visiting JUCO

Coaches like versatile players.  By all means let him know you can play other positions.  My son started in a JUCO at one position and was drafted in another one. 

Hi Mom,

You probably need to ask yourself why son was set up to pitch and tour the school.  Is that his strength?  Is that what the coach is looking for?  Is there a coach or other connection who helped arrange for this pen session?  Whatever the answer, be respectful of that.

Coaches love versatility. We had a few starting pitchers who got some AB's as DH's (ultimately failed) and our closer and two other solid relievers were also corner infielders who got a lot of playing time and were among our most productive bats.

While I wouldn't directly ask, "hey, can you hit me some fungoes when I am done with my bullpen," I don't see any harm in him letting the coach know that he strongly believes he can help the program out in the field/at the plate in addition to what he brings on the mound. He is there to sell himself and the coach is there to sell the school. It isn't much effort for a coach to pick up a fungo and a bucket of balls, or to bring a bucket of balls into a cage and watch your son take some hacks.

I never pushed the issue when I played in college and I wish I had. At my second school, junior season, my coach didn't realize I had a bat until they let the pitchers take BP on a goof off day. He told me he wished I had told him I could hit in the fall.

My son was recruited as RHP at a juco and when talking to the coach; they knew he played other positions.  When he was there; the HC wanted him to throw pen and then he asked coach if he could take some cuts.  Coach said only in the cage. Son said fine.

This past year as a freshman he started on bump and at 1b and with some starts at 3b and OF hitting in the 3 hold.  Next year he will be much of the same from what the coach said.

His best friend was gunned in the fall 94 on the mound and all these schools came calling.  He made visits and every coach loved him.  He asked all of them to let him hit and only 1 did.  He took 12 cuts and hit 8 out and threw 93 across the infield.  He committed there because coaches said he could hit and play defense.

Point of the story; what does he have to lose by asking and you never know what door will open.