Pitcher Only

His coach will take the bat out if his hands when its time…

BB and BB

So, I kind of look at this differently.  Your son grew 6" and he only struggled hitting but not pitching?  His height increase is a significant adjustment for both baseball skills.  Yet you've not mentioned issues on the mound.  With the significant increase in height, you may want to bring him to someone who specializes in pitching to review his mechanics in his longer frame.  All 3 of my kids pitched in high school, and we went through something similar (but not 6") growth spurts and awkwardness.   Mechanics are so important on the mound.   Better safe than sorry.

As for hitting, if he keeps practicing he'll either adjust to his new height or he won't.  High School and Travel Teams have a way of finding the best bats in the lineup.   So, your son should just keep after it until there comes a time that he focuses on being a PO.   It will become clear when the time comes.    It could be HS.  It could be college.  My advice is to focus on the skills that are going to get him to the next level if that is where he wants to go.

JMO.  Best of luck!   

In fact, he did struggle on the mound for the first time, but his pitching coach attributed it to not throwing curve balls yet.  When all you throw are fastballs and change ups, good hitting teams are going to catch up.  And they did.  We might have gone 1 year too long with out another off speed but his coach was fine with it.  His growth only seems to effect his speed and hitting.  He was already mechanically sound thankfully. 

I liked what FENWAYSOUTH had to say, particularly about continuing to swing the bat.  Some kids seem to enjoy the PO role whereas others do not - and sometimes lose their passion for the game (pitching can become more like a job real quick).  As for high school, he really only needs to be one of the top 9 bats to remain in the lineup - assuming his OF/1B spots are not covered already.  My oldest was fortunate to rotate starting pitcher/1B (once relieved) and then OF when not pitching.  He was not a great hitter, but stayed in the top 9.  Played a solid 1B and was a great base runner (speed and awareness).  In LL, he played a few games at SS despite being a lefty.  Once he went PO, he lost interest in the game.  He could have played a solid OF, but was simply not a good hitter.

Keeping the bat in your hand throughout high school should be a goal - assuming the kid likes to hit.  I think both of my kids really enjoyed the time in the batting cage with teammates - much more fun than the bullpens.  If he is throwing 90+ as a freshman, then perhaps hitting could be abandoned early.

@BB and BB posted:

In fact, he did struggle on the mound for the first time, but his pitching coach attributed it to not throwing curve balls yet.  When all you throw are fastballs and change ups, good hitting teams are going to catch up.  And they did.  We might have gone 1 year too long with out another off speed but his coach was fine with it.  His growth only seems to effect his speed and hitting.  He was already mechanically sound thankfully.

Glad to hear he is mechanically sound. 

Recently, I was introduced (by a golf buddy) to a professional pitcher who lives in my neighborhood.  He is 6'11"....a very big person.   Can you imagine the growth spurts this guy went through?  He throws a two-seam, four-seam, change-up and cutter. 

As a frame of reference, my son wasn't throwing curve balls until he was 16 yo as a high school junior.  College recruiting for him started his high school sophomore year.  He was throwing two-seam, four-seam, cutters and a change-up.   I know at least a half dozen other pitchers (who went on to college baseball) like my son who waited to learn a curve ball late in high school.  His college coach helped him improve the curve ball but his bread and butter off speed pitch was the change-up.  That pitched "danced" for him.

My point is the curve ball may not be the answer you're expecting it to be.   There are other options to change the hitters view.

JMO.

My son became a PO his 16u summer and it was suggested by his club coach.  He too grew 10" in 2 years and is now 6'5"

In my son's mind it was the best decision he ever made.  His club coach asked him, "Do you think you can hit in college at 6'6", because I KNOW you can pitch in college."  Being a true 2 way is extremely difficult.

Son on paper is still not a PO in college.  He was recruited as a two way guy and hit all fall his freshman year.  2020 freshman season.  Came back in fall and still hit some but not as much.  Was bullpen guy his 2021 and 2022 seasons.  He still hits some in practice and is still listed as a two way guy but has not swung in a game.  He does not work on it as much because his mentality is I'm a bullpen guy so chance of me hitting are very slim plus we have 20 plus guys who are here to swing bats.  Coach still has him swing in practice and before games some.  Last time in practice, he still hit one out each way is still the only switch hitter on the team.  Someone will tell your son when to put it down by words or by never letting him hit.  It's funny because son asked coach if he still needed to swing every now and then and coach said you still have too good of eye and swing not to be ready if I ever need you.  I hope he just gets one shot in college.

My son was a C/P when he was younger.   The increase from 5'11" to 6'4" did two things,  It made him a worse catcher and a better pitcher.  He still hit in high school and played some catcher out of necessity.  He was recruited as a two way but gave up on that immediately in college.  The best answer is the first one you were given.

My son grew from 5’4” 120 to 5’11” 135 from 8th to 9th grade. It didn’t affect his ability. But, it did affect his mechanics. Since the JV coach freshman year was a former pitcher I asked him to watch for his elbow dropping or striding to the wrong place. The following off season I put him in pitching lessons for reps to fix his mechanics.

When a kid is taller and lighter relative to his height gain he’s going to be faster. But I could see he wasn’t running smoothly. I sent him to track camp that summer to work on running mechanics at a local university known for its track program. Then, he got training specific to running the sixty for time.

Don’t give up on the hitting. If needed, get him a hitting instructor. His high school coach will decide whether he’s a two way or a pitcher only. It will likely be subtle rather than a conversation. He will get mound time and not be in the lineup otherwise.

My son said the players who became pitchers only practiced in the field and played some on JV. Once on varsity they were never told to go to a position.

The HS coach will use him as the team needs, your job as a parent is only to make sure he's not over-used.

Does he play on a summer/travel team?  That team might use him differently, if they recruit players for particular roles or focus on college recruiting.  So, you should ask the summer coach how he is going to be played, so that he can keep working on those skills in the spring.

I agree, don't focus on the next level at the expense of this one.  My son did both in HS, he could have focused more on pitching then, and maybe his pitching would have gotten better earlier, but he wanted to hit.  He had a great HS experience, and plays in college at a D3.

14 and 6’2” that’s a big kid! My age and shoe size were the same from 7 to 14 and I stopped at 6’6”…

I’ve watched 3 kids from 5U, 7U and 11U all HS 2014 class that have all logged MLB innings as pitchers and only one was a PO in HS. It was clear that the one that was a PO needed to be a PO by 12U (although it wasn’t clear to his dad).

If you think it’s a growth spurt and he’s been a good hitter until now, then get him some objective coaching and see he can put it back together. IMO the goal in HS should be get as much field time as you can, and as they say – if you can hit, you won’t sit…

Reiterating what others have said, stay in the moment and have fun!

Our son is 6-7, 195, RHP, PO. He (we) thought the PO role would hit his junior, maybe sophomore year. It happened his freshman year. Same, he grew 6 inches in 6-8 months when he was 13-14 years old. Was still doing "decent" at the plate in 14U ball, but things changed in high school. His bat was no longer needed on the team. So, yes - the coach will make the call based on talent available. Never hurts to have a convo. with the coach but the PLAYER should be having those conversations - not the parents. Coach and mentor through your son...not to the coach.

Regarding the growth spurt a few years ago - he STILL struggles with limbs flying around and finding his best mechanics and fluidity for pitching in his size frame. The key is grit and determination. Keep working at it - even if just a PO.

He actually enjoys the PO role for the team and carries some extra responsibilities for shagging and other needs while the team is on the field. Aaron is VERY social though, so any time he can be around team members is a good day for him.

Keep grinding!

@BB and BB posted:

When is it time to become a PO?  I know that is his destiny at the next level, but it will be hard to convince him.  Will his HS coach be the one to decide?  Or should I make the call?  Please advise.

Why would you make that call?

Son played multiple positions in 9th  then as a sophmore they took the bat away for 2 seasons. He was miserable. Coach said it was for recruiting.

Then as a senior he pitched, played first, outfield and hit. Lead the team in ERA, BA, RBI, Hits. Ended up being awarded county utility player of the year.

My point, don't worry about this dilemma now, it will all work itself out in the next 4 years.

I let my son make the call. The last time he had to decide was sitting in the new HC's office after fall practice junior year, at a P5 school with 90% scholarship. Was told he was welcome back as a PO, otherwise hit the road. He left.