Second or third ?

Hello,

 All positions have a high value, but if you can play 3rd & MIF you bring up your player value.  I'm thinking MIF  (middle Infield) = SS & 2nd base= quickness.

Most of the time the big guys play at the corners 3rd & 1st.. 

My son plays 3rd ( not a big guy) but moves like a MIF, going to run down those bunts at 3rd. and turn double plays like a SS..He also plays SS & 2nd when needed.

 Agility is key.  Go for what he is comfortable with and has a natural ability to play.

hope this helps. 

Joe

Second base is a more valuable defensive position than third base.

http://www.insidethebook.com/e...osition_adjustments/

http://www.baseball-reference....ained_position.shtml (Rpos, Positional Adjustment Runs)

Outside pitchers and catchers, other than mashers many college and pro players were shortstops or center fielders at the previous level. As the competition thickens and the talent funnel narrows the shortstops and center fielders tend to get dispersed to other positions on the field.

Each position has a profile and at 14 you likely will not know what he fits so the more he plays up the middle the better. 2nd basemen tend to be smaller, more agile, good footwork and soft hands, with speed and maybe a weaker arm than a SS. Corner positions have to be bigger and mashers, and third and RF should have a cannon for an arm with less range than a SS. By the time he get's to HS it will be more evident and he will likely play where they have a spot that best fits his profile. Also where there is an opening from a roster standpoint has a big influence. As they say if he can hit then they will find a spot for him on the field. 

I was watching an Oklahoma game on television during Galloway's last season there. The announcer said that all of the position players, including the catcher, were shortstops in high school.

Son was recruited to play college ball as a shortstop.  In his recruiting class of position players (6), every single one was a HS shortstop.  None of them played shortstop in college. One at first, two at second, one in the outfield, one washed out, and my son became a pitcher.  Coaches look at middle infielders first, its like brand equity, and then for big mashers who they can fit in somewhere.  Its just math.  The "players" are playing SS, so recruiters start there.

If there were a 10 team HS league and you had your pick of every player in the league, who would you pick?

In most cases, it will be a large percentage of pitchers and shortstops.  Maybe a couple catchers and center fielders. Possible one or two corner guys that can hit and/or hit for power. Possible not any second baseman unless he is outstanding.

Most shortstops have the skills necessary to play about any position.  Some even profile as second baseman at the next level.  

There are always exceptions, but second base might be the least recruited position on the field.  Even on the top summer teams, you are likely to see a second baseman that plays shortstop on his HS team.

But to answer the original question.  To create a lot of interest as a 2B or 3B you have to be exceptional offensive player as well as a good defensive player.

Maybe the best way to check this out is by checking the early rounds of the MLB drafts. See what position they are drafting kids out of high school.  Obviously the pitchers will lead the way.  Outfielders come next.  Then SS, 3B, 1B, C.  Coming in last will be 2B! Most all 2B that get drafted are coming out of college.  And once in awhile you will see a HS SS drafted and listed at 2B because the club that drafted him profiles him at 2B.

PG ... What I believe I saw when my son's age group was going through the process is it's hard for a first baseman to get recruited unless he's an absolute masher. A friend's son, who played only first was in a real panic as the recruiting season wore on. The kid was a line drive hitter. It didn't seem to matter the kid could pick it with any first baseman I've ever seen. He wasn't drawing much interest. Colleges coaches have a tendency to 1B in addition to DH as a place to put extra hitters who didn't win another position in the field. Even Ryan Flaherty (Orioles) played first his freshman year at Vanderbilt (never played first before) before moving to short after the existing shortstop graduated. Do your observations agree with this? 

I would agree that 1B only is the absolute last position recruited. Actually, I don't think it is recruited unless it's a big kid who's a true power hitter. A good hitter - high average, line drive hitter with lots of singles and doubles, but under 6 ft. or not a fast runner, good luck. 

No doubt about it to get recruited or drafted as a first baseman you need to be an outstanding hitter.  However, in many cases the top HS hitters in the country are first basemen.  

Dan Vogalbach, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Eric Hosmer, Chris Parmalee, etc., all early draft picks, off the top of my head, drafted as HS 1st Basemen.  There are many others, but that is already more than the total of HS 2nd Baseman that have been drafted in any round.

Actually even if a 2nd Baseman receives major interest it will be because of his hitting ability. It is a very important position, but usually filled by former shortstops at the higher levels. Actually Neil Walker was a HS catcher.