Sometimes it seems that these boards are populated by people whose player(s) are 6'4 RHPs throwing 92 mph. I know there must be more of a mix, so I thought I would post a poll to find out.
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I think you need to add a category for mid level D1, not yet a draft prospect. I would consider something like.
D1-drafted in HS. High level prospect. Signed with SEC, Pac-12 etc.
D1-mid major, not drafted out of HS, may play D2/3
D2/3 - Solid
Not sure yet
Working hard
D1-drafted in HS. High level prospect. Signed with SEC, Pac-12 etc.
D1-mid major, not drafted out of HS, may play D2/3
D2/3 - Solid
Not sure yet
Working hard
In my book what is more relavent is from those that have been there and done it. The question is asked prospectively and not perspectively.
When my son finished HS we thought he could play at the highest levels. The reality is few really get the chance to play at the highest levels. As parents we instilled in him the importance of education. He also concluded "that a bird in the hand ..." He attended a quality D3 and had great career.
After his first summer playing collegiate summer ball he had the opportunity to transfer to a major D1 program. He decided that the same "bird in the hand ..."
In my book given the nature of this community; it might be more realavent to ask. Did your kid play at his highest level?
When my son finished HS we thought he could play at the highest levels. The reality is few really get the chance to play at the highest levels. As parents we instilled in him the importance of education. He also concluded "that a bird in the hand ..." He attended a quality D3 and had great career.
After his first summer playing collegiate summer ball he had the opportunity to transfer to a major D1 program. He decided that the same "bird in the hand ..."
In my book given the nature of this community; it might be more realavent to ask. Did your kid play at his highest level?
Good suggestions, but I'm actually interested in both results and perceptions.
I also believe that for many parents, their perception changes as the years go on. I suspect there are many people who thought Jr. was a draft prospect at 14, only to find out he barely made the team in college. Could be wrong, though.
I'm wondering how many people on the boards are hoping their son gets a chance to play, versus those parents who are wondering how much scholarship money their son will get.
I also believe that for many parents, their perception changes as the years go on. I suspect there are many people who thought Jr. was a draft prospect at 14, only to find out he barely made the team in college. Could be wrong, though.
I'm wondering how many people on the boards are hoping their son gets a chance to play, versus those parents who are wondering how much scholarship money their son will get.
It's not in the perception of how we see our sons or how they see themselves but how others perceive the player, based on their skills and maturity level.
Are you asking about a player just entering or almost done with HS or college, pro ball,
past, present or future?
Are you asking about a player just entering or almost done with HS or college, pro ball,
past, present or future?
Actually good points all around. It needs to be time based. Such as "at the time your son graduated HS" or at "14 where did you see your son" or maybe two polls. One in HS and one post HS. May be easier to get to what you are looking for.
Hard to say for my son, as he is a 2015. Based on what he has already done, I'd have to choose either the second or last choice as most accurate. We've been told he's a college prospect, but at 15 it is really hard to say what level he'll project to in a few years.
quote:I think you need to add a category for mid level D1, not yet a draft prospect.
I agree. The concept of the poll is interesting.
quote:Actually good points all around. It needs to be time based. Such as "at the time your son graduated HS" or at "14 where did you see your son" or maybe two polls. One in HS and one post HS. May be easier to get to what you are looking for.
Great point at age 14 the personal goals [LIST]were make JV as a freshman ( becasue it meant he would have the opportunity to go the team's Florida spring trip as a JV player and then again as senior..the school only goes every three years and only takes the Varisty and JV teams), [LIST]start varsity as soph[LIST]make the Area High school team All star team-chance to get exposure.
The thoughts about college was hopefully to use baseball or football to help get him into the best academic school...other than that at age 14 I guess you have dreams but really hard to say what they will become so much changes from 14-18..their talent, the competiton, their grades etc etc
Would be fun to see the results of the two polls.
Very interesting topic.
At age 14 my son (2012) was maybe a slightly above average baseball player and, as his parents, we had no thought of him playing college ball. He just wasn't THAT good. Then...he went through a huge growth spurt and he stunk! Couldn't hit the broad side of the barn but was an OK pitcher. Thankfully, he grew into his body, filled out, started to hit well, pitch well and realized during his sophomore season that maybe he could be pretty good. Ended up OK..signed a NLI last month with a what I would call a mid-major DI team.
At age 14 my son (2012) was maybe a slightly above average baseball player and, as his parents, we had no thought of him playing college ball. He just wasn't THAT good. Then...he went through a huge growth spurt and he stunk! Couldn't hit the broad side of the barn but was an OK pitcher. Thankfully, he grew into his body, filled out, started to hit well, pitch well and realized during his sophomore season that maybe he could be pretty good. Ended up OK..signed a NLI last month with a what I would call a mid-major DI team.
Well, my 2015 just finished his 14U year last summer. I don't have the benefit of seeing into the future, but I would be curious in hearing the "what was he like at 14" stories juxtaposed next to "where did he end up in college" and maybe even "did he go on to be drafted or play in the pros" so I might have a better idea of what the future might bring.
My kid is a RHP, SS/3B, and C mostly, who hits left-handed. As a pitcher, he has a good fastball (touched / topped out at 85 last year, more often sat 78-82) that has decent movement, and a curveball he throws in the mid-to-upper 60s (more effective the faster he throws it). He has a developing change and sinker, but at this point they are not part of his usual repertoire. As a hitter, he is a fairly upright batter whose stance is fairly narrow (though he does stride out), to me reminds me mostly of Griffey, Jr. (right down to the waggle) - a comp I would love to see develop as Griffey did! He has good power (has hit balls ~400 with the old BESR composite bats, and in the NTIS this Fall poked one pretty close to 350' off of pretty good pitching). If I had to guess, I'd say he'll probably pitch through HS but might project better as a hitter, and will probably be more of a 3B or C type than a middle infielder.
He's still somewhat underdeveloped physically - about 5'11" or 6'0" and about 160-165 - and a little puppy-like with big feet and hands, and mostly long arms and legs, but getting stronger almost daily as he has started lifting for the first time. Average-to-slightly above average speed for his age (right around 7.0 60 if I recall right, last spring at 14). Defense is good but not great, and he probably relies too much on a strong arm at this point and has more work to do there than in the other phases of his game.
Has played in the major regional showcases around here (BBNW), is looking forward to seeing about getting to a PG event, and has been a USA Baseball rising 16U NTIS player. Has been invited back to the USA Baseball National Tournament next June in Arizona (what used to be called the Junior Olympics), and has had (and I expect will get in the future) an invite to the Arizona Fall Classic, and has competed pretty well in national-level travel ball (though honestly, I'd say he is a notch below the most elite players we've seen at that level).
I'd love to hear how this compares with others who've already been through all this, or how the experienced eyes think this projects. That is essentially where we are in the process - we know he is pretty good, but don't really have much of an idea where he fits in, or when we'll get a better idea about that....
My kid is a RHP, SS/3B, and C mostly, who hits left-handed. As a pitcher, he has a good fastball (touched / topped out at 85 last year, more often sat 78-82) that has decent movement, and a curveball he throws in the mid-to-upper 60s (more effective the faster he throws it). He has a developing change and sinker, but at this point they are not part of his usual repertoire. As a hitter, he is a fairly upright batter whose stance is fairly narrow (though he does stride out), to me reminds me mostly of Griffey, Jr. (right down to the waggle) - a comp I would love to see develop as Griffey did! He has good power (has hit balls ~400 with the old BESR composite bats, and in the NTIS this Fall poked one pretty close to 350' off of pretty good pitching). If I had to guess, I'd say he'll probably pitch through HS but might project better as a hitter, and will probably be more of a 3B or C type than a middle infielder.
He's still somewhat underdeveloped physically - about 5'11" or 6'0" and about 160-165 - and a little puppy-like with big feet and hands, and mostly long arms and legs, but getting stronger almost daily as he has started lifting for the first time. Average-to-slightly above average speed for his age (right around 7.0 60 if I recall right, last spring at 14). Defense is good but not great, and he probably relies too much on a strong arm at this point and has more work to do there than in the other phases of his game.
Has played in the major regional showcases around here (BBNW), is looking forward to seeing about getting to a PG event, and has been a USA Baseball rising 16U NTIS player. Has been invited back to the USA Baseball National Tournament next June in Arizona (what used to be called the Junior Olympics), and has had (and I expect will get in the future) an invite to the Arizona Fall Classic, and has competed pretty well in national-level travel ball (though honestly, I'd say he is a notch below the most elite players we've seen at that level).
I'd love to hear how this compares with others who've already been through all this, or how the experienced eyes think this projects. That is essentially where we are in the process - we know he is pretty good, but don't really have much of an idea where he fits in, or when we'll get a better idea about that....
I'm a Freshman at a rising NAIA school. I'm 6' 205lb catcher and utility player. Played my senior year at first base at a middle sized school in AZ. I was sort of a late bloomer in high school...5'5" until summer before Junior year ,I had only 24 varsity ab's my junior year and my senior season I had 100 plate appearances. I never played for a top showcase team or went to a showcase, my dad helped me a lot with finding schools that were or would be interested.
Junior5, yours is a very intersting story. Congrats to you and your family for hanging in there as you progressed.
quote:Originally posted by EdgarFan:
I'd love to hear how this compares with others who've already been through all this, or how the experienced eyes think this projects.....
He seems quite enchanting, but I think you already knew this.
I have very experienced eyes, so if you send me $500 I will tell you more good things about your son, and you will well up inside, it will help you sleep better at night, but won't really mean that much.
That is an impressive and even "enchanting" entrance, Tim. Do you by chance work for NCSA? 
It's really hard to compare fourteen year olds in gauging what they will become. At fourteen there's a huge curve in the puberty bell. When my son started 14U ball he was 5'4", 120. By the end of the season he was 5'11", 135. The next year he was 6', 160. He graduated at 6'1", 170. When he came home for Thanksgiving break he was 6'1", 185. According to the x-rays taken last spring as part of his post surgery recovery his plates are still open. Some of his 14U teammates were 6 feet and stopped growing.
Obviously size and strength are going to have an effect on power. His power was much better by junior year in high school. He always had speed (6.75). Through high school he was a middle of the field player (ss, 2b, cf). In college anywhere between the white lines is fine. But that's always been his attitude.
I have a friend who entered high school not expecting to much of an athlete at 5'6". He became an All-American pitcher in the SEC. He also played two years of SEC basketball. He made it to AAA. By freshman year of college he was 6'4".
Obviously size and strength are going to have an effect on power. His power was much better by junior year in high school. He always had speed (6.75). Through high school he was a middle of the field player (ss, 2b, cf). In college anywhere between the white lines is fine. But that's always been his attitude.
I have a friend who entered high school not expecting to much of an athlete at 5'6". He became an All-American pitcher in the SEC. He also played two years of SEC basketball. He made it to AAA. By freshman year of college he was 6'4".
Thank you, RJM. I get that it is incredibly difficult to know where a 14 year old will be in 3-4 years, for all the reasons you (and others) have mentioned.
I guess I am doing the natural thing - fishing for whether the people who've seen this first-hand (and through this board, second-hand a thousand times) think he's on the right track to being a college prospect....
I guess I am doing the natural thing - fishing for whether the people who've seen this first-hand (and through this board, second-hand a thousand times) think he's on the right track to being a college prospect....
All your son can do is his best. What you can do for him is provide resources you can afford. Help him be aware of what's required to succeed at the next rung up the ladder. Look for the best travel team where he can grow and develop. For summer ball it's time to stop playing age appropriate level and start thinking skill appropriate. Once he's made varsity or playing on a quality 17U team develop a college strategy.
It appears he has some quality accomplishments for his age. Don't let him rest on his accomplishments. A lot of kids will be developing physically over the next two, three years. Pat him on the back but keep challenging him. Good luck.
It appears he has some quality accomplishments for his age. Don't let him rest on his accomplishments. A lot of kids will be developing physically over the next two, three years. Pat him on the back but keep challenging him. Good luck.
All your son can do is his best. What you can do for him is provide resources you can afford. Help him be aware of what's required to succeed at the next rung up the ladder. Look for the best travel team where he can grow and develop. For summer ball it's time to stop playing age appropriate level and start thinking skill appropriate. Once he's made varsity or playing on a quality 17U team develop a college strategy.
It appears he has some quality accomplishments for his age. Don't let him rest on his accomplishments. A lot of kids will be developing physically over the next two, three years. Pat him on the back but keep challenging him. Good luck.
It appears he has some quality accomplishments for his age. Don't let him rest on his accomplishments. A lot of kids will be developing physically over the next two, three years. Pat him on the back but keep challenging him. Good luck.
quote:Originally posted by EdgarFan:
Thank you, RJM. I get that it is incredibly difficult to know where a 14 year old will be in 3-4 years, for all the reasons you (and others) have mentioned.
I guess I am doing the natural thing - fishing for whether the people who've seen this first-hand (and through this board, second-hand a thousand times) think he's on the right track to being a college prospect....
RJM is right, unless you are raising a Bryce Harper, it's very hard to tell by a 14 year olds accomplishments what he will be like in 3-5 years. It's not difficult to pick out the really talented ones but so much changes, it's hard to predict even if they will be interested in baseball at 18,19
RJM and TimTheEnchanter are trying to relay a message to you, both in different styles. I am sure that you are very proud of your son, as we all are, but I am going to be brutally honest, try to relax and sit back and let the whole thing unfold, folks just don't like other folks telling others how good their pre-teens are.
