pitcher/shortstop

I agree with the decision

I like the logic and it sounds like a coach who knows what he is doing.

The coach is absolutely correct!

The future of your son's arm is the most important.
In 26 years of International Baseball, we have never played a "starting" pitcher at shortstop.

"Shake the coaches hand" and be happy you have an intelligent coach.

PS: if your coach knows when your son will move from CF to the mound, he may wish to send a catcher to the foul line for your son to "warm up" the inning before by throwing to a catcher between innings from RF or LF.

Bob Williams

All of the above and the coach is correct, a starting pitcher should be limited to CF or 1st base.

I would feel really good about my son playing for a Coach that was truly concerned about both protecting the player and best benefiting the team. AND, he made it a point to explain to the player his reasoning.

The coach seems to have made a good decision...

Of course the coach is always right, and so long as your son projects as a pitcher, then it sounds like a great situation.

We have faced a similar situation and chose to discourage pitching and focus on fielding and hitting since my son did (does) not project to be 6'1+

RJM - Your son's coach wants to protect his players, and using sound logic to accomlish that. He is doing his job. Reading between the lines, he also has someone (now) who can play SS, which gives him some flexibility. That is always nice to have. Best of luck to him, and you for the season.

RJM, I understand where you are coming from with this question because I saw it ALL the time, on virtually every team. Best pitcher moved to ss.

quote:

He was expected to play short junior year. He's emerged as a pitcher this year.

Great example of a player's ability to be valuable elsewhere on the field.

Who was it who "expected" him to play short? Coach? Player? Parent?

Congrats to the player who developed utility skills and is playing where he is needed and where it seems might be best for his development.

quote:

Who was it who "expected" him to play short?

The coach has projected him as a shortstop since eighth grade. He started at short on JV as a freshman.

quote:

Congrats to the player who developed utility skills and is playing where he is needed and where it seems might be best for his development.

From 13U to 16U travel he played whatever position the pitcher came from (ss, 2b, 3rd, cf, rf and reluctantly some c ... also pitched some short relief).

FWIW,

Kellen Sweeney whose older brother Ryan starts as an OF with the Oakland A's, is one of the best shortstop prospects in the nation. Last year he had Tommy John because of pitching and playing shortstop for his high school team.

He looks fully recovered at this time, but he will no longer set foot on the mound.

My son is a senior in hs who has played ss/ pitched on varsity since freshman year. The wear and tear on the arm from doing both is real. After pitching he will often either play 2nd base or dh.

Many coaches do not want to interupt the middle fielders but at the same time in hs often times your best athletes and baseball players will be two way guys so there are no absolutes on this in high school. At the college level you just won't see it.

TPM

Pitcher to first is what happens with my son. I agree with this coach.

Actually as a frshman son played ss when not pitching, but he didn't pitch that much, as a sohp and junior it was pitcher only, then as a senior starting pitcher and then first or DH.

RJM's son is lucky he is alowed to remain in the line up, mine had to sit the bench when not pitching for two years, and on his travel team he was a pitcher only, mainly so that the other positions could be taken by more kids to be seen by college coaches and scouts.
Every coach does things differently, but this seems like a wise coach, if he sees the ability for player to be a pitcher in the future, it's wise to not use the arm more than you have to, and to avoid injury.

My son went to first when not on the bump. After his Soph year the coach moved him to first from SS. Initially he didn't completely "buy-in", but after a couple games he used 1B as a front row seat to watch and learn the interactions between pitcher-batter-catcher-3rd base coach-umpires.

He called it the "game within the game". With the exception of when a LH batter was in the box, the first baseman has a best view in the house without the responsibilities of the catcher with that "micro-game". He followed up saying that he was "hands-on" when on the mound, and in a "pitching classroom" when playing 1B.

The bottom line is the coach decides where a player plays based on what he thinks is best for the team whether those decisions are right or wrong. If the player has a spot to play, he should feel very fortunate. There's only 9 spots available. Sounds like this coach gave good reasons for his decision and his reasons make a lot of sense. It sounds like the head coach communicated well with his player on his reasoning and that's all a player could ask for.

For players who go to high schools that have good coaches and can communicate well with their players, they are very lucky because not all coaches are like that and your stuck with him in the public school system.

I know my son could've cared less where he played as long as he played although he has his preferences. He went to his coaches and told them he could catch as well if needed. In his sophomore year, he caught 25% of all the games he played in because the regular catcher had to miss games and another catcher got cut in tryouts so there was only one catcher so he went to the head and asst coaches and said he can catch. In his junior year, there were 2 solid regular catchers so he wasn't catching unless both went down, but was still the third option. He also wanted to pitch varsity (and probably should have) but never got the chance but he accepted for what it was it and knew he was still playing as an everyday outfielder and was gonna get his 2-4 ABs every game. His bat was needed in the lineup. Even in the one or two games he wasn't in, he DH'd.

One thing is for certain that in HS baseball, you will play if you can pitch or hit. What positions they play IMO is less important and will work itself out over time.

My son is going through a similar experience right now. He's a freshman and has pitched @ high levels throughout his travel ball career and just assumed pitching HS would be a no brainer. He is among the top 3 freshman pitchers in the area. Up until this weekend he had taken 80% of reps @ SS. No pitching except in try-out where he lit up the radar gun and one indoor session. The prospect of being the #3 SS behind two Jr's had him a little disapointed. This weekend he got an opportunity to pitch in a simulated inter-squad where he's placed is a bases loaded no-out situation. He K'd all three batters. I think he'll now move into consideration for the rotation but not sure how that will affect his SS status. He's not an outfielder and has never played 1st either. His primary position off the mound have been 3B & Catcher up until now. His bat is too good to be a PO

We have a very good coaching staff so I know he'll get opportunities. Our 1st game is Thursday so we'll see how it goes.

I'm just enjoying the ride.

Sounds like the coach weighed all his options and he wants your sons speed in the outfield.
I thought you had posted once that he played some OF for the high school team, in the past. With your sons speed, and his continuous development with the bat, sounds like a good fit.