Thank you for the reply. I agree completely to always keep it fun. We are a beach-surfing family and don't take anything too seriously. He plays a lot of sports for a seven year old. Surfs, water polo, soccer, etc.... When all is said and done he loves baseball, and has an uncanny understanding for the game. He likes to bat left handed and can do it well. Thats what he bats during his baseball season. Occasionally during the off-season I will throw a bucket of balls, or have him hit off the tee right side. Never on the same day-so not to confuse him.
Hard to tell his body type for the future. Right now he is slightly taller than most his friends, slender and fast for his age, but he is only seven.
I do have to convince some coaches to keep him lefty, because he is right handed. But he hits well so they are OK with it. The one's that understand baseball push it. I'm thinking-He's only seven man, so just having fun with it at this point.
Originally Posted by cabbagedad:
Top level thought is as Sluggerdad said, keep it fun at 7. Otherwise, what I'll add to what has already been said...
What is his likely body type? If he is going to be a big guy, power hitters are desirable from both sides. If he is likely to be more of a speed guy, there will be much more desirability from the left side. I'll never forget when I was with son when he was introduced to a club coach of a team he hoped to play for. The coach had heard a lot of good things about son but didn't know any details. Son is small and athletic (visibly obvious to this coach). Coach asked son if he threw left or right - "left". Coach's eyes lit up a bit. Coach says assumingly "so you hit left?". Son - "no, right". Coach became outwardly and verbally discouraged. Even to the point where it was rude. Very uncomfortable. But the message became more clear than we ever felt before. Quick lefty hitters = quite desirable.