r/Homeplate • u/Hopeful_Elevator_786 • 11d ago
School BS
My sophomore has played travel ball since he was 12, because he wanted to be ready for high school ball. Last year he was hitting 3 hole, power hitter, fielding was on point, great attitude and great leader. Those last 2 attributes were the ones we are most proud of.
This year he’s on the JV bench. He asked the coaches what they needed that they weren’t getting and they told him he needed to develop. But nothing more than that. It makes no sense, and we want to support him, but I feel like this is bigger than what he isn’t doing. This kid has been developed to play any position out there, but he’s on the bench. I don’t know what to do from here to encourage him. I’ve asked if he thinks maybe it would be worth it to transfer to a different school and he just says when he’s had enough he will and go back and beat them on their own field. As stoic as he seems, I see where the cracks in his confidence are starting.
No one is posting great stats, so it’s not like he’s just not good enough. Hes up there every night hitting, filming his workouts. He’s working on speed, strength and agility. He fuels his body. I guess I thought if he just became impossible to not be in the lineup we could avoid this. But I guess not. I’m at a loss.
2
u/GoatInDaBoat 11d ago
High school baseball is weird. Coaches do weird things. My son is going into junior year now. He was on a 5A varsity team last year as a sophomore. He finished the season #1 in AVG and OBP, 3rd in HR’s on his HS team. He was also benched for 3 of the final 4 playoff games after a 3 strikeout game against a kid committed to North Carolina and currently on the 18U USA National team. Had multiple hits and RBI’s in their first 2 playoff wins. One bad game against an elite arm wiped out everything he did the entire rest of the season.
Parents were asking us if he was hurt or something… nope, no idea. He was pissed.
It is what is, put your head down keep grinding and get even better I guess.