Should a 12u Player be a Pitcher Only?

I get asked this question often, especially now that there are more and more of these “national” programs spreading across the country, using their PR machines to get parents to believe that playing for them gives their child a non-stop ticket straight to D1 baseball.

These teams usually compete at huge tournaments, and, as such, often carry lots of pitchers on their rosters. As a result, some of the “offers” that are sent out to families invite their child to join the team, but as a pitcher only (PO).

Here’s why I believe this is potentially a bad idea for any player under the age of 15.

We hear more and more that college coaches are looking for ATHLETES. Players who can adapt on the fly. Players who have multiple skill sets and who physically move well. If you’re 12, 13 or 14 years old and your body is still growing and changing, restricting yourself to one position (especially PO) can sometimes be detrimental to your athleticism down the road.

Now, that being said, players do get signed to colleges as PO’s. My son was one of them. But up until the end of his senior year in high school, he was a two way, pitching and playing 2B. The school that he ultimately chose to attend didn’t need any more infielders, so the coach made it clear to us that Ryan was being recruited for a specific role.

As always, each player and each family is different and you need to make decisions based on your own personal situation. But if you find yourself in this position, be sure to weigh all the pros and cons before limiting your young player.