iheartbb,
Why would your son fail as a pitcher? If anything he will get better, because the coach saw something he liked in him, and is willing to teach him to be a contributor on the team. And because he will focus on just pitching he will get better.
The use of the DH eliminates the need for the pitcher to learn how to hit. IMO, it's really tough to be a two postion player in college ball.
All pitchers played other positions at one time, and most likely played them better than anyone else. Because of that, most likely he was given an opportunity others don't get. And because he was a pitcher is most likely why he got a chance possibly over someone else to play at the D1. Remember you only need one ss and a backup, at a D1 you need 15-16 pitchers, maybe more if 5 games a week are played.
As a HS freshman mine was a shortstop when he wasn't pitching, until suddenly someone decided one day he was a better pitcher than shortstop. He played ss position very well and a great hitter. After they took that opportunity away he was miserable, but it gave him an opportunity to just focus on pitching so he advanced pretty quickly. You will constantly find son on the field swinging the fungo, that has never left him. It is a bit more boring, yes it is at times, shagging balls in the outfield and bucket duty is not always tons of fun.
But, ask him if he would give up that moment on the mound when all eyes are on you, and in control of the game, and I doubt he would trade that for the ss position.
If it will make you feel any better, I know of a player who rarely pitched in HS, was given the ball as a junior, got a scholarship to a top D1 and a year later a top draft pick. He struggled a bit for a few years, has taken time to learn how to pitch, but had an incredible year and headed to a bright future as a pitcher in MLB.