# of players 14U baseball

[Anonymous]

How many players is your 14U travel baseball team rostering?

Our coach made the decision to increase the roster size to 15, and he said he's be willing to carry 16. His logic makes sense: injuries, arm care (especially during tournaments), and he encourages multi-sport athletes (which means kids will miss time in the fall for fall sports), and that he's trying to create a high school like experience.

I'm not actually opposed to it, just curious if this is standard for this age in baseball, or if he's trying something different

[Anonymous]

13

[Anonymous]

Rosters do tend to increase in size around that age, for the reasons stated. My 14yo was on a team with a roster that size. Most of the kids only played about 50% of the time- potentially more with absences.

His team tended to bat 10- basically had 3 kids who never sat (usually MIF and CF), and the rest were in the game 50%ish of the time. More situational use of players- for pinch running, defensive specialists, pinch hitters at key moments etc. Some kids who didn’t get many ABs and were on the way to being PO already. My son was a catcher and would generally catch one game, sit the next to rotate with other catcher, repeat.

It was more high school- like, yes, and a big change from 12-13u for sure.

My younger son’s 13U team will carry 13 this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rosters do tend to increase in size around that age, for the reasons stated. My 14yo was on a team with a roster that size. Most of the kids only played about 50% of the time- potentially more with absences.

His team tended to bat 10- basically had 3 kids who never sat (usually MIF and CF), and the rest were in the game 50%ish of the time. More situational use of players- for pinch running, defensive specialists, pinch hitters at key moments etc. Some kids who didn’t get many ABs and were on the way to being PO already. My son was a catcher and would generally catch one game, sit the next to rotate with other catcher, repeat.

It was more high school- like, yes, and a big change from 12-13u for sure.

My younger son’s 13U team will carry 13 this year.

Also, pitchers tend to sometimes pitch 1/2 game and maybe sit rest of game.
Arm care is extremely important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rosters do tend to increase in size around that age, for the reasons stated. My 14yo was on a team with a roster that size. Most of the kids only played about 50% of the time- potentially more with absences.

His team tended to bat 10- basically had 3 kids who never sat (usually MIF and CF), and the rest were in the game 50%ish of the time. More situational use of players- for pinch running, defensive specialists, pinch hitters at key moments etc. Some kids who didn’t get many ABs and were on the way to being PO already. My son was a catcher and would generally catch one game, sit the next to rotate with other catcher, repeat.

It was more high school- like, yes, and a big change from 12-13u for sure.

My younger son’s 13U team will carry 13 this year.

OP here.

Yeah, I'm curious how it will play out. On 13U, the team only carried 12, and my son never really sat. But I think I'll have to prep for a change where he may sit more, and with more options for the coach, if he goes through a slump (which he is a very streaky hitter), he may become that late inning defensive replacement (which is the strongest part of his game) on elimination day of tournaments

[Anonymous]

OP, it almost sounds like you could be on my son’s team! Our coach previously said 11 was his sweet spot, and we did carry rosters that size but people invariably got injured/sick or had these one-off conflicts that ended up hurting us.

This coming season (also 14u), we have 16. We also have several high level multi-sport athletes whose attendance will be spottier. I have to admit though, I’m VERY nervous about how this will all work.

Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

This is the age where the super athletic kids are also playing JV/V football, basketball, etc. Huge commitments to play multiple sports and conflicts arise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it almost sounds like you could be on my son’s team! Our coach previously said 11 was his sweet spot, and we did carry rosters that size but people invariably got injured/sick or had these one-off conflicts that ended up hurting us.

This coming season (also 14u), we have 16. We also have several high level multi-sport athletes whose attendance will be spottier. I have to admit though, I’m VERY nervous about how this will all work.

Good luck to you!

OP here. Agreed, a little nervous about how it will play out. And like I said, I'm not opposed to it. And I'm def not opposed to him having to compete more for ABs within his team.

Just a little nervous for him

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the age where the super athletic kids are also playing JV/V football, basketball, etc. Huge commitments to play multiple sports and conflicts arise.

True, and my son is that way, playing 3 sports. But once spring comes, baseball is the top priority. So if anything, we won't see the impact to having such a big roster for a few months

[Anonymous]

When my DS played 14U travel baseball, he had double headers most weekends. They would use two catchers - one for the first game and one for the second game. It was rare that the pitchers would pitch the entire game, so again, for a double header we'd have two pitchers at an absolute minimum and usually four or even six. Once a guy pitched, he would not go out onto the field again - he might hit but he wouldn't play a position. 11 would be the absolute minimum, 14 is probably the sweet spot and 16 is the maximum. If the team is doing a lot of tournaments, you'd want closer to 16 players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my DS played 14U travel baseball, he had double headers most weekends. They would use two catchers - one for the first game and one for the second game. It was rare that the pitchers would pitch the entire game, so again, for a double header we'd have two pitchers at an absolute minimum and usually four or even six. Once a guy pitched, he would not go out onto the field again - he might hit but he wouldn't play a position. 11 would be the absolute minimum, 14 is probably the sweet spot and 16 is the maximum. If the team is doing a lot of tournaments, you'd want closer to 16 players.

Sounds like my sons team. Just entering fall U14

[Anonymous]

Question about pitcher-only spots- during doubleheaders, does a PO come to both games or only the game they are scheduled to pitch in? And if they come to the second game, they literally just sit there?

[Anonymous]

We have 13 on official roster, but our coach brings on random guest players for tournaments. Sometimes a kid comes for 2 games or someone to last day just to pitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question about pitcher-only spots- during doubleheaders, does a PO come to both games or only the game they are scheduled to pitch in? And if they come to the second game, they literally just sit there?

I have never actually seen an officially defined “pitcher only” at 14U…even if a kid is very clearly headed in that direction. Usually at 14U they will still come to all games to support the team, and may get in other games as a position player or pinch hitter etc. at some point (depending on skills).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question about pitcher-only spots- during doubleheaders, does a PO come to both games or only the game they are scheduled to pitch in? And if they come to the second game, they literally just sit there?

I have never actually seen an officially defined “pitcher only” at 14U…even if a kid is very clearly headed in that direction. Usually at 14U they will still come to all games to support the team, and may get in other games as a position player or pinch hitter etc. at some point (depending on skills).

Yes, I agree that at 14U, players were not POs. But my DS’ coaches were all very concerned about arm care. So anytime someone pitched, they DID NOT play a position for the remainder of the day. They would still hit. Now the coaches were okay with having guys play a position and then pitch.