To specialize or not

Woody,

It is my opinion that, at the high school level, catchers need to love to catch. Developing and improving catching skills takes dedication and hours of position-specific drills. If your son isn't that interested, he will be hard pressed to succeed at the position.

Most catchers that I know have a corner position (LF, RF, 1B, or 3B) as their backup position. Developing/improving the skills at SS and/or 2B while trying to develop/improve catching skills is pretty tough on a freshman player.

Of course, every situation is different...where do you think your son will have the best chance to play?

Mike F

Alas, there are many answers to that...so first, answer a couple of questions:

Is this a freshman squad he's trying out for?

If it's JV or Varsity, who currently holds the MI and CF positions? (In other words, what will the coach be looking for?) Work toward the available position rather than one where a freshman is likely to be backup.

If all positions are either up for grabs or taken, go for versatility and see what develops.

If he doesn't love the catching position, I wouldn't recommend working out for it. Should Coach need a catcher right now and select your son, he may get stuck. If he doesn't love it, chances are he won't do well and could be labeled an adequate catcher rather than an outstanding MI, say.

In a smaller school, versatility is probably more valued than one where there will be a larger talent pool.

My son decided, going into a large hs, that he was only going to try out as a catcher. His experience was that by being versatile, he didn't own a position, but was put in whatever "hole" needed a solid player. That's nice...as long as there is a hole. Given a full squad and no injuries, Mr. Versatility is sitting.

Each position has a specific set of talents and it takes a long time to be proficient at that position. Each position also has a different expected makeup. If your son is looking to play in college someday, for example, the body type and offensive production expected of a MI and a CF are different.

I've never seen a good catcher that didn't love catching.

Woody4220,
A very good question and I think one that doesn’t have a yes or no answer. Orlando and Mike both make good points, but like me, they admit there is no pat answer. There are basically three people that make the decision about where your son will play; the coach, your son, and you. The coach is the boss, and will make the call. Your son’s input to the coach should have some bearing on where the coach puts him. You are limited and can only suggest to your son what you think is best for him....your son may or may not convey your desires to the coach.
Is versatility a good thing? Again, it can go either way. If your son is an asset to the team no matter where he plays, then his versatility is good for the TEAM. Like Orlando says the smaller schools will like this. At the same time while your son’s versatility is benefiting the team, it could be detrimental to his future plans (college baseball) because your son will improve more if he has more reps at a particular position. You’ve heard it a thousand times....Jack of all trades...master of none.
Along with what Orlando says I suggest that instead of looking at your son and “measuring” him by rating his ability to play a position(s), look at his tools and use his tools to guide him toward a position. For instance the arm strength needed to catch would be wasted at second base. The speed needed to play CF would be wasted behind the plate and 2b. Let me make a suggestion. Pick a “primary” and a “secondary” position that will best utilize his tools. TRY to sway him in that direction. If possible, he should focus on his primary position and feel comfortable in his secondary position. When he starts attending showcases, he will be asked to list his position(s) and I would list two at the most: His primary and his secondary.
My son was a very versatile player, playing as many as four positions in one game while in college. While he did play multiple positions he would always tell you his primary position was catching and his secondary position was pitching.

Let me tell you a funny story: The Brewers scout came to see my son catch. My son happened to be pitching and had a no hitter going and his FB was in the mid 90's. The scout pulled me off to the side and said: "I thought he was a catcher!" I said: "He is a catcher. Besides, there are thousands of 6'0" RHP that throw mid 90's." He said: "Yeah, I know but he's got some pretty good Sh**! he went on and asked. "You're his dad, What do you think is his best position?" ...I thought and said...."third base".
Fungo

Woody - Welcome to the board. Everyone above has given you really good advice that I can't really improve on...but one thing intrigued me...where in Cincinnati are you from? I grew up there...just wondering. What HS does your son attend?

Sounds alot like myself. I don't like telling coaches I can catch either, it's very painful on my knees. However, I'm told I'm good at it so I usually end up at least telling the coaches.

I'm also interested in tis question, as I can play most positions on the field.

Woody4420

It is at the HS level that some decisions need to be be made about a players best skills.

Are his best attributes more middle-infield oriented eg, quick feet, lots of range (Good speed), and soft hands with a lightning fast release (short-arm motion) with accuracy in throwing, including the ability to go deep into the hole, throw off the back foot (back hand side)?

Or are his attributes more related to the CF position with a long-arm throwing motion (more like a pitcher), great agility and burst- speed to the ball?

Or is he better at catcher with "quick hands, quick feet" and catlike quickness to the throwing position and throwing release to second-third base bags?

It would be a very rare circumstance to find a player that has "excellent" skills at all those positions. My suspicion is that your son likes the middle-infield position (above-average SS) because he knows that is where he feels the most comfortable.

The best advice would be to try to narrow the positions down to just two. For instance, whether at the corners of the infield, 1B, 3B, or just the middle-infield, SS and 2B.

In HS the OF positions are usually reserved for those players who are also pitchers. And catchers will usually not play another position because catching is one of the most difficult positions to learn and a player doesn't have time to waste on learning something else.

JMO

Coaches like when players let them know they will play wherever it will it help the team. If you have a versatile player, the coach might appreciate putting him where there is an open position. That may not be in your son's best interest or liking, but that is a personal decision.

It is not where you want to play it is where you need to play. I believe that decision is the coaches to make. Believe me the more positions you can play the better off the player will be but more important the "team" will be.

woody4420:

You've received excellent advice from everyone concerning your son's situation.

It does make a difference if your son's school is large or small in that it affects your coach's decisionmaking. If your son desires to play beyond HS then you should keep in mind the caution raised by others ...don't paint yourself into a corner.

The post or advice that struck me was from Robert Kremer..."I've never seen a good catcher that didn't love catching". That, in my opinion, is the absolute truth. If the love and desire is not there then stay away from the position.

Please keep us posted on your son's progress.

My son ran into the same situation last year as a sophomore. Moved from cold Chicago to a top baseball high school in Texas, we had 3 kids drafted last year, 2 in the second round and 1 in the ninth. He had always been a shortstop but we had one of the best shortstops in the country as a senior so he knew he wouldn't play there. Made varsity and was told he would play 2nd, 3rd when one kid pitched, left when another kid pitched, right when another pitched and possibly center. Injuries happened and he was given 3rd, more injuries and infielders who couldn't play outfield, he became an outfielder. This year rolls around and initially told he was going to be at center, he did real well in the outfield last year, but now he is at short. Initially told he would not pitch now at least he will do relief. Bottom line, no matter what anyone tells you, coach included, things happen and change for many reasons. Everyone said it was great to be versatile but as another said, he didn't have his "own" position. As a junior he is back where he felt he was comfortable but also has the experience to play everywhere but behind the plate. Will it help him in the future? Time will only tell but at least he can say he played where he was needed for his team.

Boy, what great information! Interesting thoughts from both points of view. That's why I love this site so much.

My son is somewhat fickle when it comes to his desired position. We play quite a lot of summer ball games (80 last year) and he often asked the coach to move him around to one of his other positions. I think he must get bored playing just one, and if he's not getting any action it kills him. I think he would play anywhere he was asked without complaint, just so that he could play. I don't, however, see catching as his position that will propel him to play at the next level (varsity and potentially college).

Though I like to always be safe than sorry, I think realistically, he should have no problems making the team. He has very successfully played ball at a higher level of competition for longer than most of the other guys trying out. My concern lies in that there has been a coaching change at the freshman school. From a coach that knew my son and really liked him and his abilities, to one who does not know my son and also coaches football. My fear is that the new coach will play favorites to some of his football players, even though they are less skilled at baseball than my son. Should that be the case, we want to be sure he has a place to play.

Pre-season conditioning started last week, and at the initial meeting, he (on his own) decided to sign up to workout with the catchers and pitchers as well. I don't want him to be "stuck" as a catcher if he doesn't love to be there, but I am happy and proud that he is taking nothing for granted and is taking it upon himself to do what it takes to impress the coach and make the team. I'm hoping that when the dust settles in late February, it is obvious that he will start at either 2b or CF, and in a pinch can be a servicable catcher.

Justbaseball, BTW...he goes to Fairfield freshman school in the Cincinnati area. Currently there are about 800 students in the freshman class. The coach usually keeps about 18-22 players.

Nothing wrong with your son going to the coach on the side and saying that if he needs someone in a pinch he can fill in behind the plate. You can never be "to verstal"

Besides having a better oportunity to see playing time, being a versital player in HS will give you a better understanding of the game by seeing it at different angles. When going to the next level of play that understanding of the game may be the difference between making it and not making it.

I think players need to let coaches know which positions they are most comfortable and confident playing...but I also think that a good team player would be willing to play wherever their team most needs their talents to help the team win (it is a team sport, afterall). I love it when kids volunteer to play many positions...it gives me flexibility in substituting (especially with pinch-runners) and can allow me to play players that are less athletic but talented.
Catching IS a passion - either you like it or you don't. It takes a certain kind of kid with the right attitude to pitch and/or catch, that's for sure.

as a catcher, you have to love catching, cause catching double headers and long games isnt fun. you gotta love blocking the ball on a third strike and taggin the kid out. its about the perfect frame on that inside pitch. you gotta love catching or you will go nowhere and wont get better.