Upcoming HS Tryouts

Not if he can't field bunts.

Fielding bunts would not be an issue

I don't know what D1 in NE is, but if he can throw strikes and get people out, I don't see why he wouldn't make it.

No way for us to know his chances.

As a rule, a LHP over 6 feet won't be casually tossed aside. But a senior who hasn't played before brings a whole 'nother set of questions.

Tell your son to keep working hard.

Best wishes.

Not sure why that, as a senior, your son is trying out for the high school baseball team for the first time. Don't know the background, but I'll make a couple of comments.

First, to answer your question, it's very difficult to judge what your son's competition will be for roster spots, the coach's ability to evaluate talent, etc. Too many variables.

Second, when going to college showcases or camps, our experience was that evaluations were always upbeat and (sometimes) overly-optimistic. (after all, you paid money to be there - what should they tell you?....that your son has very little talent, can't play, etc.) So, I would take the showcase evalution comments with a grain of salt. They might very accurate, but who knows? Again, it will be the high school coaching staff making the decision you care about.

Finally, your son can only do what he can do to prepare himself for these tryouts. Only he knows if he has truly done all he is able to do. If, in fact, he has worked hard, gotten good advice (coaching) and follwed it...then, great. If he is only going out for baseball as a senior for some other reason than a love of the game and has not really given his best effort to prepare himself - well, it will likely be a **** shoot.

But, trying out for a high school varsity sport these days is no easy thing, so your son deserves credit for risking failure in his final year of hs. I have found that most high school seniors don't like the idea of looking bad by not making the team. So they don't even try out. The fact that your son is willing to take that risk is very good and he deserves all the credit for working hard and giving it his best shot. If he makes the team - great. If he doens't make the team, but yet has given it his very best effort....then, to me, it has been a worthwhile experience. Disappointing for the moment maybe, but worthwhile nontheless.

Sorry to be so philosophical when you asked a very simple question. But there are too many unknowns. Having said that.....every coach needs more pitching.....and every coach needs more left-handed pitching! (6'1" helps, too).

Best of luck to your son. Tell him to keep working - 5 weeks is a long time to help continue his improvements. Let us know how he makes out.

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Originally posted by Swampboy:
No way for us to know his chances.

As a rule, a LHP over 6 feet won't be casually tossed aside. But a senior who hasn't played before brings a whole 'nother set of questions.

Tell your son to keep working hard.

Best wishes.

Great points here and by everyone but I think these really sum it up. You never really want to toss a lefty off to the side because they offer so much but a senior who hasn't played before makes it tough. Do you want to spend reps on this kid who will only be with you one season and possibly not develop over a freshman who has more upside due to his youth?

Plus we don't know how good your son is and we don't know how good the talent at the school is. Very difficult to really make a judgement.

My advice is for him to hustle on every single thing he does. Yesterday we had tryouts and there was a kid who was on our fence and watching him in practice he just didn't hustle. It was probably due to the fact nobody has ever told him to do it before but hustling doesn't require skill or coaching. If you hustle or don't hustle will get you noticed though and one is good while the other is bad.

Make sure he's a yes sir / no sir type of kid if he isn't already. Nothing I can't stand is talking to a kid and I'm trying to tweak something or explain why we do something and I get a "yeah I know" answer. Well if you know then why am I having to explain it to you. Nothing wrong with asking questions of the coaches on how or why to do something but if he's a yes sir / no sir kid we will be more receptive to him.

Make sure he focuses on what he can do instead of trying to compensate what he can't do. What a lot of coaches look for is what's already there so we don't have to coach it or at worst make some small adjustments. If you can do a lot well then we can keep you because we know we can spend time working on the things he can't do very well more. If a kid is one dimensional - let's say he can only catch the ball but can't throw or hit - that means we have to teach this kid two huge aspects of the game. That requires a lot of time so then we have to decide if he's athletic enough to pick these things up quickly or will it be a process. If it's going to take time then we cut him because it's too much time for one kid who can't help you. Coaches aren't afraid of projects but you have to weigh how much time and how far he has to go before he can learn the skill if at all. This is where your son being a senior hurts - can he pick up the things quickly enough to help the team. He doesn't have the time to learn at a slower pace.

Last thing - leave it on the field and have fun. Tell your son if he enjoys the game we can see that and it helps. We want to be around guys that want to be on the field. Let him show that.

Best of luck to your son and let us know how it goes. I hope he does well and makes the team.

Baseballguy, thanks for your thoughtful reply. I would like to make a few comments in regards to some questions brought up.

First, I understand that no one knows the variables associated with the tryout process. I am just looking for honest opinions like yours.

My son has attended 5 showcase's in the last 4 months, and by no means were they all glaring and flattering, some earlier ones were an eye opening but we looked at them as a starting assessment. From the 1st to the last his velocity has improved 7mph, which is undeniable. His previous showcase which only provided results to coaches(not parents) prompted 2 D3 and 1 D2 coach's to contact him. at This stage of the game when most rosters are mostly filled, I consider that prety impressive. After speaking with these coaches I am more of the feeling that my son may have been short changed with the last evaluation. Almost every coach and instructor to a tee comment on his movement and his offspeed pitch yet this coach made no comments and gave him an avg. rating. on all his pitches.

My son is working very hard toward this goal. From the beginning he/we knew the odds and it was decided that the journey would be its own reward.

Mind if we ask why he hasn't tried to play baseball until now?

Hi Coach2709
I would like to rephrase your question to say "why he hasn't tried to play competitive baseball until now." He has played baseball every year since he was LL eligable.
I was previously asked that question and I took my answer from my "recently contacted" post under "recruting questions"
I believe there were a number of reasons why my son did not try out. He has always played hockey year round and I believe he considered himself more of a hockey player then a baseball player. After trying out (twice) for the HS hockey team and not making it he probably did not have as much confidence in himself or faith in the tryout system.
That being said he now displays loads of confidence and has been working dilligently toward his goal for the last 6 months. He has also had some Jouco interest and that may be the route he takes.

I might also want to add that confidence in one's ability is something that is earned through opportunity. For whatever reason he was never selected for summer leagues or all star teams. Nor did he ever get the chance to play in LL majors.I actually had to organize a summer team for him to get to play summer ball. It has only been the last 2 years that he was pulled up to Senior majors and given some opportunity. I believe that is when his confidence started to develop.

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My question to the mesage board is do you think that he has a decent chance to make a D1 HS team that did not have a true LHP on the roster last year?

The best person to answer this question is the high school coach. If I were you I would approach the coach before tryouts and explain or tell him what your sons has been during the last six months to get ready for high school ball and that he has some interest from certain colleges. This approach cannot hurt and I am sure the high school coach would take an interest in him. There are also other varibles such as attitude and williness to learn. Another thing that would had helped if he participated in off or pre- season workouts.

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approach the coach

Welcome, Score101!

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Originally posted by Score101:

The best person to answer this question is the high school coach. If I were you I would approach the coach

Uhhhhhhhhhhh.....NO.

Score101, dissent is always welcome. But you'll find that the prevailing opinion here is that coaches don't want to hear from parents about tryouts or playing time. Parents should open their mouths to volunteer, or if there is a situation where the player's health is in jeopardy.

Now, the coach might wonder where this kid has been and ask, but he'll most likely ask the player. But on tryout day and game day, it's about what the player does on the field. Which of course includes those things you mentioned - attitude and willingness to learn.

wow, this feedback is great!

"Now, the coach might wonder where this kid has been and ask, but he'll most likely ask the player. But on tryout day and game day, it's about what the player does on the field."

When we started this journey we sent a lot of emails (explaining his situation)to local D3 and JR college coaches. We got a decent amount of feedback. some positive and some not very candid of his chances. That was our starting point.
We then started visiting colleges and respective college coaches. The first 3 coaches we talked to advised my son to approach the coach and let him know that he plans on trying out for the team and also what he's been doing to ready himself for the tryouts.

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advised my son to approach the coach

Tooster,

Not sure how it works at your school, but schools in our area have interest/informational meetings, parent meetings, and fund raising activities at various times throughout the year, some as early as the fall. Some schools have coach-led workouts. Some have captain-led practices. Some rent space at an indoor hitting facility.

Whatever pre-season activity is happening at your school, your son should plug himself into it and start acting like he's part of the team.

By this point in the school year, the coaches have a pretty good idea of most of the players who plan to try out, and they probably expect to see them in the weight room and at various meetings. Your son's interest in playing should not be a surprise to them at the beginning of tryouts.

If there's a parent meeting, you should go. And it would be fine to introduce yourself briefly while you're there if the opportunity presents itself.

Best wishes.

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But, trying out for a high school varsity sport these days is no easy thing, so your son deserves credit for risking failure in his final year of hs. I have found that most high school seniors don't like the idea of looking bad by not making the team. So they don't even try out. The fact that your son is willing to take that risk is very good and he deserves all the credit for working hard and giving it his best shot.

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. Good for him!

It can be one thing to make the team, and another to get playing time, especially as a senior who is new to the team. I hope that whatever happens your son takes something positive away from the experience.

Good luck - please let us know how it goes.

No one on this site can see your son through your coach's eyes and the needs of the team. I suggest your son read the following and give it his best shot.

making the team

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If I were you I would approach the coach before tryouts and explain or tell him what your sons has been during the last six months to get ready for high school ball

No! No! No! The boy should approach the high school coach. He's a young adult not a little boy holding his parent's hand.