My son is playing baseball again!

[Koz]

Without going into details, my son has had a rough time the past 4 years including the Covid situation, getting Covid three times, the loss of two grandparents, and dealing with his idiot mother - my ex wife. When he was only 13 he was 6'1" and one day after live streaming one of his workouts he was contacted by scouts for the Yankees and Padres, a bunch of college recruiters, and a bunch of college coaches. They were surprised when he told them he was only 13.

 

But then lots of tragedy struck and he quit baseball. He had no desire to play other than an occasional game of catch.

 

But that changed this winter. He's now a 17 year old junior, 6' 4" and 190 pounds of muscle. Out of the blue he tried out for the baseball team. When I coached him through the years he learned to play every position, but was primarily a pitcher / shortstop. Although he has great footwork, he tends to get flat footed so I had always told him he profiles as a first baseman or corner outfielder when he got older.

 

Anyway, he goes to tryouts and on the first day the coach tells him he's on varsity just based on his infield work. The next day he parks two in BP.

 

Yesterday it was time to pitch for the first time. But my chucklehead, um, competitive son doesn't tell anyone he has a sore arm. He hasn't played in 3 years so he's nowhere near in pitching shape. He had a 16 pitch bullpen session and was consistent 87-88 mph with his fastball. His two seamer was junk, but he threw 3 curveballs and 3 changeups that were killer. He went to the team trainer this morning and it's just bicep tendinitis. He'll rest for a few days and make sure he religiously follows his arm care program in the future. If you have a kid that pitches, download the Team Mustard app. It's the gold standard for pitching training. It was developed by Tom House and the National Pitching Association.

 

The best part, he's excited about this. He has the desire back. That's great, but I'm also wondering how hard he's going to throw once he's healed and he firms up his mechanics. He should be 91-92 mph, and if he gets his mechanics dialed in I've got to think he'll be 94-95 this year. If he can hit those numbers as a junior his entire life is going to change. He has no idea what's in store for him. We're going to have to have a long talk about handling himself. I remember what it was like to be a small time, infrequent hockey recruit in HS. If he does what I think he can, it will be both exciting and challenging for him.

 

Oh yeah - the coach told him he's playing first base. I had just bought him his customizer "forever glove" for pitching to go along with his infield mitt, and now shelled out for a first baseman's mitt. But it's worth it to see the joy in his face again.

[Jigfishn10]

Good luck, man!  

[Mike L]

That’s Great @Koz 

I wish him the best of luck going forward 

 

 

 

Mike

[steve carpenter]

Best wishes, Loved baseball growing up,. played with a friend in high school who started for the 1969 mets in the world series. Good fielder , average hitter. He batted over 500 in high school and was 12-1 pitching. Amazing what a skill set it takes to play at that level.

[Susky River Rat]

That is awesome for your son! It’s always mind blowing how good high school kids can be at a sport. Sounds like his talent is there and you are there to keep a good head on his shoulders. 

[Koz]

I was talking with an MLB pitcher today about my son and he raised a red flag. This pitcher had bicep issues that preceded him needing Tommy John surgery. In fact, bicep issues are a common thread among pitchers that eventually require TJ.

 

Normally I would not worry, but my son did have bicep tendinitis issues in the past. If he still has issues then it's time for an MRI. If he needs TJ that may end his career. He's miss his junior and senior seasons. His only real path then would be to be a walk on for a JUCO team.

 

Fingers crossed...

[islandbass]

That is awesome. Baseball has a special place in my heart as it was the first team sport I ever played. I played every position except first base, lol. 
 

If his arm might prevent him from being a pitcher, at least on the bright side, there are 8 other positions. ?

[Koz]

4 hours ago, islandbass said:

That is awesome. Baseball has a special place in my heart as it was the first team sport I ever played. I played every position except first base, lol. 
 

If his arm might prevent him from being a pitcher, at least on the bright side, there are 8 other positions. ?

I coached him from youth through middle school and had him play every position. This way no matter where he ended up playing he could play wherever the coach needed him.

 

True story - although he had worked out a few times at catcher, I never had him catch in games because I did not want him - or any of my players - doing double duty with all of those throws.

 

But one day another 12U team was short players and they asked if he could join them that day. Then the coach asked him, "Can you play catcher?" My son looked at the coach, looked at me, then said, "Sure - I'll do it!"

 

In his first game at catcher he threw out 3 runners trying to steal - in 12U. No one gets caught stealing in 12U. After that, he would be a fill in catcher on some of his travel ball teams on weeks that he wasn't pitching.

 

He's just one of those kids that is a natural at baseball. But even at 6'4" he's terrible at basketball. He's uncoordinated and clunky. I doubt he could play football, either. But he is good at lacrosse with his height, strength, and speed.

[islandbass]

Catcher was one of my favorite positions. I remember one of my glory plays. Left handed batter. Bases loaded. Two outs. We’re up by one. Batter pulls a surprise bunt and takes off. The bunt does not  immediately hit the ground but is flying in the air somewhere higher than a line drive but but not as much of an arc as a fly ball. My eyes tracked the ball and I leapt forward like a frog with my mitt fully extended. I caught the ball but my forward momentum landed me in a position where my entire body was covering my glove hand. 
 

I basically performed kind of belly flop and it kind of knocked the wind out of me so yeah, it hurt. 
 

The ump was moving side to side trying to make the call, and the crowd was silent. They wanted to know. 
 

With a bit of pain, I roll over and show the umpire my glove. The ball was in its pocket. 
 

Let me tell you, that was the best and most exciting, “He’s outta there!” calls I have ever heard and he did put a lot of body gestures in that call. I still clearly remember it to this day and the crowd went nuts.  I think he was more excited making that call than I was catching the bunt. 
 

This and many other memories is why baseball will always have a special place in my heart, even if the Seattle Mariners SUCK!!! Sorry, have a little love/hate relationship with them. ?
 

Sorry for the long story. Please keep us posted on your son’s progress. This is so cool. 

[Woody B]

Glad to hear he's playing, and excited about playing again.   Take care of his arm.  My oldest grandson is playing college ball now.  My youngest grandson (16) is throwing 90 mph,  but his arm isn't going to last. 

[Koz]

5 hours ago, Woody B said:

Glad to hear he's playing, and excited about playing again.   Take care of his arm.  My oldest grandson is playing college ball now.  My youngest grandson (16) is throwing 90 mph,  but his arm isn't going to last. 

In the past he's been very disciplined with his arm care regimen and I never let him max out on pitch counts or weekly use. But I think in this case he had been out of ball for so long he wanted to prove to himself and especially the coaches that he had a cannon during the infield tryouts.

 

That being said, I am proud of hi that after the coach saw him pitch, he told the coach he wants to be a one inning bullpen guy until he builds up his arm strength and stamina again. I think he sees the bigger picture.

[N Florida Mike]

That’s really great! I remember how disappointed you sounded when he wasn’t playing and had lost his interest.

Baseball was always my favorite sport. I ended up pitching a one hitter in college( it was really a no hitter but our left fielder dropped an easy fly ball on the 2nd to last batter of the game, and they scored it a hit ?) I could play any position, but never played 2nd and only played shortstop once. 

The best pitcher by far that I ever hit against was Storm Davis, who went on to play for the Orioles. He actually goes to my church and I see him often and tell old baseball stories. He is now helping our school’s high school team and is a really humble, nice guy.

 

It sounds like your son is on track for something good… keep us posted !

[Koz]

Update: His arm feels better but he has a hamstring issue. He's been lifting weights for 3 years but hasn't done any running in that time. Trainers are stretching him out every day. I'm really thankful that the coaches and trainers are taking care of him and not pushing him.

 

Even with all of that, he was just named the opening day starter for the varsity team.

 

But here's the kind of kid he is and it makes me even more proud. He feels bad about being named the starter because with his injuries he feels like he's letting the team and coaches down. And even though he's not cleared for practice this, he told the coaches that after his therapy each day that he'll be in the dugout watching the team practice.  That's my boy!