Skip to main content

13 replies

Position help Plz

B bothsportsdad100+ posts
I need some advice...

My son who started as a C (and even pitched a few innings of varsity) at varsity this season as a Freshman recently tried out for and made one of the top 15U travel teams/organizations in our state. We are very excited and thankfull for the opportunity... we get to go to East Cobb!

Anyway, I never have projected him to be able to pitch at the next level but at the tryout the coach got him on the mound and gunned his fastball at 78/79. He also has a nice curve btw and it has been his out pitch. The TB coach is interested in some mound time for him this summer. He is just shy of 6ft and weighs 160. I am 6ft tall and based on the rest of the genetics I dont think he can make much more than 6ft even though physically I dont believe he has finished growing.

He has never had any professional pitching mechanics instruction.. just what I have taught him. I have always been reluctant to work much on his pitching since the throwing mechanics are so different from his catching arm motion and I always thought behind the plate was his best chance to continue to move up the ladder.

My question is should I stop fighting this call to the mound and start working on his pitching? From what I have been reading on line 78/79 is pretty good for a 15 yr old. He has never done any specific arm strengthening work just general nautilus strength training. His control has always been excellent and as I said he has a a very nice hook.

Thanks...
In order to hit .400 you gotta be loose: Bill McGowan
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

B bothsportsdad100+ posts
TR: He enjoys catching.. no issue there. He certainly has enjoyed pitching in the past when he has had a good defense behind him. Its certainly more fun to strike someone out rather than block a pitch in the dirt! I think if you asked him personally he would say the same thing I am about to say.... that being he wants to play whatever position gives him the best opportunity to play at the next level.

I just read tonight that the average MLB pitcher is 6ft3. I know he will not be that tall and I also know that the raw physical attributes are a big part of this equation.
floridafanfloridafan5,000+ posts
I understand the need to be a team player; however, I do not believe that a teenager should have to abrogate his longer term goals for the sake of a high school team.

It is one thing to move from 3rd to Catcher, or Shortstop to Centerfield.

But, to turn a hitter into a pitcher (that usually will not hit every game, thereby limiting his ability to develop) I believe is too much to ask of a young player, unless that is the position that he truely wants to play.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
I understand the need to be a team player; however, I do not believe that a teenager should have to abrogate his longer term goals for the sake of a high school team.
If it's 17/18U showcase I agree. Anything before then be a TEAM player. Do what's best for the TEAM. There is no I in TEAM. The problem is too many parents do not understand this. The number of parents who put their kids development over the good of the team sickens me.

This is the ME generation of athletes. They are led down this path hand held by their parents. If a kid told me he's not a pitcher at the expense of the team I'd let him rot on the bench until he understands he's part of a team not the team exists to serve him.
Last edited by RJM
B bothsportsdad100+ posts
I dont want this to get off track.

This is a 15U team that will play a lot of showcase ball not a HS team.

The focus of my question was the extreme difference between learning the skill set of being a catcher and the skill set of learning pitching mechanics and the fact that they appear to me to be contradictory.

This is a ball club and an organization about player development. If my son doesnt catch there will be another catcher. If my son doesnt pitch there will be other pitchers.

He has a great opportunity with this club. We are getting to the point where he will need to focus his training time on one position or the other.. IMHO.
Last edited by bothsportsdad
20dad20dad1,000+ posts
He has a great opportunity with this club. We are getting to the point where he will need to focus his training time on one position or the other.. IMHO.


make sure it is one or the other. by doing both his arm will eventually suffer. i feel your son needs to decide his future,you may point a certain way. however it's his road to travel.
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
I always have to chime in on these C/P discussions since my son did both extensively in summer ball, high school and college. I wouldn't worry too much about the two positions "contradicting" each other. I never saw the contradiction. Of course the motion is different as is the motion a pitcher uses when he throws to first base or the catcher throws down to second. Think of it as being versatile. What I would worry about is overuse with his travel and high school team if he's asked to do both. When my son was taking lessons we would split a one hour lesson into 30 minutes of hitting and 30 minutes of pitching. Sometimes he would do hitting and catching. He wanted to catch only in college but eventually was asked to do both by the coach and seemed to enjoy the dual role. I'm sure it had somewhat of a negative impact in his professional career in that his catching skills never reached MLB caliber. I say enjoy the additional opportunities. As far as arm problems --- use common sense .... it can happen to any ball player but my son never had any --- other than broken, bruised and dislocated fingers from catching.
Fungo
zombywoofzombywoof1,000+ posts
Pitching and catching in HS not that big a deal. When my son was a sophomore, he was a an OF/P/C and it didn't hurt him any. As for "fighting this call to the mound" the way I see it, it's up to the player. My son went to his coaches and offered to catch because the team neeed a second catcher so he stepped up to the plate and offered to catch as well. He did this on his own. He wanted to play and didn't care where he played. If he were ever to have an issue with his arm, he was smart enough to let his coaches know before he'd hurt the team and/or himself. HS is a time the players have to figure these things out on their own.
Last edited by zombywoof
Q Quincy1,000+ posts
If the 15 U travel ball team is going to Jupiter to play in the Junior Olympics, follow the program of that coach for the time being.

At that age there is no larger stage than the USA Baseball National Team.

Sadly, USA Baseball does not seem to promote itself and the national teams via MLB games and promotions.

Due to the cost involved and the search for the nation's highest talent, greater promotion would not only attract players but possibly lure financial backers for teams competing in the qualifying tournaments.

Add Reply

Post
.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×