I feel is very hard for a parent to be really objective about their son to determine even their current level, let alone what future level of play. At the stage I've reached, I'd say if there's a couple of key things I'd look at to get some idea at to a player's potential (e.g. my own son) I'd look at the drive he has to be the best that he can, his coachability and his athleticism. I don't feel these three attributes are something that can be taught, but can be recognized early.
Ever since my son was a small boy he displayed above average athleticism. But as a father and with no experience to compare my son with others that might be considered very talented, I had no idea how to compare or where to go to get some ideas. Early on in Little League I would hear other coach's and other parent's comments that he was really talented. But then. . . compared to what? Our Little League had very little, if any, recognizable talent. As my son progressed through Little League it became very clear to all that he was the best player in the league. But to me, that really didn't mean anything because there was nothing really good to compare it to. And as he finished the Majors of Little League, his athleticism was apparent but his coachability also became apparent. I was looking for a way to measure and/or compare his talent and to raise the bar to see how far he could bring himself.
A parent/friend in the LL mentioned something I knew nothing about. . ."travel ball." And through this friend I was able to learn about and find the different levels of playing on such teams. So, after LL, it was time to raise the bar and see if there's a higher level that he could play at that would challenge him and get him to some higher level yet. We found a team that sure enough had much better players that he was used to playing with. And as I watched him play I could see he was able to bring his level up again and was again one of the best players on the team in that first year of travel ball. Another team came to our attention that was one of the best in the region and I thought, well. . .let's raise the bar again as this team was well known for recruiting and having exceptional players. Now, playing with such good players and playing against many teams with great players of his age, we'll see just see how good a player he really is or can become. Well, again it really didn't take long to see him raise his level of play and again become one of the best players on the team. And it was at this point I recognized a drive and competiveness in him to be the best, the best he could be.
As the time approached for my son to enter High School, I and my son were not too excited about the public HS that he was going to attend as their baseball program was pretty much on par with what his old LL had produced. At this point my son had visions of playing college baseball and a goal of going to and playing for a D-1 college. . .any D-1 college would have satisfied our dreams. A local group of private prep-schools were an extremely competitive HS group for athletics and most of the good players from his travel team were going to go to one or another of them. So we decided it would be a good investment for many different reasons, not to mention, I was raising the bar again.
Because of being involved in a high level of play with my son's travel teams, I felt he surely could reach the level of playing for a college. But at precisely what level still was not clear. My son was 6'0 160lbs Freshman going into HS and had a lot of maturing to do. Though he was very athletic and could do well in just about any sport of his choice. Even at this light stature, he could pitch the ball at 82 to 85. So, I still had no idea just how far he could take himself.
Then, it seemed a much clearer view as the coach of this private school selected my son to play on the varsity team. Though this is not so necessarily "unusual" for this coach or school, it was certainly rare. My concern was, ok. . .as a Freshman, how much playing time is he really going to get and so is it a good decision where my son could play all the time if on JV team. Well. . .my son chose to go ahead with being on the varsity even it if meant not a lot of playing time. As it turned out though, it didn't take long and he was starting every game. And at the end of the season he had played and started in almost all of the games and he lead the team in batting average. Now we're thinking. . .YEAH, D-1 looks like a very good probability (he works as hard at his academics and so also got good grades)where he can go to school and play baseball too.
Now that D-1 schools are in his sights, we're raising the bar again. It's no longer me or his mother setting his goals, he's doing that and he doesn't just want to go to any D-1 school, he wants to go to one of the best D-1 schools in the nation for both academics and sports. WOW! I would never have dreamed such a dream. No one in the history on my side of the family has ever done such a thing. Well, he goes on to break school hitting records and became a key player in wining league and section titles. . .and has all kinds of D-1 schools showing a lot of interest (not to mention a lot of Pro Scouts).
During the summer's of his high school years (until his Senior year) he continued to play on a travel ball team at the higher available level locally. He participated in a couple local showcase events, playing on a scout team and played in an Area Code event. In addition to my son's success in a high profile school, these events helped get him noticed and this all led to being drafted after his Senior year and got a good offer from the very dream D-1 school he had hoped for that has the most storied history in collegate baseball.
Again, Wow! How far can one raise the bar??? I'm still wondering. . . what level of player is he? Well, he's certainly exceeded what I might have thought as he entered his HS freshman year. But I'm still asking myself. . ."what level player?" Obviously, he can play pro-ball. But, at what level. Well, we'll see. His freshman year at college he played in and started every game. It was an excellent year for a Freshman. I'm about to see how his Sophomore year goes. I'm hoping he can stay in stride and reach those bars as he has in the past. Those three attribute I spoke of are still at work to get him to each level. But every bar along the way is exponentially tougher.
Truman, that is a very nice post. My own son's journey has been very similar, only with a twist.
You see, every team my son played on he was the smallest kid. He wasn't a star in little league, rather a sub who rarely played. At age 11 he got cut from a travel team for having a weak arm and thereafter dad had him long-toss year-round.
Time progressed, by age 12 he was just an average player and didn't pitch until 13. But even then it was only a few innings at a time. At 14 his velocity and breaking ball started jumping. At 15 he was one of the dozen or so best players in town. At 16 he was amongst the top 5 or 6. At 17 he was on a top travel team doing national tournaments and showcases.
And at 18 he was Gatorade State player of the year, drafted, and set a state record with 21 strikeouts. He is now 21 going into his junior year in the Big 12.
The interesting thing about all of this is how he surprised all along the way. When that kid was 11 years old I thought he had no chance. Boy, he has proved me wrong! He was never fearful of rejection or a challenge, it just made him more determined.
What makes him special is his immense drive to to compete, train and do the right things as a baseball player. That's what it takes to reach that level. Consistency, hard work and even courage!
At this point I am done underestimating my son.
You see, every team my son played on he was the smallest kid. He wasn't a star in little league, rather a sub who rarely played. At age 11 he got cut from a travel team for having a weak arm and thereafter dad had him long-toss year-round.
Time progressed, by age 12 he was just an average player and didn't pitch until 13. But even then it was only a few innings at a time. At 14 his velocity and breaking ball started jumping. At 15 he was one of the dozen or so best players in town. At 16 he was amongst the top 5 or 6. At 17 he was on a top travel team doing national tournaments and showcases.
And at 18 he was Gatorade State player of the year, drafted, and set a state record with 21 strikeouts. He is now 21 going into his junior year in the Big 12.
The interesting thing about all of this is how he surprised all along the way. When that kid was 11 years old I thought he had no chance. Boy, he has proved me wrong! He was never fearful of rejection or a challenge, it just made him more determined.
What makes him special is his immense drive to to compete, train and do the right things as a baseball player. That's what it takes to reach that level. Consistency, hard work and even courage!
At this point I am done underestimating my son.
Bum, I love stories like that as you just never know where a kid is going to wind up by the time they're 18. . .or, beyond. ;-) I've known kids like your son too who were small and not the "best player" and it all changed at some point, and they didn't give up. One of them was small prior to high school and in high school he grew to the size of my son AND be became one of the best players on his HS team and is also playing ball in college.
Oh, and I agree about the hard work. There's no substitute for it! And it sounds like your son has the same kind of drive my son has.
I'd don't know, but I guess it's a father-son thing where they've got to prove you wrong. LOL I know my son love to do that too. I didn't think he would get as big as he has so quickly due to our genetics. He's been able to get to where we wanted to be physically, thanks to the college program he's in.
Oh, and I agree about the hard work. There's no substitute for it! And it sounds like your son has the same kind of drive my son has.
I'd don't know, but I guess it's a father-son thing where they've got to prove you wrong. LOL I know my son love to do that too. I didn't think he would get as big as he has so quickly due to our genetics. He's been able to get to where we wanted to be physically, thanks to the college program he's in.
You know sometimes being extremely talented at a young age can be a curse for a kid. The game coming so easy at such a young age. Its hard sometimes to get a kid to understand what hard work is when they have never had to work hard to have success. Sometimes those things that are seen by some as set backs are really the things that lead to ultimate success.
I agree I love stories like this. Great stuff no doubt.
I agree I love stories like this. Great stuff no doubt.
True. I also think that maturing early may be a curse as well. My son played with a couple of kids that were flat out dominating at 12 years old. I remember one kid that he played with that was 5'10, 165 at 12 and could throw a 70mph fastball.
The kid was overwhelming on a the small field. Everyone, including me, thought that we might be seeing a future star. He was a raw talent, needed some work to be even better but the kid looked awesome. Big arm (for a 12 year old), big bat (of course with the nice -11 drop bats) and fast for his age.
Two years later my son played against him in a tourney. The kid was still the same size, still the same weight. In fact he hadn't changed at all. Kids were shelling him at this point. His fastball hadn't changed much and his hitting had become mediocre against the better pitching he was seeing. You could tell it was bothering him too. Hopefully he uses this as a catalyst to go out and improve his game, to work towards being better since the kid has some talent.
I know a lot of my son's teammates were jealous of this kid 2 years ago. I don't think any are now.
The kid was overwhelming on a the small field. Everyone, including me, thought that we might be seeing a future star. He was a raw talent, needed some work to be even better but the kid looked awesome. Big arm (for a 12 year old), big bat (of course with the nice -11 drop bats) and fast for his age.
Two years later my son played against him in a tourney. The kid was still the same size, still the same weight. In fact he hadn't changed at all. Kids were shelling him at this point. His fastball hadn't changed much and his hitting had become mediocre against the better pitching he was seeing. You could tell it was bothering him too. Hopefully he uses this as a catalyst to go out and improve his game, to work towards being better since the kid has some talent.
I know a lot of my son's teammates were jealous of this kid 2 years ago. I don't think any are now.
Doesn't all this just really show that one just cannot predict what level a kid might achieve? And just as interesting to me is that it continues beyond college and through professional baseball. For example, you see it all the time in the draft where you have 1st round draft players who don't go very far and you have much later round drafted players who have great success (though the odds for success are greater for the earlier); Albert Pujols drafted in 13th round.
Since one can't really know what level a player may be able to play at at any time in the future, it seems the best thing to do is enjoy the ride and take it day by day, game by game just as the player should.
Since one can't really know what level a player may be able to play at at any time in the future, it seems the best thing to do is enjoy the ride and take it day by day, game by game just as the player should.
quote:Originally posted by Truman:
Since one can't really know what level a player may be able to play at at any time in the future, it seems the best thing to do is enjoy the ride and take it day by day, game by game just as the player should.