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Size Question

C 2013Catcher10+ posts
Hi, I am wondering how significant the size of a player is in being recruited for a catcher. Currently I am almost 5 ft. 9 barefoot and 140 lbs. I know I not done bulking up, however if I do not grow any taller how will it affect my being recruited.

If it makes any difference I am a speedy, leadoff hitting type player.

Thanks
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ILVBBILVBB1,000+ posts
There are two good answers. Yes it will and no it won't.

Good players get recruited. No if ands or buts!

Look at the rosters of many schools, see who plays and what size they are. You will find many a school where the coach has a size preference. It is a reality.

My point worry about what you can effect; work hard, get better, become stronger, be a good student. Don't waste your time worrying about what you can not change.
floridafanfloridafan5,000+ posts
You might want to get some time at 2B, or another position. We have a close friend of my son's that was the starting catcher on his HS team Junior and Senior year. Had a sub 2 Pop Time and was really good behind the plate blocking, framing, everything a catcher is supposed to do.

His only shortcoming was... he was short, and light and quick, which was not what colleges were looking for in a catcher, and he went unrecruited.

I believe if your goal is to continue to play the game you may love, you may wish to consider a position where such a high premium is placed on bulk.
CollegeParentNoMoreCollegeParentNoMore1,000+ posts
Most college coaches are looking for position players they think can hit college pitching, whether they play the infield or catch. Each coach is different, but most will not ignore a good bat.

From another thread re what college coaches are looking for in a catcher:

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...491066862#6491066862

quote:
Originally posted by jerry weinstein:
1. Athlete
2. Passion for the game
3. Student
4. Offensive potential
5. Catch & throw potential
6. Can he play?

Being a catching guy, it's hard for me to put offense above defense in this position but I always felt if we had an athlete with character we could develop his defensive skills.It was much more difficult to take a guy who had limited offensive skills & develop him into an above average offensive player.IMO the college game,especially with metal bats, is based on offense & pitching. There is little room in the lineup for a non offensive player. Certainly that is contingent upon the skills & abilities of the players who surround you.There are exceptions. But when you recruit in college baseball or scout for professional baseball, you have a role profile & if you make exceptions,you end up with a lot of mismatched parts.

We primarily found players at showcases.We got a lot of follows as the result of e-mails that were followed up by phone calls to coaches & local professional scouts.Once we had our list based on our needs, then we would see the players in games that meant something.We also saw lots of players in our camps. We always encouraged players who were interested in our school to attend camp so that we could have an extended look at them 7 have a hands on experience.

Hope this helps.

JW


fyi On my son's former team they have a catcher listed at 5 10 160. They also have a 5 5 and 5 7 infielder.

Good luck
Last edited by CollegeParentNoMore
HRKBHRKB100+ posts
My son played MIF and Catcher throughout the years. He was a very good catcher (1.8 pop-times consistently his Junior year) but I knew he would always be small (5'7") so we did not encourage him to get behind the plate. He committed to a D2 as a shortstop. One coach said it was not his height but his weight that worried him.
redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
My son is a 2012 catcher. He finished the summer at 6'2" 171. The college coaches showing interest in him wanted to see him with more bulk. He is now 6'2 1/2" 182. He is hoping to be 190-195 by summer.

I feel size deinitely plays a role BUT...if you can play, you can play. As a 5'9" 140 catcher, you won't jump out at coaches unless they see you play.
go3go310+ posts
Hit the weights, but don't forget to EAT! Lean meat, lots of pasta, milk (shakes, ice cream)vegetables, and bread will put some weight on you.

Take snacks with you to school. Protein bars and/or PB & J sandwiches work great.

At your age and size, don't worry about adding fat (you're gonna burn alot of calories). Watch the mirror for results and use the scale for a guide.

Get big!!
PU Pop Up Hitter dad1,000+ posts
2013Catcher, catchers need to be big to block the plate. At 140lbs, they will mow you down.

Ideal size and weight is 6-1, 210lbs. Good arm and blocking skills. Just happens to be Pop ups stats.

One factor they don't mention is the ability to work pitchers, get the most out of them and pump them up when they struggle.

If you really enjoy the position, you still have time to grow bigger and stronger. Some kids are late bloomers, you may one of them. Pop up loves catching, but it is the toughest, hardest position on the body.
GunEmDown10GunEmDown101,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad: ... but it is the toughest, hardest position on the body.

The most important part of this thread, hands down. It has been said, worth saying again - the catcher has the most difficult and demanding job on the field. No question, IMO, any college catcher will tell you that the spring season is a total grind. Not just mentally, but the day-to-day toll on the body can be devastating from January to June. You have to have the physical size and strength to withstand 6 months worth of punishment and still be productive throughout the season. It's not impossible, but it would be more difficult for a smaller guy. But, having said that I would never try to discourage you from working towards your dream, just trying to give you one guy's perspective.

Go get 'em kid! GED10DaD
Last edited by GunEmDown10
Coach_MayCoach_May10,000+ posts
Never worry about what you can not control. You can not control how tall you are. What you can control is how hard you work to be the best player you can be. And in this case the best catcher you can be. Dont worry about what people say. Dont allow others to determine your fate in this game. The best hs catcher I have seen was around 5-10 180. He was oustanding behind the plate with a great arm. He could hit very well. No one cared how tall he was. He could flat out play had a great college career and is playing milb. You have plenty of time to grow and get bigger and stronger.

You will be what you will be. So work on your game. Focus on what you can control. Be the best catcher you can be and the best player you can be and dont worry about the things out of your hands. Take care of the things in your hands and good luck to you.
P Prime91,000+ posts
quote:
Hi, I am wondering how significant the size of a player is in being recruited for a catcher.


The skills of the player and size of the "heart" will ultimately determine if you get recruited.

However, if you were my son I'd tell to step back and seriously evaluate your "potential" with your size and body type, to catch. Moreover, are you prepared to do a lot of "upstream swimming" to get there?

Why not enhance your options by looking at the middle infield?
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
Originally posted by Coach_May:
Never worry about what you can not control. You can not control how tall you are. What you can control is how hard you work to be the best player you can be. And in this case the best catcher you can be. Dont worry about what people say. Dont allow others to determine your fate in this game. The best hs catcher I have seen was around 5-10 180. He was oustanding behind the plate with a great arm. He could hit very well. No one cared how tall he was. He could flat out play had a great college career and is playing milb. You have plenty of time to grow and get bigger and stronger.

You will be what you will be. So work on your game. Focus on what you can control. Be the best catcher you can be and the best player you can be and dont worry about the things out of your hands. Take care of the things in your hands and good luck to you.

Outstanding advice as usual.

Yogi Berra was 5'8". He won 10 World Series Rings, 3 AL MVP awards, and is in the hall of fame. He wasn't too small to play the game.

This whole thing is about the beliefs that are held inside. If you are not too small in your own mind, then you are not too small. If your passion is to be a catcher, then become a great catcher.
K ken100+ posts
You are going thru the same thing my son went thru. Get yourself on a good lifting program, drink a lot of protein shakes and keep working on your hitting and being an athlete. The one thing I remember hearing from a lot of the college coaches my son talked to was that at the catching position knowledge of the game was always at the top of the list along with leadership, not one mentioned size, he is currently 5-10 190. Funny quote from a coach that was recruiting my son, “I need you to be the biggest *sshole on the team when we are out there on the field just like I am during practice”.You being a Jersey kid I wish you the best of luck and keep posting on this board.
MadDogPAMadDogPA100+ posts
As my 2011 evaluated schools this past year, we looked at a lot of rosters, which indicate D1 catchers are most typically 6'0" to 6'2" and 190-210...the operative words being most typically. As you look at D2 and D3 schools, you will find smaller catchers.

Based on an intrasquad game I saw at a Big East school last fall, I would say catching defense (defense and pitching in general) will be more important with the new bats. Runs scored will drop significantly, so catching defense can and will make a difference in W/Ls.
B bothsportsdad100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by around the horn:
http://www.ripsbaseball.com/college-prep.html

My son is also a 2013 catcher. There is a lot of useful info if you go to this link , everything from what you should be doing from year to year and what the avg size for players at the different divisions are as a guideline. Dive in let me know what you think!


very nice web site... my son is a 2013 catcher as well
C cbg500+ posts
Pee Wee Reese, David Eckstein, Yogi Berra, etc... are players that today would have a difficult time being recruited by major D1 programs. The true facts are that if you are not 6'0" you are going to have a difficult time drawing the necessary attention of most college programs for any position.
IMO, size is just a number and you should sign kids based on their ability to play the game. However, the truth is that most college coaching staffs have size requirements for various positions and if you don't pass the "look test" you will not be offered a scholarship. Last summer I watched 2 college coaches speak with a summer league coach about an ourfielder that was 6'4" & 228. The kids hit about .310 for the summer. The summer league coach told them they should be recruiting one of his other outfielders that was 5'9" & 175 and was hitting .430 for the summer. Both coaches laughed and said that yea the smaller kid could play but the big kid really looked good in a uniform. The "old school" summer league coach (was a former skipper in AA) told them to sign the big kid a get their *** kicked but if they wanted to win they would get the smaller kid.
Last edited by cbg
redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by 2013Catcher:
These are all great responses, thank you. Big Grin

It seems as the main issue here is my weight. I am going to continue my lifting program as well as start bringing protein bars to eat in school.

ATH- thanks for sharing that website! It has much helpful information on it.


Weight and strength are 2 things you can control (somewhat). If you can play, you will be just fine. Work your tail off.
Last edited by redbird5
C 2013Catcher10+ posts
I just put on my new spikes today and with them on I am about 5 10. Hopefully I will still continue to grow.

As of yet I always emerged as one of the top players in many tournaments and my summer teams, and I hope that will continue. Also, I know that no one can outwork me.

Have any of you played or still play with players of smaller size? How did it affect them?
Coach_MayCoach_May10,000+ posts
Please go to tarheelblue.com and check out the size of several of the Tar Heel players. I use them as just one example.

Last year half the position players that started were under 5'10. CF 5'6 3B 5'10 LF 5'7 2B 5'8 and those were their listed ht the fact is take an inch away for reality.

One of their freshman catchers this year is listed at 5'10 he is really around 5'9.

I use them as just one example. There are many many more.

Forget the size issue son. First of all you are who you are. Secondly if you can play you can play. Coaches are looking for winner. Guys that can help them win. Guys that are winners on and off the field. You have all the information you need on this topic. Go out and play the game to the best of your ability. College coaches are looking for players with the talent to play the game that will produce wins for them.

If you can play your size is a non issue. If you can't it doesnt matter anyway. Let this issue go and focus on what you can control. Your worrying about something that simply is a non factor. Just play ball.
Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
2013: Don't worry about your height. You cannot control that. But you definitely should worry about your conditioning, core strength and fitness level.

My son was 5-10 as a freshman in HS and is 5-10 today as a sophomore in college. But his body is completely different now than it was then - in fact, it is completely different now than it was when he entered college.

One of his teammates is listed at 5-6 and is not in reality within three inches of that. I'm not kidding.
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