Baseball: Which is the best option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious how “successful” some of the kids of people replying in this thread have been at baseball. I feel like that is important information to have before OP can determine whether a particular piece of advice is worth listening to. Because a lot of this sounds like overkill, to put it mildly.

NP here. I’m an interested observer with no skin in the game (my son is 14u and 8th grade), but we’ve seen good kids with years of travel baseball under their belts who don’t make high school teams. I totally believe all what has been written here about what’s necessary.

Of course, it depends on the high school, but where we live, there’s a ton of interest and only so many spots. My son admittedly doesn’t have the commitment to do what it takes to prepare just to try out for the HS team, so he has decided he isn’t going to.

For all players, obviously the more playing and practice the better. But all of the private coaching, hitting and pitching lessons… I suspect that’s for the kids who don’t have a natural talent or are not natural athletes. I dunno, maybe that’s most kids? But I suspect there are enough actually gifted players out there to fill some high school rosters without necessarily all of these bells and whistles.

I can tell you that at my kids’ high school (large classification suburban public): (1) every player who made JV plays/played travel ball in middle school on various teams- I don’t know what age they started travel ball. My son started at 12U which is probably fairly average. Some probably did start travel earlier. (2) all the JV players I know of (some players I am not as familiar with) take or have taken private lessons of various types- hitting, pitching etc. Tends to come up in parent or kid chit chat. Some may not have, sure. (3) there is some variation but the players are overall larger/earlier blooming than the typical underclassmen male in 9th-10th grade.

Which is pretty much what people have said, more or less.

The smaller the high school, the easier it will be to make the team generally.

At 10, none of this is really relevant for OP’s kids. They have a few years before they need to think about any of this IMHO. At 10 they should just be playing and having fun, maybe doing some clinics or fun baseball day camp stuff if they want to- and maybe think about travel in a year or two.

[Anonymous]

Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

And then they get Tommy John the next fall. Seriously, how many of the families with year-round ball players do you know who have a favorite orthopedist on speed dial? In my circle, it’s an uncomfortable number. Including 4 kids who had surgery prior to 14U.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

And then they get Tommy John the next fall. Seriously, how many of the families with year-round ball players do you know who have a favorite orthopedist on speed dial? In my circle, it’s an uncomfortable number. Including 4 kids who had surgery prior to 14U.

The top high school coaches have a proper winter throwing program and take pitch counts seriously. Look at the stats for the top WCAC arms and you’ll see most never go above 60 pitches in a regular season game and only once a week. Now, there are countless hack HS and travel coaches that will have little Johnny throw 115 pitches in a meaningless regular season game, but your job as a parent is to avoid those coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

And then they get Tommy John the next fall. Seriously, how many of the families with year-round ball players do you know who have a favorite orthopedist on speed dial? In my circle, it’s an uncomfortable number. Including 4 kids who had surgery prior to 14U.

This is the parents’ fault. Imo. Advocate for your kid. Don’t let the coach have him throw 100 pitches and not rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

Again, where’s your evidence? You are just typing soundbites that you *believe* to be true, and giving OP (and anyone else reading this thread) advice based off this belief, but where’s the proof?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

Again, where’s your evidence? You are just typing soundbites that you *believe* to be true, and giving OP (and anyone else reading this thread) advice based off this belief, but where’s the proof?

The DR has the highest per capita number of MLB players and all they do is play baseball.

The top hoops players are playing basketball all year long, so they aren’t playing baseball. The top basketball teams/players are playing in a basketball tournament as we type.

What proof do you expect anyone to give you? You can look at the rosters of the different seasonal sports teams at each school and it is highly unlikely you will see any overlap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

Again, where’s your evidence? You are just typing soundbites that you *believe* to be true, and giving OP (and anyone else reading this thread) advice based off this belief, but where’s the proof?

The DR has the highest per capita number of MLB players and all they do is play baseball.

The top hoops players are playing basketball all year long, so they aren’t playing baseball. The top basketball teams/players are playing in a basketball tournament as we type.

What proof do you expect anyone to give you? You can look at the rosters of the different seasonal sports teams at each school and it is highly unlikely you will see any overlap.

To be clear, I don’t actually *expect* you to give me any evidence (and based on this post you clearly don’t have any).

It was meant more as a rhetorical point to anyone reading this thread that they should remember to examine their sources before pulling little Timmy out of basketball to make him go to private baseball lessons every day all winter at the age of 10 because that’s what ALL the GOOD players do…

(Kids who do multiple sports don’t necessarily do NOTHING during the offseason, don’t get me wrong. But casually shooting hoops in the summer or a weekly indoor throwing session in the winter is not on the level of what is being discussed in this thread, IMO)

Maybe you’re correct, but you’re certainly not making a strong case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

Again, where’s your evidence? You are just typing soundbites that you *believe* to be true, and giving OP (and anyone else reading this thread) advice based off this belief, but where’s the proof?

The DR has the highest per capita number of MLB players and all they do is play baseball.

The top hoops players are playing basketball all year long, so they aren’t playing baseball. The top basketball teams/players are playing in a basketball tournament as we type.

What proof do you expect anyone to give you? You can look at the rosters of the different seasonal sports teams at each school and it is highly unlikely you will see any overlap.

To be clear, I don’t actually *expect* you to give me any evidence (and based on this post you clearly don’t have any).

It was meant more as a rhetorical point to anyone reading this thread that they should remember to examine their sources before pulling little Timmy out of basketball to make him go to private baseball lessons every day all winter at the age of 10 because that’s what ALL the GOOD players do…

(Kids who do multiple sports don’t necessarily do NOTHING during the offseason, don’t get me wrong. But casually shooting hoops in the summer or a weekly indoor throwing session in the winter is not on the level of what is being discussed in this thread, IMO)

Maybe you’re correct, but you’re certainly not making a strong case.

It’s classic DCUM to dig into a position because you expect a completely unreasonable amount of effort by a poster (which nobody is expected to do) so you can dig into your view because of no evidence.

Nobody is saying specialize when a kid is 10…but if you are expecting to see many high level, multi sport athletes at WCAC schools…you won’t find them…in any sport.

[Anonymous]

The boys of summer are built by the high school coaches in the off-season and middle school to supplement the coaches’ income. In the MCPS high schools that I am familiar with, the kids who make the JV baseball team have been paying the high school coaches throughout middle school for clinics and summer programs. Not sure if this is true in other areas, but in MCPS you need to choose your middle school program wisely — pay to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

Again, where’s your evidence? You are just typing soundbites that you *believe* to be true, and giving OP (and anyone else reading this thread) advice based off this belief, but where’s the proof?

The DR has the highest per capita number of MLB players and all they do is play baseball.

The top hoops players are playing basketball all year long, so they aren’t playing baseball. The top basketball teams/players are playing in a basketball tournament as we type.

What proof do you expect anyone to give you? You can look at the rosters of the different seasonal sports teams at each school and it is highly unlikely you will see any overlap.

To be clear, I don’t actually *expect* you to give me any evidence (and based on this post you clearly don’t have any).

It was meant more as a rhetorical point to anyone reading this thread that they should remember to examine their sources before pulling little Timmy out of basketball to make him go to private baseball lessons every day all winter at the age of 10 because that’s what ALL the GOOD players do…

(Kids who do multiple sports don’t necessarily do NOTHING during the offseason, don’t get me wrong. But casually shooting hoops in the summer or a weekly indoor throwing session in the winter is not on the level of what is being discussed in this thread, IMO)

Maybe you’re correct, but you’re certainly not making a strong case.

It’s classic DCUM to dig into a position because you expect a completely unreasonable amount of effort by a poster (which nobody is expected to do) so you can dig into your view because of no evidence.

Nobody is saying specialize when a kid is 10…but if you are expecting to see many high level, multi sport athletes at WCAC schools…you won’t find them…in any sport.

I don’t think we’re reading the same thread. OP said their kid is 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being very familiar with WCAC programs and player development some of what is stated is true but by no means gospel.

The more advanced programs will develop you in the weight room and make you a better athlete but hitting and fielding development happens on your own time. There’s too many things for coaches to focus on rather than individual development. Players need to give coaches a reason NOT to play them. Winning is the focus and who can help you matters most to coaches.
Having said this I know of players that did not play travel before age 13 playing on top teams as well as D1 scholarship players that were not good and cut by their travel team at age 14.
It’s not cut and dry. What is clear however is if your player isn’t willing to work every single day (weight room and on the field) they may make a roster but have zero chance of being a top player and progressing to a college athlete.

This is all true. Plus, northern kids are at such a disadvantage because of the cold climate. If you look at the national rankings it’s usually schools from CA, FL, and TX (and often SJC and Spalding) Around here from Dec-March you have to really WANT to be a baseball player and do the work on your own and often with paid coaches. That’s when the good players become great players.

Or they go the old-fashioned route and cross-train in the winter months by participating in a seasonally appropriate sport.

The bolded statement sounds dramatic and inspiring, but I’d really like to see the evidence that it’s actually true.

Could a freakish athlete play hoops in the winter and show up in March for HS baseball? Of course. But they’re the exception, not the rule. The average to above average WCAC baseball player is specializing year round. The Boys of Summer are built in the winter.

And then they get Tommy John the next fall. Seriously, how many of the families with year-round ball players do you know who have a favorite orthopedist on speed dial? In my circle, it’s an uncomfortable number. Including 4 kids who had surgery prior to 14U.

This is the parents’ fault. Imo. Advocate for your kid. Don’t let the coach have him throw 100 pitches and not rest.

You do know that there are a gazillion moms out there that don't know jack sh*t about baseball, much less what a pitch count is, right?

Eff any coach that doesnt' track it and enforce it.