WHAT POSITION TO PLAY??

When you speak of not enough power, are you talking arm strength that is typically associated with RF's?
Most coaches wnat the gun in right. If you know he is not that caliber, and frankly if he likes the infield bettter, I would showcase in the MIF. My thinking is a player will always perform better, where they are more comfortable, comfort will bring confidence, confidence will lead to a better showcase.....that is unless your HS coach is some sort of freak visionary...lol.

Both, arm and hitting power. HIs arm is playable at LF but still no power with the bat. And yes, he is more comfortable at SS. We are leaning that way.

IMO, I would go with where he is more comfortable. He will not only enjoy it better but will probably perform better also....good luck.

Go with the position he wants to play (or most comfotable with). Players can play and coaches can see that. He may end up somewhere else down the road but if he can show he can play they will take a chance on him and put him in a position that will allow the team to succeed because he's succeeding. He should play the position he wants to play until he has to move to another one so he can get into the lineup.

Where does he play on his summer team? Does that coach see him as an outfielder too? It seems to me that college coaches look at bats and then athleticism and assume they can convert players to other positions...ie an infielder to an outfielder but I don't know about the other way around.

I would think in order to showcase well as an infielder he would need to play the position at least in the summer to really be comfortable and show well at a showcase.

I have wondered the same thing as the topic. Son plays on 3 teams. Starts @ P, on all 3, but when he isn't on the mound, depending on which team, he is playing on, he can play @ MIF, CF/OF. Most showcases allow a player to showcase at 1 player position, besides P / C, besides @ bat. He just lists on the Showcase & Recruiting sites as Primary: P, and Secondary: MIF / OF / UT.

The variation of player position isn't by his own choice either. Had a Varsity Coach, actually tell the JV Coach to switch 2013 to the OF, from SS. Because, V Coach said he had that position locked up for the NEXT YEAR'S V SEASON. Until his V player got a season ending injury & the same V Coach, coached the Summer travel team & moved 2013 back & forth from SS, 2B, OF & P. He never knew til he was running back out onto the field, where he'd be going next. And often, had to quickly switch gloves over!

2014 son has played p, c, 2b, 3b, and all 3 OF this summer. He thinks of himself as a SS. Summer coaches put him anywhere their kids don't play. Might get a read from a proffessional eye this winter as to where he is best suited. They are now trying to make a right fielder out of him becuase he is athletic with a cannon from the OF. He also has trouble listing primary and secondary positions. If they leave enough room he puts down p, c, if, of. Does not know where he would go for a showcase. He describes himself as a baseball player. I keep telling him that I would take 9 of him and put them up against anybody.

Recently I've noticed the designation "UTL". Maybe one can be a P/UTL.

I forgot the funniest part. He was caught by summer coach peeking at the lineup card and was chastised for it. they thought he wanted to see where he was going to hit, but he replied that he just needed to know which glove to warm up with. It was not uncommon that he would take infield and then start in out field or vice versa.

2013Dad,
my view is the focus should be on how well your son plays/can play, not the position he plays.
I could very well be wrong but your post sounds like you are already talking with your son about this issue.
I would propose that could instill some mental uncertainty for your son, which he does not need.
Additionally, strictly as a far outsider, I wonder why you think your son projects in college as a MIF/2B.
Do you feel you have the knowledge and experience to be able to make those judgements and then see/visualize them in a way which will truly help your son?
College recruiters know that very few of those they scout will play the same position in college.
College recruiters are looking for those who can play.
Not every school will be looking at a corner outfielder to be a power hitter.
Additionally, some of the information you have posted leaves me more than a bit confused.
My impression is you feel your son does not have the arm to play RF in college but you think he does to play shortstop in college?
Those thoughts, if I understood them correctly don't ring true to me.
I truly support coach 2709 on this one.
Your son needs to play the position he is most comfortable.
He does not need your input on where you think that might be unless you really have experience and skills in judging HS and college talent and playing ability.
If your son is a player, good college coaches will find him in a showcase/camp setting.
Let your son prove he can play and have fun and be confident doing it.
In my view, your job is done once he is signed up and the fee is paid.
From that point, let him go, let him play, let his talent prove itself.
I fully appreciate you want to help your son in any way possible. All of us do for our sons.
Sometimes we think we are but we truly don't know enough about the process to realize we are not or we cannot.
When they get to the level of competing to get on a college roster, it is all about how well they play. For those who really play, coaches always find them a spot.

quote:

Originally posted by 2013 Dad:
Both, arm and hitting power. HIs arm is playable at LF but still no power with the bat. And yes, he is more comfortable at SS. We are leaning that way.

I'm sure I'll catch **** for this but if he has limited arm and hitting power why waste your money on a showcase? At best he'll get very limited looks during the IF portion of the showcase, and those looks will all be from short. The better ones will radar his throwing speed from short to first and may expose the weaker arm. His range may be his strength but that is not likely to get seen at a showcase.

Plus showcases are geared around showing off pitchers and hitters, with pitchers decidedly having the upper hand by virtue of umpires trying to move the game along or pitch counts that start at 1-1. A weak batter will be exposed at worst, and won't even get noticed at best.

Game situations will be very limited and not closely watched except when he is hitting.

So I say again, why waste your money on a showcase? Spend the money on a trainer who can work with him, then focus on which schools he is most likely to succeed at. Then build a conversation with the coaches to have them look at your guy in their camps/clinics or by coming to see him play over the summer.

quote:

Originally posted by RedSoxFan21:
I'm sure I'll catch **** for this

Whoa! Censoring the word C*#P, or CR*#, or CRA* (get the drift). Is C**P really a word that needs to be censored?

My thought is that scouts/recruiters grade a player as a hitter first, then (overall) fielder, then as INF or OF, then as 1B, 2B, RF, LF, etc.
I would not get tied down with specific positions if it is going to mess with his head. Let him show off his bat, and then play whatever position he looks smoothest at.

Infielddad,

I said he is more confortable at SS, but also said he does not have the arm to play ss in college, but his arm is playable at LF in college. He profiles best as a 2B. To play Corner OF most schools want power guys. He is a high average doubles hitter. He does have a sufficient arm for 2B in college.

And yes, I feel I know enough to determine where he projects best (generally of course, as each program is different). He is excellent with the glove in the IF. He should be able to get under 7.0 in the 60. we are looking at D2 and JUCO.

I understand players' positions change. However, in addition to the above, my thought is a coach is much more likely to see a guy showcase at SS and say: ok, kid can play, doesn;t have SS arm, but could play 2B. Plus SS gives someone the ability to show more athleticism, body control, etc.

I have no numbers to back this up, but I'm guessing that very few OF are looked at by a coach thinking, ok, I can move him to 2B.



Red Sox Fan,

You must not have read my post clearly. My son has a limited Shortstop arm. And he doesn't hit for HR power. He has a good arm for 2B and LF. There is plenty of room for kids who hit a high average and score alot of runs with above average defense skills (usually 2B). Besides, as stated above, we are looking at D2 and JUCO.

Quite honeslty your post comes off a bit myopic without trying to actually read what was posted.
To state why waste your money is ridiculous.

As far as radaring arm, that is exactly my point. He could get gunned and since he is at SS that tells the coach, ok, he can also play 2B, where an 85+ arm is not required.

I don't have any knowledge to support this, but

It appears to me that you have a solid understanding of your son's skillsets and abilities. I would go with your gut feeling on this, and if you believe that your son's hands and footwork work in the infield, you should show him there!

why not make it simple---allow the boy to play the position he plays for his teams----let the college coaches make the decision as to where he plays

I agree with TR. Nothing 'myopic' about it.

I do disagree with that TR.

When my son tried out for a prominent 18U team, they tried him at Shortstop, but told him if he wanted to make the team he would be a Left Fielder and that was where they thought he would project best at in College. He accepted that role for a season or so but ultimately chose to change teams where he could play in the infield.

He was recruited at an infielder for college and his Freshman year started at Shortstop. He transferred year two anticipating an opportunity to play second, but was positioned at 3rd.

During his summer programs in the Coastal Plains League he has started at Short, started at 3rd and also at second.

In Highschool he was a 3rd baseman and a Pitcher, both starter and closer, depending on the year.

The point is his 18U team pigeon holed him in Left Field, yet he has never played an inning there his entire college career.

He does play 3rd now, but scouts see him more of a second baseman...

So. Play up the middle and go where they recruit you. But if you believe his best tools show up at 2nd, then I would play there, and let the coaches and recruiters place you where they will.

Many recruiters and coaches select players from up the middle and then move them.

ff,
From what you have posted, nearly each step with your son's progression came from what I assume to be very solid baseball people at U of Tampa, his CPL coaches, etc., going back in time.
What you provided for your son reminds me a bit of a former player at Stanford. During his 4 years, he played every position except pitcher, catcher and 2B.
When he was drafted... you guessed, it, 2B, where he flourished before an injury stopped a very promising career with huge numbers. Reminded folks of a Kent/Sandburg type 2B and with his bat. Some pro scout saw this.
To be honest, where I am having trouble with 2013 Dad's posts surrounds the comments about having the knowledge and skill to project what college recruiters will look at and consider important in the decision to recruit his son.
I am not sure if he does or does not, but it does not come through in this thread, to my reading.
Additionally, we have no information about this player recently playing short or 2nd. Is he going to walk into a showcase and play or does he have the recent experience to do this?
Maybe 2013 Dad is a former MLB or Milb or very good college player or a high level coach with a lot of exposure/experience with college baseball.
If so, then I would defer.
If not, I am not sure I would. The last post raises more questions from my perspective than it provides reassurances.
Our son is a college coach. When he watches players, he looks at things beyond anything I would know as a parent with pretty solid experience watching/coaching baseball. He looks at tiny things, including making an assessment of fast twitch/slow twitch and what that means for a position.
If 2013 Dad has the experience and knowledge about projecting for college baseball and what college coaches look at in projecting players, that is one important factor, very important.
I am not reading in the posts in this thread anything which sounds reassuring the son can be expected to head to short in a showcase and perform in a way that will turn college coaches heads, while also causing them to project to 2B.
I count myself as a parent of a former player who is now a college coach who certainly would not be capable of making those types of projections.
Taken from a different perspective, if the son has the skills and talents to project to play D2 baseball in Florida, I just have a very hard time agreeing that good D2 Florida college coaches in a showcase setting are going to all miss that type of athlete and skill level.
They certainly won't care if the player was a RF'er on a HS or travel team.

For what it's worth any showcase my son ever attended every infielder except 1st baseman took ground balls from SS with arm speed being recorded from behind 1st base. My son listed SS but was also played at 2nd base during the game phase.

I CAN SECOND WHAT JIM DANDY SAYS

Additionally JimDandy, as an infielder at a showcase you best be able to move from 3d to SS to 2nd and even sprint to the outfield if someone else doesn't. I think college coaches are looking for hitters and adapt the gloves to where they need them. In other words, if you hit, you play.