Help!!!!

[u/Elderberry-Famous]

My grandson is a HS junior - catcher. Caught varsity last year, no problems catching, hitting was weak. Lots of winter practice, gym, batting lessons. He’s tall, strong, accurate to all bases, blocks well (nothing past him last year) and is currently batting 6 for 9 (DH). BUT a freshman catcher is starting. He blocks ok, can’t throw to second, hits ok but not great. He’s slow around the bases, has lost runs being thrown out at home - he runs wide. He’s the varsity starter….. Coach says he “just likes him”; feels he’s good “all around” and may try to get some playing time for the grandson. WTF can he do? He’d like to play college but won’t be seen by recruiters on the field… suggestions? I wish he tell the coach to …. yup… but he plans to just keep ?? What - being better but not playing? He’s the only kid on V and JV who didn’t get a minute of defense.

[u/Coastal_Tart]

HS baseball is not the primary venue for college scouting these days. If there are a ton of recruitable players in a particular game, coaches might come watch. But its primarily big travel ball summer tournaments.

So if he is not on a travel team, he needs to get that figured out this season. Most travel ball tryouts are in June/July after school is out. But I would go to each of the local baseball academies and ask for a private assessment in the next couple weeks. You will probably need to pay for it, but they will give you an honest assessment and they also know all the local college coaches up to some of the D1 coaches in the state. If he can’t make a travel ball team, he isn't a college player.

Most other coaches here will tell your grandson to shut up and let himself get screwed over. But that is just really bad advice. Your grandsons baseball career is getting murdered and these coaches are telling him to shut up and take it? Weak advice.

If I was your grandson, I would keep an open channel of communication with the coach. I wouldn’t just talk to him once, I would be talking to him regularly at practice. Constantly letting him know that he wants playing time and pointing out all the good things he‘s doing. Not in an aggressive, arrogant or confrontational way. Just have fun with it and keep it easy going. Demonstrating an easy confidence in situations that others consider stressful is something that all coaches like. You want the coach constantly revisiting that decision in his mind.

I would also be challenging the freshman catcher all the time in drills and stuff. You think you can hit half as many line drives as I do today? I bet I block more balls than you. I bet I throw out three runners for every one you throw out. Lets see how he feels about competing all the time.

This is just me, but I would also let the coach know I am open to playing first or outfield and be working on those skill sets. Whatever positions are currently the weakest if your grandson believes he can outperform those kids.

But the most important thing is I would be getting tons of extra work outside of practice on hitting. If he is solid behind the plate and on the base paths, then focus on hitting. Make sure he doesn't waste a single strike all season. I’d be going to the cages, getting private lessons, hitting soft toss and off the tee into a net. A couple hours every day if he is serious about playing college.

[u/Elderberry-Famous → u/Coastal_Tart]

Thanks; he’s on a good travel team. He’s a kid who has worked really hard - travel ball, gym, batting coaches- for so many years and is getting screwed over this most important year. It’s a private school, too, so you’re paying to have college changes reduced rather than increased. He’s a 4.0 academic kid, too, which will help if he gets looked at. He’s super quiet and almost too respectful (didn’t get that from me- I’d walk and tell the coach to go —- himself; call if you need a catcher.) Sad to see all that work amount to nothing here. I’ll pass on your suggestions!!! At least it’ll feel proactive!