. But, you need to really have something special to play both ways. BTW, both kids are lefty pitchers/outfielders who can hit the snot out of the ball on a consistent basis against very high level pitching. 

For some reason, this has been a really hot topic around here the last few weeks. There are quite a number of threads with a lot of really good info that you can search for.  

Thanks for the reply, this is exactly what I was looking for......

Your description of your son was very similar to mine, minus the lefty part. He's good enough to play every inning at 1st or 3rd when not pitching. Right now he has warning track power, this should change as he gets some man strength and he IS NOT going to win any foot races. Grandpa says if he and erosion got in a race, erosion would win. 

I have done several searches here on this topic and I keep running into " the coach/game will tell you". I will continue to search.

Thanks again.

Oldest son was P, DH and position player all through high school.

PO on his travel team up to 17U.  A very, very good travel team.

He knew his college future was on the mound.   He was right.

For my 2018, it was last summer, at which time it was apparent that his path to college ball was as a pitcher. While he still swings a mean bat and could be useful in the lineup (probably would be 5 or 6 hitter in our lineup), he doesn't have the other tools to be considered a D1 prospect as a position player. So, the question became, why take at bats away from teammates who are trying to sell themselves a position players? If he played the field as well, it would only be for his own entertainment and selfish when we have guys trying to attract college attention with their bats and gloves.

For travel, it was during the 15u Summer. The same time his travel coach told him that he needed to choose between RHP and C. Through High School he was one of the primary RHPs and, when he wasn't on the bump, he played OF.

The choice by the travel coach was based on his (lack of) speed on the basepath and that there were much stronger sticks in the lineup. Add to that the fact that he plays at 120% at all times and the likelihood of him getting hurt was pretty great.  At first, he has embraced the PO lifestyle, but now spends a lot of time on Tee-work and in the cages trying to prove to the coach that he needs him to bat. At times, the coach humors him and lets him bat.

I firmly believe that the choice to concentrate on being a PO during the summer is a big reason for the D1 scholarship he (and my wallet!) will enjoy.

Sophmore summer. He didn't decide, it was decided for him.  After receiving almost a full scholarship, he realized that it was a good choice made for him.

I think Roothog had the best reason why most coaches take the bat out of a players hands.

3B/P isn't very good combination on the arm.  

JMO

TPM posted:

Sophmore summer. He didn't decide, it was decided for him.  After receiving almost a full scholarship, he realized that it was a good choice made for him.

I think Roothog had the best reason why most coaches take the bat out of a players hands.

3B/P isn't very good combination on the arm.  

JMO

TPM,

3B/P isn't very good combination on the arm.

This is something we have thought of.

Catch22, he is being groomed for 3rd because of his arm, but it is clear that to play post high school it will be because of his pitching.

This begs the question, is the goal to contribute anywhere you can for your HS team or is it preparing for the next step which is hopefully playing in college? Decisions, decisions......

Thanks!

LuvMyKids posted:

TPM posted:

Sophmore summer. He didn't decide, it was decided for him.  After receiving almost a full scholarship, he realized that it was a good choice made for him.

I think Roothog had the best reason why most coaches take the bat out of a players hands.

3B/P isn't very good combination on the arm.  

JMO

TPM,

3B/P isn't very good combination on the arm.

This is something we have thought of.

Catch22, he is being groomed for 3rd because of his arm, but it is clear that to play post high school it will be because of his pitching.

This begs the question, is the goal to contribute anywhere you can for your HS team or is it preparing for the next step which is hopefully playing in college? Decisions, decisions......

Thanks!

For me, I say high school is an important part of the whole experience of growing up. High school is about friendships and teammates. For high school, you don't worry about the next level - you play for your school, your teammates, and your classmates. If you are the team's best option to win at 3B, you play 3B. Within reason, you take care of the arm, but you play. Next level work? That's what summer is for these days. Thirty years from now, your kid isn't going to fondly remember those great summer games the way he will that high school championship run.

Having said what I said above, though, I understand not all high school baseball is the same. Here in Colorado, we might play 21-23 games if we make a run through the playoffs. I'm sure it's triple that in states like Florida or California, where you may have to make some sacrifices during the high school season for health.

Son's travel coach told him at 15U that if he wanted to pursue college ball, it would have to be as a pitcher. Fortunately in HS he was able to pitch and play a few other spots helping the team along the way and the same in travel. He got the best of both worlds although there we days when he started then rolled out to SS that i cringed a bit. He had fun and it all worked out in the end. There are loads of stories of kids who want to play "elite" ball and wear that jersey that are confronted with the PO role, some take it and some decide to play more positions elsewhere. Do not take a PO role if  you aren't prepared to live with it.

roothog66 posted:

LuvMyKids posted:

TPM posted:

Sophmore summer. He didn't decide, it was decided for him.  After receiving almost a full scholarship, he realized that it was a good choice made for him.

I think Roothog had the best reason why most coaches take the bat out of a players hands.

3B/P isn't very good combination on the arm.  

JMO

TPM,

3B/P isn't very good combination on the arm.

This is something we have thought of.

Catch22, he is being groomed for 3rd because of his arm, but it is clear that to play post high school it will be because of his pitching.

This begs the question, is the goal to contribute anywhere you can for your HS team or is it preparing for the next step which is hopefully playing in college? Decisions, decisions......

Thanks!

For me, I say high school is an important part of the whole experience of growing up. High school is about friendships and teammates. For high school, you don't worry about the next level - you play for your school, your teammates, and your classmates. If you are the team's best option to win at 3B, you play 3B. Within reason, you take care of the arm, but you play. Next level work? That's what summer is for these days. Thirty years from now, your kid isn't going to fondly remember those great summer games the way he will that high school championship run.

Roothog66.........I couldn't agree more. My philosophy is " just enjoy playing".

For my guy he was forced once he got to college.No lets take  batting practice to see or whatever.Was the same for all but one.Didn't understand how that worked.  He led both SB and TB in most numbers last 3 yrs. of school. so not a pie in sky situation.They say it happens to all .What you going to do?