Small plus defensive CF

Do an inexpensive local showcase to get his measurable metrics. Then figure out what needs to be improved the most and what direction to take. If he was ready to showcase people who have seen him and know the game would be telling him. Being strong defensively is nice. But baseball recruiting starts with driving the ball consistently. Right now your son should focus on getting bigger, faster, stronger and more skilled.

To be honest if he’s throwing out several hitters at first base from the outfield I have to question the competition he’s competing against. It’s a very infrequent play once past 13u.

Your specific question is "what type of college environment can he aspire to, if any?  

Realistically, it is too early to tell.  Based on his size, your assessment as a late bloomer and his other measurables remaining a work in progress (and the fact that you didn't rave about his hitting), he won't get recruited any time soon by any level.  And since he is a likely late bloomer with neither parent having significant size, the most likely level eventually will be D3/NAIA.  That is not to say that he can't eventually become a 6.7 speed guy and develop into a great hitter along with his great routes and transfers and get attention at higher levels.  Just unlikely at this point.  

Unfortunately, the skill set that is his strength (great routes and transfers) is not as important to recruiters as hitting, arm strength, speed, etc.  So, he will have to get bigger, stronger, faster and most importantly, become a very good hitter against good pitching in order to get college attention.  The good news is he is a 2022 and has time to grow and work into being that player.  

You don't say a word about hitting.  This is a pretty good time to be a vertically challenged position player.  If you look at recent high draft choices like Nick Madrigal, and top MLB hitters like Jose Altuve there seems to be less of a premium on size than just a few years back. But the kid needs to hit.  And he's got to get that 60 time under 7.  He's young enough that he should be able to with a little speed training.

One of my son's HS teammates was a 5' 6" CF/LHP.  He got zero attention out of HS, but after playing well in Juco, he was signed by a D1 and then drafted.  But he rakes and throws 90.  Gotta have more than one skill. 

First showcase is in two weeks. We'll see where the metrics are and what the coaches say. Thx for the feedback!  

A 2022 running a 7.1?   There is no way to project that...

If he's undersized, the faster the better.  That's true with any athlete but great speed can make up for lack of size.

Make sure he is working on his hitting, a lot.  You cannot steal first base.  And make sure he is playing top flight competition, hopefully he never again guns someone down at first!  

If he can get to running a 6.5 60, doors & opportunities will fly open for him.  But he still needs to hit

OK, so you heard from every single poster about the importance of the hit tool, right ??  

Here's something else you may battle... I had a player that just finished a reasonably successful first year at a D3 as a MIF.  He was undersized throughout HS, despite trying everything in the book to add weight and muscle and working his tail off in the gym and on his game.  He is an excellent infielder w/very accurate arm and quick transfer.  He is a very consistent hit-for-average guy with a swing mechanic that plays in college.  But, he isn't particularly fast and doesn't have power as a hitter.  Parents focused on his strengths and were very frustrated in the recruiting process - like all of us parents, tended to overlook the tools he lacked that RC's held more important (hit for power and/or above average speed).  Mid level D3 was the right fit for his skill set.  They had to search long and hard to find that right fit.

Just put him on a calorie surplus and have him keep working. For now he's just a kid with a good arm, not a prospect. He can become one but he's going to have to get that weight up and 60 time lower as well. He has a ways to go before college coaches would show interest. 

Update:

60 yd - 7.1

Exit velo - 77

Outfield velo- 74

Infield velo -73

D1 coaches feedback - nice line drive approach, hits ball hard. Accurate arm. Focus on getting stronger.

Thoughts?

The comments are a pat on the head to keep playing and come back next year. 

In the college world teams have multiple centerfield prospects who can track balls. Most recruited outfielders will have played center in high school. For a short line drive hitter he’s going to need to fly to be a difference maker.

Has he started shaving yet?  That is about the time to get on a strength and weight training program.  This is usually done outside of baseball, with a proper sports specific trainer.  There are weight gainers (supplements) out there, too.  It was winter of freshman year when my son started on a weight and strength program.  There are running coaches out there, too, and maybe just a few lessons will help.   Sub 7 is usually the metric coaches look for.  Unless your son consistently hit home runs.  

It can't be stressed enough:  you gotta be able to hit.

Just started shaving (like once a week) and weight training. Curious if you can project an increase in 60 times from 15u to 17u? Travel coach has him leading off. Playing a PG event this weekend. We'll see how it goes...

Meant a decrease in 60 time.

KidRock posted:

Meant a decrease in 60 time.

Absolutely.  Some improvement will probably happen by itself, but like Keewart says, a little help from a speed coach can go a long way.

It's still very early for your son, and a lot of things have to develop. For comparison's sake, my 2018 plays at a D3 equivalent as a starting CF and is doing well. He is superb defensively (SS, CF), a great runscorer(high OBP, baserunner). Had some interest at HA D1's, but they weren't beating down the door. All American in the weight room. His stats as a HS senior:

5'9"

165 lb.(now 185- maxed out, IMO)

6.9/60

91 mph OF Velo (now mid 90's)

mid 80's INF velo

mid 80's exit velo

intangibles out the wazoo defensively and offensively. Hit well as a gap hitter in Showcases.

As a Freshman he was 5'7", 145lb, Ran about 7.2/60. Threw around 80 MPH from the OF, 75 or so from INF. He hit the weights HARD as a Sophomore.

What we found got the most interest from RC's was his arm velo. Speed was also nice, but more commonplace. Once they saw him in person they were impressed with his D, but it was more like, "yeah, we can use that" rather than falling all over themselves to get him. I think it was his total pkg. as a smallish, runscoring, versatile(mid 80's off the mound) defensive whiz that interested teams, with his arm strength being the "special sauce' that made him stick out. Had multiple offers from D3's, lotsa interest/offers from D2's(some wanted to convert him to P), and some D1 interest.

  There is no doubt that as a smaller player you have to work harder. AS a P, it's even harder if you are sub 6', never mind 5'10".

  Good luck. I've got a 2022 also, but he is already 6', so a different type than my 1st.

57,

That was incredibly useful info. Thx for sharing!

PG25 qualifier was a great event - although incredibly spread out. Hit .333 with 6 runs scored and 5sb. Made it to semis and lost to champs. Made some special plays and there out and threw a runner trying to tag from 2nd to 3rd on a semi deep liner to left center. Even got props from the opposing parents!

But even at PG I don’t think there were any scouting types watching 15u baseball

Congrats to him on a successful event.  Should make him more confident to do the same when more RC's are watching and should help fuel the fire to keep at it!

KidRock posted:

57,

That was incredibly useful info. Thx for sharing!

PG25 qualifier was a great event - although incredibly spread out. Hit .333 with 6 runs scored and 5sb. Made it to semis and lost to champs. Made some special plays and there out and threw a runner trying to tag from 2nd to 3rd on a semi deep liner to left center. Even got props from the opposing parents!

But even at PG I don’t think there were any scouting types watching 15u baseball 

College coaches don't watch random tournament games. They watch players and teams they are familiar with. If something catches their eye in between, which happens often, they stick around but just because something has a brand attached to it does not make it better. So that 17u PG tournament won't do you any good unless your team has stud players, the other team has stud players or you have reached out to them. There are a ton of players at the 17u WWBA this weekend that won't have a single coach watching them. 

Scouts / Recruiters do come and watch 15U tournament games.  We've had about 3 or 4 scouts at 1/2 the games we've played this year (helps to have 1 kid that throws 91-92 with several offers already), but they've stayed and watched the rest of the team as well because we are a good program with lots of good kids from all over DFW. 

Like you, I have a CF and we will be doing a PG in August.  Hope to put up 90 OF, 90 EV, and sub 6.8.  He's 5'11 and 180.