How to train to make HS baseball team

[Anonymous]

If he can pitch, that's an advantage because it's a more solitary position where he can practice solo and with a coach, and teams always need pitchers.
But he should play as much as he can in real games between now and then. My talented, athletic player still struggled at the travel level at first because the kids who had been playing forever had seen so many more real-life scenarios and just "got" the game. Baseball/softball are interesting because each runner on base and out determine a different field position and expected play. And you only really get that knowledge from doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All-Stars? Has he only played Little League or something? That field is 46-60 (mound/bases distance in feet). No leads, no pickoffs. Little kid rules.

Travel Baseball at age 10+ moves up to a 50-70 field with leads, pickoffs, etc. -- real baseball. This also applies to Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, and Pony Rec leagues.

Age 13+ is 60-90 diamond, same dimensions as Nats Park, college, high school, etc.

The longer throws as the field gets bigger are REAL -- gotta have proper mechanics to be accurate and strong. Mentally, so much more going on with the real baseball rules compared to Little League.

What has your son played?

Is your kid swinging a bbcor bat? Besides moving kids up to transition to larger field sizes, some leagues also reduce the required drops of the bats to transition kids to -3 . Not sure how Little League does it.

Someone else posted on here a while ago that coaches will find a spot for kids that can hit. So as other posters mentioned, I'd have them work on hitting.

Also while it's understood that you don't want to do year round, some leagues in our area (I'm in a different area from you, so am not sure if it's the same) Fall ball is a lot less intense. Where it's only one game a week, with no practices. So would consider having your son do Fall ball to get used to the potentially larger field sizes, quicker play, faster pitches, etc.

[Anonymous]

If he is an infielder, Gold Glove Academy infield sessions are a great way to get lots of reps without playing actual games on a travel team.

Otherwise, get plenty of BP and tee time, hit the weight room, and get fast.

Like others have said, have realistic expectations depending on the school.

[Anonymous]

If you hit you don't sit. That's always going to be the rule. Oh and pitching, you can never have enough kids who throw 80-ish (which is where you need to be as a freshman these days.)

Another route is catching - most teams need better athletes at catcher and you need 2 for each team so that ups the numbers over say meh outfielders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he is an infielder, Gold Glove Academy infield sessions are a great way to get lots of reps without playing actual games on a travel team.

Otherwise, get plenty of BP and tee time, hit the weight room, and get fast.

Like others have said, have realistic expectations depending on the school.

Gold Glove Academy is great! My son enjoys it when he goes. They also periodically do hitting groups.

I don't know if your son used a USA bat for Juniors but if so, definitely switch to BBCOR now.

If interested in pitching, our HS puts a big emphasis on offspeed (particularly change ups). Obviously every coach loves a fastball that will intimidate hitters but working on a good offspeed or breaking ball will be good. My son sits mid-70s for his FB which is not fast for a 15 year old but his breaking balls are really good.

If you're in the West Springfield, Robinson, or Lake Braddock pyramids, those are very tough to make, even JV.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he is an infielder, Gold Glove Academy infield sessions are a great way to get lots of reps without playing actual games on a travel team.

Otherwise, get plenty of BP and tee time, hit the weight room, and get fast.

Like others have said, have realistic expectations depending on the school.

Thank you, will look into this. Yes, he has been hearing his whole life that it will be hard to make baseball in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you hit you don't sit. That's always going to be the rule. Oh and pitching, you can never have enough kids who throw 80-ish (which is where you need to be as a freshman these days.)

Another route is catching - most teams need better athletes at catcher and you need 2 for each team so that ups the numbers over say meh outfielders.

Wow, well he's nowhere near that in pitching however he is a good hitter and has speed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he is an infielder, Gold Glove Academy infield sessions are a great way to get lots of reps without playing actual games on a travel team.

Otherwise, get plenty of BP and tee time, hit the weight room, and get fast.

Like others have said, have realistic expectations depending on the school.

Gold Glove Academy is great! My son enjoys it when he goes. They also periodically do hitting groups.

I don't know if your son used a USA bat for Juniors but if so, definitely switch to BBCOR now.

If interested in pitching, our HS puts a big emphasis on offspeed (particularly change ups). Obviously every coach loves a fastball that will intimidate hitters but working on a good offspeed or breaking ball will be good. My son sits mid-70s for his FB which is not fast for a 15 year old but his breaking balls are really good.

If you're in the West Springfield, Robinson, or Lake Braddock pyramids, those are very tough to make, even JV.

Good luck!

They are doing one this week at corobus in Clarendon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you hit you don't sit. That's always going to be the rule. Oh and pitching, you can never have enough kids who throw 80-ish (which is where you need to be as a freshman these days.)

Another route is catching - most teams need better athletes at catcher and you need 2 for each team so that ups the numbers over say meh outfielders.

Wow, well he's nowhere near that in pitching however he is a good hitter and has speed.

My kid plays on a pretty high level travel team in the area for 14u. Our best pitchers are throwing mid 70s. We played one team this year where a pitcher was throwing 80. It’s a big difference and not the norm at 14u. I guess Jv will be different as kids will be 16-17 but right now 80 is not typical for a kid going into 9th grade. There are also kids who just finder 13u who will be going to high school and have to skip to 15u. They aren’t throwing 80.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry but this doesn’t end well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He’s fairly athletic and tall for his age. Picks up most sports quickly but behind in baseball for sure. Just wondering what he can do until tryouts to help raise his level.

—get some hitting lessons, and then practice hitting on a tee in the backyard
—look up some drills for footwork in the outfield or quick pick up for infield positions(depending on what he plays) there are drills like bouncing a ball off the wall and scooping it with the glove
—have him read or watch games. Situational awareness, knowing when and where to throw the ball, when to run and steal etc, are key at high school level

[Anonymous]

If you hit you play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s fairly athletic and tall for his age. Picks up most sports quickly but behind in baseball for sure. Just wondering what he can do until tryouts to help raise his level.

—get some hitting lessons, and then practice hitting on a tee in the backyard
—look up some drills for footwork in the outfield or quick pick up for infield positions(depending on what he plays) there are drills like bouncing a ball off the wall and scooping it with the glove
—have him read or watch games. Situational awareness, knowing when and where to throw the ball, when to run and steal etc, are key at high school level

Thank you! Yes, I will look up Youtube drills because he can definitely do those at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you hit you play.

This. I would seriously only work on weights and hitting. No one cares if you have good footwork and can field the ball well when you are trying out with a large number of players. It is way too hard to get noticed that way. Be a pitcher that stands out like someone who can throw in the 80's or a left handed pitcher with movement, or be hitter.

"If you hit, you don't sit"

Neighbor's son paid community college baseball players to pitch to him, he went to batting cages, and got hitting lessons. He didn't play travel baseball just all star baseball and made his high school team.

[Anonymous]

Sprint training matters more. Baseball is not a continuous endurance sport - it's all out sprinting for short distances with a lot of waiting in between. Train acceleration instead.

https://youtu.be/u-6YEP9bygg