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Player Development Years

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jemazjemaz1,000+ posts
Good question, and a tough one as well. For most players, I would say at 15 or 16. Most vital is a good instructor combined with the best competition the player can find. If only one is possible, then I would say the team is more important than the instructor, particularly for position players. For a pitcher, I could be convinced otherwise.
O Orlando1,000+ posts
I'm probably not answering the question as asked, but I think the first crucial player development period is 12-13, when he graduates to the full-size field. Prior to that, many players can depend on simple athleticism and have not developed the fundamental skills that will keep them in baseball. For the appropriate development, he'll need a quality coach; if he doesn't have one on his youth team, a private instructor would be important.

During any of the crucial stages (to the big field, entering hs with all the additional athletic opportunities and inherent distractions, showcase time, starting college), a quality private instructor would, of course, be of great assistance. But I don't see it as an either-or thing, but a cake and icing thing.

Not only does a select team have all the advantages of raising his game and situational experience, but it provides the motivation, the whole raison d'etre for the boy's interest in baseball ---- the competition of team play! Eliminate that (with the exception of rehabbing from injury), and he may well feel all he has is a job.
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
While any age could be described as the most important developmental years... I believe the very most important baseball developmental years are age 17 to 19 and even beyond.

The reason... This is the age baseball players start to mature physically then either develop their skills and make it or fail to develop and fail. It's also the reason people preach finding a program that allows a player to play right away. It's hard to develop as a player unless you are playing!

There is no better way to develop than playing against the highest level of competition available. This is true at most any age! Setting and watching might be good for learning the game, but it don't do much to develop a player's skills for the next level!

Over the years there have been many players who went from being undrafted, or drafted late, out of high school to becoming early picks out of college. This happens because they developed a lot in college.

MLB Clubs understand this age developmental thing too. They don't expect to get MLB ready players out of high school... They expect to develop them. That is why they (MLB Clubs) all have developmental departments.

My theory is learn early and develop later as your body is more physically mature or close to it!
BeezerBeezer1,000+ posts
Fungo - I'm still waiting for you to adopt mine so you can manage it all. Wink

Seriously, very interesting answers so far. Taking a stab at it I'd say 12-15 would be one development stage then 16-18.

At 12-15 they're facing adjustments to bigger fields, rapidly changing bodies, stiffer and stiffer competition, maybe seeing regional or nationaly ranked teams instead of the locals, starting to see good fastballs, then different pitches (curve / changeup).

At 16-18 they're playing with the "big boys". They won't be playing with their peers in HS. They may be an underclassmen and get a chance to start. It will be a school sport instead of a travel team (part of the year anyway).
They'll only have about 30 games to accomplish their goals versus 50, 60, 70, 80 +.
T theEH1,000+ posts
quote:
Fungo - I'm still waiting for you to adopt mine so you can manage it all.


Heck I'm waiting for him to Adopt Me.

I could use some of that level headedness. LOL

PG.(Quote)
(My theory is learn early and develop later as your body is more physically mature or close to it!)

I agree with that statement.
Mature Both Mentally and Physically.
Only time could tell after that. EH
justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
Would I be out of line if I suggested the most rapid development comes at 7/8 years old when a kid is first learning to throw, field and hit?

I have a friend who has coached for a LOOONNNNGGG time and he often says, "if you don't learn to throw correctly at 7/8, you most likely never will." He's exagerrating to make a point with young coaches...but there's some truth to his comment too.

But I have definitely seen a great 7/8/9-year old coach make a HUGE difference in his players and team...and in very effectively putting them on the launching pad of baseball development.

Just thought I'd throw a little different angle into the conversation.
Last edited by justbaseball
L Liberty10+ posts
If I had to single out one time period, we probably saw the biggest jump somewhere between 16 and 19. That's when their bodies finally had the strength and size needed to fully use their tools. Both of our guys had some private instruction during those years and played on strong travel teams in the summer near the end of high school, which definately helped. We started pitching lessons around the age of 13 or 14. Before high school they played on local teams.

Our sons didn't play organized ball until they were 9, so I really doubt that anything we did before then made much of a difference. I don't remember ever teaching them how to throw a ball. Seems like they were launching them from the moment they figured out how to pick them up.
Last edited by Liberty
BeezerBeezer1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by justbaseball:
Would I be out of line if I suggested the most rapid development comes at 7/8 years old....


WHAT, ARE YOU CRAZY?????????????


Big Grin


To be serious now....I would disagree and here's why. At 7/8 years old, who is teaching them how to throw correctly? What exactly IS throwing correctly at that age? Is that from the mound or the field? Who's catching these correctly thrown balls? (Chances are not many of his teammates)
Last edited by Beezer
BeezerBeezer1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Liberty:
Seems like they were launching them from the moment they figured out how to pick them up.


Those are THE funniest times! Maybe not the most crucial developmentally but darn cute. I guess they learn it should be thrown by watching siblings or sitting with you while you watch a game. Or maybe from mom flinging the frying pan at dad? Anyway, the funniest throws are when they rear their little arm back and the ball goes flying backwards and they give you that "Where did it go?" look.
LD Line Drive100+ posts
I agree with PG with the following addition. 12-14 is a critical age for protecting and developing their love of the game. Lots of kids, even kids with tons of talent, stop playing baseball at this age. There are many reasons but I think the bottom line is at this age they start to have to really work for their success and if they are not having fun too they find something else to do. At 17-19 and beyond they can understand the hard work will pay dividends later. At 12-14 they need immediate reward. Work them hard and keep them challenged, but make sure they are having fun and developing a lifelong love of the game at this age if you want them to keep playing.
Last edited by Line Drive

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