When a lefty becomes a PO

No offense but it is not about you. What does your son want? 

Oh, smart comment. The parent doesn't matter. So anyway, assuming my son and I are on the same page. Let me be more clear, travel teams apply the pressure, I am rebuffing them on behalf of my son. Wow.

Travel teams are made up of all kinds of kids, in most cases the coach is looking out for all of them in their projected positions in college. If this is where he projects then it makes sense that the coach is going to play him there. The coach will have other kids who project as position players and will play them there. If you look at it not from your son's perspective and the coaches it may make more sense. HS may be different of course. On my son's HS team he played every inning of every game somewhere on the field, P, Of 3rd,, on his travel team is was primarily a pitcher and filled in, in the OF sometimes. Seems to make sense to me. 

Since it is a travel team and not high school you can change teams If you're not happy. 

My son is a lefty.very good ball player. Pitcher,outfielder,could hit in the dark with a broom handle. I wanted to watch him play,everyday. Lucky for him they don't let parents coach in college. He was drafted as a lip.

 

 We all want to watch our sons play as often as we can. What really happens is beyond our control. eventually hos strength will shine through,in spite of what we want. Just enjoy every moment,it goes quickly.

 

I agree with BOF that it is best to look at this from the travel coaches perspective.  He should be trying to fill spots with the players who are best at these positions to compete and provide exposure at the highest levels possible or the best fit for the players.  If he is not doing those things then he is not doing his job IMHO. 

 

That leaves P, 1st and OF as possibilities for lefties.  While this may appear limiting, it is not necessarily when you look at college teams.  Half of a D1 roster is pitchers and half of those are typically left handed.  So, being a LHP is both a blessing and curse.  My kids were all RHP.  Two played positions in high school and one was a first team all district DH and pitcher....the boy could hit & pitch which is also a blessing and a curse.  You put him in the context of his national travel team and he was not one of the best hitters.  When he got to college he thought he could hit better than some of the position players.   As the college years went by, he matured and understood why the coach didn't want his starting pitchers hitting....it is an unnecessary risk when you have other guys that practice hitting every day.  I hope that makes sense.  JMO.

 

PS...Every college pitcher thinks they can hit better than the position players and every position player thinks they can pitch better than the pitchers.  It is a fact of life.  It goes back to travel ball/high school in a time when they could do both, but the reality is that ALMOST all can't when they get to college and the competition for at-bats is much tougher.

 

 

My son quit hitting when he got to college. Kind of sucked, driving 8 hours to watch him just pitch, but turned out well. He is now a minor league pitcher, and on occasion, he gets to take batting practice. Still misses hitting, but he is now a PO. Good luck on your son's future.

My son is also a lefty pitcher. Almost every summer his travel team said he would be a pitcher only. All we ever asked is that he have a chance to compete for a position as well. He was always given that opportunity. Every time he was told that the chances were not very good. That they had some very good players comming in.
Coaches want to win as well as show case their players. Push came to shove the only time he did not start in the OF, was when he pitched.
I would ask for the opportunity to compete. Then he has to leave no doubt. If he can do that, then he can do both. If he gets beat out, then I guess he becomes a PO or he moves to a team where he can do both.
In College he has always been a PO.

Thanks Bishop and Tom. Kind of nailed it on the feelings we have...much appreciated. Enjoying this ride each day...and so is my boy. Grateful for it.

Southpaw ... If you want your son to play every game have him play Legion. The travel team is trying to do what is best for every player's interest in getting to college ball. The travel team obviously sees your son's route to college ball is as a pitcher. If you think it's as a two way player find a coach and team who agrees. If it's about just playing every game go the Legion route. Good luck. <--- meant in sincerity and with eyes rolling ... take your pick.

My son is also a LHP, and a middle of the line up hitter on every team he's played on.  Now that he is a senior, most colleges want him to be a PO.  I asked him how he felt about that, and he said he doesn't care. He just wants to play in college.  We have spoken to the coach where he is most likely to play, and he said although he would like him to be a PO, he will give him the opportunity to compete for a position.  Coach said it is just too big a risk to have your stud LHP running bases, fielding, ec.

 

it just so happens that a teammate of my sons went to the same JUCO, and this spring he was projected anywhere from the 3rd to 5th round.  Last game of the season, he got hurt running the bases.  Dropped him to the 19th round.  He decided to go to Wichita State. If you are a great pitcher you will probably have to PO at some point.  

 

I understand and your want for him to play other spots, but I would encourage you to look at each situation with an open mind.  Will he be a PO in college?  If so, look at offers for travel teams, special invites to tournyes with an open mind.  Don't miss out on great exposure because you want him to play in the field.  Some great tourney teams only have PO spots available, but the exposure could be outstanding.  Case by case!  Nothing is ever black and white.

No problem letting him play it all in HS, but over summer, leave it to those that will be more helpful in his placement at the next level.  My son was in the same boat, wanted to play outfield and pitch.  One of my sons first summer coaches told him that he could play a few innings in the OF and someone MIGHT see him...but they will come to Watch him pitch....turns out to be the truest info he was given.  Now, he is comfortably settling in his PO spot.  He has informed me that he wants to start playing golf with me now that he doesn't have to worry about his baseball swing messing up his golf swing....lol

If he's a very fast, athletic outfielder, sure do both. Or if he's a big kid that has a good bat, then 1B. Otherwise, just focus on pitching, and all of those exercises, and running and so forth.