i realized i wasnt a high level SS after my junior year. Took the summer fall and winter to develop as a pitcher. Added 8 mph and got an offer to a good D2 school my senior year. Recognizing that SS wasn't for me was the best thing I ever did
@@nofurtherwest3474 Dude probably had a cannon arm but not enough pop to move to 3rd or athletic enough to stay at short. So, man was smart and said, let me use my cannon and pitch.
I did. But throughout my whole LL career I also was batting .600 with a nearly 1.000 on base percentage and was the fastest kid on the team. Coaches kids usually have WAAAAY more training that kids with parents who don’t coach.
@@jaketalbot1863 last time I checked the other team pitches to the kids so how was my success or any other coaches kid that was actually good, handed to them? You must have played left bench
My youth career as a shortstop fit all of these characteristics, then I packed on the pounds and became a 6’4” offensive guard who played a little 3rd 😂
@@DanBlewett Football was always more my speed, I liked the violence and only now that my official playing time is over have I gotten back into baseball. Playing short was awesome, but by the time high school came around I and everyone else knew focusing on football was the way and short wasn’t where I’d slot on the baseball team if I’d continued
I'm lucky to have the opposite problem. My kid has been pitching the most on the team, and then he goes to SS, then first. I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
Yep. I've seen it too often that part of the reason the kid's parent is coaching is so he/she can make sure their kid is playing shortstop, catcher, pitcher or whatever. Go to any LL game and you can just about bet the coach's kid is playing one of the key positions and higher up in the batting order.
I am the coaches kid and I have told my dad to take it harder on me than my teammates and I still pitch the most by far on my team not just because I am the coaches son
True. We eventually left a 7U team because coach’s son played SS. I believe I’m fair and unbiased (based on my military values) but he was the slowest most un-athletic player on the team. I know, only 7 but my goodness.
I’m gonna restart playing baseball after not playing for 2-3 years soon and i don’t really care what position I play but ss 3rd or first is what I would like to play because what I played a couple of years ago
You should really make a video about the importance of proper footwork. You could be a fast shortstop with a cannon, and if you have sloppy footwork, scouts won’t even bother. They are looking for players that they don’t have to develop, and already have the necessary skills hard-wired into their brain.
As someone who played SS in high school, I definitely knew I wasn't good enough to play SS at a higher level. a) I was a bad hitter, and b) I definitely wasn't the best SS in my county. My high school wasn't exactly producing next level talent in baseball, or any sport for that matter. I was a small kid, and there were other SS's in our league that were over 6 feet with at least as much speed as I had.
All parents of youth baseball players should see this video. The same could be said of any position. Playing time is earned. What happened to making sure your name is in the lineup so you can help your team?
Good video. Unfortunatly it appears that alot of people are missing the point you are trying to make. I agree with the majority of what you are saying. Parents are often too blind to see or do not want to admit that their kid is not good enough. Or their kids just dont put in the work or they believe that since they paying hundreds upon thousands of dollars for lessons and select baseball, thier kid SHALL be granted any position he wants. While my child is not the best on his team he is a quality defender and plays 2B. I as a parent realize that given his genetics, he most likely will not be a SS due his parents being short shits. I coached his team and he was not good enough to play SS and he also batted 7th in the lineup becuase he is not a consistent hitter and cannot be dependable to hit lower in the lineup. Being blind to your kids actual talent only hurts them in the long run. I am not saying discourage you kid but find ways to be honest about their talent so they do not have a false sense of confidence, ability, and accomplishment. Be thier #1 fan, but also be thier #1 critic.
You’re absolutely dead right coach. When I played little league back in the early 80’s the best kid in the league by far was a shortstop and I played shortstop as well. He went on to play at Mississippi State and start at shortstop as a freshman alongside Will Clark and Raphael Palmiero… he was drafted by the Orioles and if I remember correctly never made it out of AA. Most parents are clueless
Played SS and pitcher when i was younger. Stopped to play football instead because i was so much bigger than every other kid until about 10th grade came around and i stopped growing and everyone else started growing. And now i regret more than anything in my life that i quit playing baseball. I know i could have gone somewhere as I've always been the best player on any sports team ive been on. I know that sounds conceited, but it was true and upsets me from time to time. My parents are both tall. My dad being 6'4 idk why I stopped growing at 5'9 but it is what it is. Maybe my son will be tall lol
Great video! We had to quit travel ball because the coaches son was at short. Not saying my kid should have been there but his definitely shouldn’t have been. Got tired of losing.
I played SS for 8 straight years all the way up to 18 years old….it was very tough to find another SS on days I pitched so they sometimes would use me as the closer instead of starting pitcher….but above the high school level it gets real competitive after high school at SS.
Everything this guy said is true!!!… I coach little league and I’m hard on my boys. Half of the parents hate me because I only put my best 4 players at SS,CF,3rd and 2nd and when I have to put other kids at those positions due to one of those other kids pitching… it’s error city!
Strongly disagree with the “If not now?” portion of this video. As a college baseball player myself, I can promise any parents out there that your sons 12u or 14u travel season and ability level do not mean anything when it comes to the future of their playing career. When I was 12, everyone thought I would be a pitcher, I am not. As a freshman in high school I was told I would never play D1 baseball, I did. Point is that it is silly to project young kids into the future and does not benefit the player. Best advice I can give to parents of young players or young players themselves is to embrace your individual journey and enjoy the time you get together because it will be over before you know it. I don’t remember any scores or games I played when I was that age but I do remember traveling with my dad and having a good time with my friends.
you missed the point. obviously kids can improve. but today, if you lack those skills, don't expect to be playing the top infield spot. And the majority of kids who can't start at 12U wont be able to at 14U, etc. etc. that's the reality for most, but most dont want to face it. Maybe you made big turnarounds, but thats not the norm and too many people have delusions instead of realistic expectations. When parents think their kid will go D1 but he's a 4th outfielder in 14U...they're dreaming the wrong dream.
@@DanBlewett I hear you man. It’s just tough with kids that age because it’s a weird time where some kids are more developed physically than others. There is plenty of guys who are 14u all stars because they hit puberty earlier than others. But I hear you, too many people want to be a D1 caliber guy without putting in the work or understanding that that level is not for everyone. I appreciate the response to clarify what you meant
Many natural shortstops don't get the opportunities to show what they can do. A lot of poor youth coaching going on and it's getting worse.. It's a shame really.
I was a shortstop growing up then moved to center field at 13 when the other team actually started hitting them out there .. your video is accurate information!
@@general_jacob3227 same here bro .. I’ve retired from the outfield these days after two back surgeries and two acl surgeries from snowboarding.. I pitched in up through college but I’m at SS or 3rd now ..no more baseball ..just some high level softball leagues and tourneys ..it’s my sons time coming soon! He’s 3 and has an absolute cannon already just like dad did! I can’t wait to see him kill it
My younger son plays catcher, third, second and occasionally first. For first second and third he finished the last _season_ with 2 errors total for all three positions and the second highest batting average. He's shorter and quick footed, amazing reflexes, muscles have muscles for a youth player and has a cannon for an arm with great accuracy. I have no idea if he'd be good on short because he's never played it, the coach has two kids in the team. Our shortstops, have a lot of errors.. This coaches kid business really needs to stop being a thing, when I first got into baseball I thought it was just a joke.. 😑
Just practice with him 1 on 1 will get him so much more than any practice with a full team. Yeah I had the same problem with coaches kids and baseball politics I was batting .450 and had a 1 ERA don’t think I’m the next shohei it was bad comp but I ended up not making all stars nor did the 2nd best player because of “the selection process”, even high school has politics try to get him into a winning program he sounds like a great player and I hope you find a good place for him 😊
I am a consistent player and I play up to these standards and start at 2nd or 3rd base but on my team there are people who are really good and athletic and they are the ones playing SS and CF like you mentioned.
@@DanBlewett hell yeah! I actually loved it, I don't think there is much of this straight up info out there. Your video should go viral. Same is with your entire channel
I was SS when i started to play, a great ss, but when i grew up my arm wasn't strong enough, a lot of great plays but the runner was safe... So i changed to 2B my last years and i was almost perfect there
the only reason this is a problem is because the coaches son is generally the SS .. doesnt mean that they dont deserve it .... but ive never seen a coaches son playing 2B
A funny thing about short is that everyone wants to play it. A story I heard once is when Zach Grienke got called up to the Royals he asked if it was ok if he just stayed in the minors and be moved to SS. I think he could have probably pulled it off.
I was primarily a pitcher who played shortstop because I was "the best fielder" on my team up until JV. I had a very good glove, a great arm, and very bad foot speed. My hand-eye coordination was also very good, and once I got to a level with better athletes I moved to 3B on days I wasn't pitching. I also was not much of a hitter, so it was really just a stop gap to the higher level, because my pitching was top tier for the level at that time. I could have worked my ass off to try and be a pro pitcher, but I ended up ending my baseball aspirations to focus on my studies, and I think this is an incredibly useful insight to understand how to transition from being the best player on your team to understanding how to hone your talents to continue to mature as a baseball player. The MLB is full of little league shortstops, but the sooner you learn another position, the more ahead of A+, A, AA, etc ball you get if you want to try to be a professional. This is the video you won't find anywhere else, but absolutely need to see if you want to consider making a career out of baseball.
And this is why we stress to the kids, and parents, that at the youngest levels they need to learn some about every position. You never know what puberty brings.
My son isn't a good runner, his reaction times aren't great, and he can't throw a ball that fast or far, but he's more than good enough to play shortstop because I own the county's biggest car dealership
My son is 12 has played baseball for 13 months. Plays 13u is already starting at shortstop unbelievable athlete. Oh he was born in Venezuela 😂 so it's got to be in his DNA 😂
All my answers were yes. But wanted to play varsity as a freshman and only spot open was CF. Ended up working out and played RF in college. Just how you said everyone looks at SS, the same is for CF. All my collegiate OF teammates were CF in HS.
My daughter plays 3rd, she is athletic but has a cannon, always has. In rec ball growing up, I needed someone that could throw from 3rd to 1st, usually she was the only one. She is also a pitcher and does some spot work catching. She was coach’s kid, but you’d never know it by her work ethic on and off the field.
Always wanted to play SS but had some arm injuries and arm felt dead the longer I played. So enjoyed the hell out of playing 2B for years until I stopped playing. Kids should just have fun while playing and everything will sort itself out like it always does. My last year playing I had to play SS a few times and was dreading it knowing the throws they make. My arm was killing me after haha but still great times, nothing that high of level just having fun. My brother was better than me and pitched and played SS so he had the arm for sure. But I agree with video SS is no joke and you cant afford to not have your strongest arms and players there. Gets magnified like crazy the higher you go.
Grew up playing SS. At 14 was switched to 2B. At 16 was switched to OF. What this man is saying is the truth. The only thing that kept me moving up even though my position changed? Gotta rake, son.
Sometimes even at the college level or higher they can change where you play if the coaches see something. Years ago I coached youth baseball with Tom Brunansky who played with the World Champion Twins in the late 80's. He told me all through his youth and high school he played first base. In the minor leagues, already an adult, he was switched to the outfield. The rest is history.
My son is a slow runner😢, he’s good at catching and throwing… he’s recruited by a travel ball coach, we have all the good players who played several more seasons than him, but coach made him play SS. We have 6 coaches in the team and my husband is not a coach. I don’t know why coach picked him to be SS. He’s doing good job for now at SS. But he’s just not fast. So maybe as he gets older he won’t be able to play SS. I always thought he’s a good fit for 3rd base.
The core problem is there is a misnomer that if your kid plays short he will be better than the rest of players as far as development goes. This is simply not true though many uneducated dads/coaches fully believe it is.
i dont think that's true - i think that's your projection. shortstop is arguably the most important position, so coaches put their most capable players there where theyll get the most action. I dont think people think its about development - its about getting in the action.
This totally reminds me of the first all star team practice around middle school. The coach asked us what position we played, every kid on the all star team answered short stop. Some of us pitched too. The coach was delighted haha.
@@DanBlewett For sure, I didn't mean to come off like I was anything special. Just little league stuff, I never made a travel team, and that was my first all star game after a growth spurt haha!
@@nofurtherwest3474 That's a funny observation for sure! This is going back to the 80's, so I really can't remember. I had some experience at catcher, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, and center though. Just mainly played shortstop every year, and was the closer to keep our starters pitch count down. Maybe there was a kid who caught more than he let on? not sure!
Shortstop/ center field/ and catcher beyond athleticism it's about being a leader/ captain of the infield and outfield. I do think there are alot of guys that could play shortstop that they make 2nd baseman at the pro level.
I squandered my talent. I could have been Trea Turner of today but I chose the wrong crowd to hangout with and quit my sophomore year. From 5 years old to freshman year I made the all Stars ever year for my city, played SS & hit 1st or 4th. I'm sick over it everyday now that I've grown up and matured. Was the best player in my city every year and highly competitive and gave it all up to chase skateboarding...dumbass...also was a pitcher when I wasn't at short and started for the championship game and a bunch of a star games. Sucks.
If this is disappointing news for young folks out there, keep in mind, Mickey Mantle was a shortstop until he hit the bigs...there's no shame in not being the right fit for SS. Willie Randolph - who had an amazing career and had one of the best arms of any 2Bman I've ever seen - started off at the youth level as a SS, but he has told the story of how a scout early on pointed out his inadequate arm was going to eliminate him as a candidate for SS at the next level. Humbling, but this video does an excellent job explaining how you can make the best contribution once you're matched to the right position.
Wrong, actually a lefty can play any position, i should know im a lefty, have been playing the game since i was 5 and i can say with conviction a lefty can play any position EXCEPT 3rd and probably 2nd ( 3rd because of bunts, and second because its harder to turn a dp) dont let being left handed stop you from playing all the positions. I have a game where i played EVERY SINGLE position in the same game. And yes that includes catcher. Ps my name is Kyle using the GF youtube account because its linked to my phone
My JV coach forced me to be a shortstop when all I ever done was pitch, catch, and play a bit of 2nd. I SUUUUCCCCKKKEEDDD. But he insisted me to play there for whatever damn reason I hated it.
Yes my question would be what happens when at every practice the kid is by far beating out the others. Everything from timing the transfer to 1st, the balls caught, the range, the knowledge of the game and also the strongest arm. But come game time the kid with the weaker arm, the slower transfer and forgets bag coverage plays short and the stronger player goes to 2nd? How do you even handle that? Just keep quiet and watch as the spot earned is given to the weaker player?
If you’re an infielder, you should mode yourself to be a short stop. Not saying you will play at a SS but nearly every higher level tryout has players taking ground balls at the SS position because it is one of the tougher positions. My kid has primarily played 3b most of his baseball life but will take infield practice at short and plays SS on occasion.
I never realized what an honor it was to play at short when I was younger. I should have kept playing, but I'm only 5'6" so I never would have stayed at short. lol
Please don’t quit baseball because you can’t play short at your top level schools I did and joined the navy I loved the navy but high schoolers don’t let that 18 year old ego crush your dreams
If your little league team don't have a good shortstop, your team is going to suck. And the innings are going to last hella long. Combine that with a pitcher who can't throw strikes.
Playing SS is the equivalent of being a SG in basketball. At the top level most guys who were SG in high school and even recruited as such will move to PG...90% of the top ranked SS in high school end up being 2nd baseman or outfielders. BJ and Justin upton were the #1 SS in america in high school. I do think in baseball their are guys who play 2nd who could play SS at the MLB level. Example Willie Randolph was def good enough to be the yankees SS and was usually better than everyone who played SS and covered just as much range. Same with Pokee Reese.
I always played third or center had great speed for the outfield and a great arm but i never had that falshy side in the infielder I was a good third baseman and really good at pretty much anywhere from the outfield threw a few guys out backed up against the outfield wall straight to home so had a the arm my issue was being able to have the guts to lay myself out in front of some of the balls that's why I was okay with third it took less flash and just more reaction but really I was happy with any position had the most fun at third though
I’m not even a shortstop and I still found this video interesting
same
yea im an outfielder and it was very useful to use as a comparison against centerfield
Exactly
I don't even know what baseball is nor speak English and I still found this video interesting
Same
i realized i wasnt a high level SS after my junior year. Took the summer fall and winter to develop as a pitcher. Added 8 mph and got an offer to a good D2 school my senior year. Recognizing that SS wasn't for me was the best thing I ever did
thats great - smart move!
What is difference in the player type between SS and pitcher?
@@nofurtherwest3474 Dude probably had a cannon arm but not enough pop to move to 3rd or athletic enough to stay at short. So, man was smart and said, let me use my cannon and pitch.
@@wesleycurtis8446 thanks bro. so pitcher's don't have to be very athletic?
@nofurtherwest3474 No, they need to be an athlete, but it's a different skill set, a good arm and feel for pitches, locating pitches and a competitor.
It's better to be a good/great 2nd or 3rd baseman than a mediocre SS.
I’ve always never wanted to play shortstop, idk if that’s weird but I like to play everywhere except shortstop
Does your son have the same last name as the coach? Leadoff SS and starting pitcher
What if he i am leadoff ss and starting pitcher but my dad not the coach?
I did. But throughout my whole LL career I also was batting .600 with a nearly 1.000 on base percentage and was the fastest kid on the team. Coaches kids usually have WAAAAY more training that kids with parents who don’t coach.
@@kylechadick5341 and they get everything handed to them but go off
@@coleschiel9754 Then your mom is the coach
@@jaketalbot1863 last time I checked the other team pitches to the kids so how was my success or any other coaches kid that was actually good, handed to them? You must have played left bench
I answered no to all these questions. That’s why I’m coaching the team…lol
My youth career as a shortstop fit all of these characteristics, then I packed on the pounds and became a 6’4” offensive guard who played a little 3rd 😂
hey, we all change.
@@DanBlewett Football was always more my speed, I liked the violence and only now that my official playing time is over have I gotten back into baseball. Playing short was awesome, but by the time high school came around I and everyone else knew focusing on football was the way and short wasn’t where I’d slot on the baseball team if I’d continued
take the lessons learned from baseball and apply them wherever, glad it worked out for you.
Did you play basketball too?
POV: your a lefty and have these traits but your stuck in center field
Oof
All of the parents complaining about playing time answered "yes" to all of these
Nailed it 😂
I'm lucky to have the opposite problem. My kid has been pitching the most on the team, and then he goes to SS, then first. I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
Well said I hope my coach sees this video
I saw the title and I was like oh Damm
Good job on ripping the band aid off. I wish everyone could see this video.
“He’s a lefty”
Me but I’m too short for first base!!
All this great info goes out the window if you're coach's kid.
hurts the kid in the long run
Yep. I've seen it too often that part of the reason the kid's parent is coaching is so he/she can make sure their kid is playing shortstop, catcher, pitcher or whatever. Go to any LL game and you can just about bet the coach's kid is playing one of the key positions and higher up in the batting order.
I am the coaches kid and I have told my dad to take it harder on me than my teammates and I still pitch the most by far on my team not just because I am the coaches son
I put my kid at first and second!
True. We eventually left a 7U team because coach’s son played SS. I believe I’m fair and unbiased (based on my military values) but he was the slowest most un-athletic player on the team. I know, only 7 but my goodness.
I’m gonna restart playing baseball after not playing for 2-3 years soon and i don’t really care what position I play but ss 3rd or first is what I would like to play because what I played a couple of years ago
i am a shortstop...... (im actually a center and just a backup shortstop cus im the fastest on the team)
At a young age, I molded myself after Cal Ripken Jr.. I was always the best short stop on my teams and even I had to move to third. Baseball is hard.
Lmao that's why I'm an outfielder
You should really make a video about the importance of proper footwork. You could be a fast shortstop with a cannon, and if you have sloppy footwork, scouts won’t even bother. They are looking for players that they don’t have to develop, and already have the necessary skills hard-wired into their brain.
not really my expertise, good athletes figure out footwork on their own
Grew up playing center field/2ndd, wish I had an opportunity to play short.
Damn same I play left and second
As someone who played SS in high school, I definitely knew I wasn't good enough to play SS at a higher level. a) I was a bad hitter, and b) I definitely wasn't the best SS in my county. My high school wasn't exactly producing next level talent in baseball, or any sport for that matter. I was a small kid, and there were other SS's in our league that were over 6 feet with at least as much speed as I had.
Its ight i play ss and im just not it there im a great hitter im better at 1st and 3rd
What kind of attributes make a good first baseman?
I really liked this video even though I’m a first baseman
When your left handed and nothing matter 🤷♂️
Same lol
Just become a pitcher
All parents of youth baseball players should see this video. The same could be said of any position. Playing time is earned. What happened to making sure your name is in the lineup so you can help your team?
Good video. Unfortunatly it appears that alot of people are missing the point you are trying to make. I agree with the majority of what you are saying. Parents are often too blind to see or do not want to admit that their kid is not good enough. Or their kids just dont put in the work or they believe that since they paying hundreds upon thousands of dollars for lessons and select baseball, thier kid SHALL be granted any position he wants. While my child is not the best on his team he is a quality defender and plays 2B. I as a parent realize that given his genetics, he most likely will not be a SS due his parents being short shits. I coached his team and he was not good enough to play SS and he also batted 7th in the lineup becuase he is not a consistent hitter and cannot be dependable to hit lower in the lineup. Being blind to your kids actual talent only hurts them in the long run. I am not saying discourage you kid but find ways to be honest about their talent so they do not have a false sense of confidence, ability, and accomplishment. Be thier #1 fan, but also be thier #1 critic.
Yep. You definitely get it. At some point, they do need honesty - sports are a meritocracy, for the most part, at the higher levels.
I’m happy I chose corner outfield and second base or wherever I was needed
You’re absolutely dead right coach. When I played little league back in the early 80’s the best kid in the league by far was a shortstop and I played shortstop as well. He went on to play at Mississippi State and start at shortstop as a freshman alongside Will Clark and Raphael Palmiero… he was drafted by the Orioles and if I remember correctly never made it out of AA. Most parents are clueless
Yea I quit baseball because there was too much daddy baseball. Wish there wasn’t a such thing
Great video, good message that needs to be heard
Played SS and pitcher when i was younger. Stopped to play football instead because i was so much bigger than every other kid until about 10th grade came around and i stopped growing and everyone else started growing. And now i regret more than anything in my life that i quit playing baseball. I know i could have gone somewhere as I've always been the best player on any sports team ive been on. I know that sounds conceited, but it was true and upsets me from time to time. My parents are both tall. My dad being 6'4 idk why I stopped growing at 5'9 but it is what it is. Maybe my son will be tall lol
Hey, good video! I was wondering if you could talk about the "intangibles" when it comes to playing baseball. Thanks!
Yes I can
@@DanBlewett If your 16 and you want to pitch should your coach purposely not allow you do practice bullpens when you want to be a pitcher.
Great video! We had to quit travel ball because the coaches son was at short. Not saying my kid should have been there but his definitely shouldn’t have been. Got tired of losing.
I played SS for 8 straight years all the way up to 18 years old….it was very tough to find another SS on days I pitched so they sometimes would use me as the closer instead of starting pitcher….but above the high school level it gets real competitive after high school at SS.
100%
Well said, Dan. Good information as usual.
The sad thing is that I’m the best shortstop on my team and I’m left handed
We are almost the same person.... they didn’t want a lefty catcher :D
Everything this guy said is true!!!… I coach little league and I’m hard on my boys. Half of the parents hate me because I only put my best 4 players at SS,CF,3rd and 2nd and when I have to put other kids at those positions due to one of those other kids pitching… it’s error city!
Its LL you shouldn't be too hard on them. It should be fun still.
Tbh I never understood the obsession with SS, Catcher and Pitcher to me are the more significant and cooler positions.
That's why I'm the coach.
Just kidding
Strongly disagree with the “If not now?” portion of this video. As a college baseball player myself, I can promise any parents out there that your sons 12u or 14u travel season and ability level do not mean anything when it comes to the future of their playing career. When I was 12, everyone thought I would be a pitcher, I am not. As a freshman in high school I was told I would never play D1 baseball, I did. Point is that it is silly to project young kids into the future and does not benefit the player. Best advice I can give to parents of young players or young players themselves is to embrace your individual journey and enjoy the time you get together because it will be over before you know it. I don’t remember any scores or games I played when I was that age but I do remember traveling with my dad and having a good time with my friends.
you missed the point. obviously kids can improve. but today, if you lack those skills, don't expect to be playing the top infield spot. And the majority of kids who can't start at 12U wont be able to at 14U, etc. etc. that's the reality for most, but most dont want to face it. Maybe you made big turnarounds, but thats not the norm and too many people have delusions instead of realistic expectations. When parents think their kid will go D1 but he's a 4th outfielder in 14U...they're dreaming the wrong dream.
@@DanBlewett I hear you man. It’s just tough with kids that age because it’s a weird time where some kids are more developed physically than others. There is plenty of guys who are 14u all stars because they hit puberty earlier than others. But I hear you, too many people want to be a D1 caliber guy without putting in the work or understanding that that level is not for everyone. I appreciate the response to clarify what you meant
Many natural shortstops don't get the opportunities to show what they can do. A lot of poor youth coaching going on and it's getting worse.. It's a shame really.
could u discuss pitchers and centerfielder too?
I was a shortstop growing up then moved to center field at 13 when the other team actually started hitting them out there .. your video is accurate information!
Same. Now i love playing outfield but i still like playing the infield just not as much as center.
@@general_jacob3227 same here bro .. I’ve retired from the outfield these days after two back surgeries and two acl surgeries from snowboarding.. I pitched in up through college but I’m at SS or 3rd now ..no more baseball ..just some high level softball leagues and tourneys ..it’s my sons time coming soon! He’s 3 and has an absolute cannon already just like dad did! I can’t wait to see him kill it
Growing up is realizing 2nd base is just as fun as short.
eh
My younger son plays catcher, third, second and occasionally first. For first second and third he finished the last _season_ with 2 errors total for all three positions and the second highest batting average. He's shorter and quick footed, amazing reflexes, muscles have muscles for a youth player and has a cannon for an arm with great accuracy.
I have no idea if he'd be good on short because he's never played it, the coach has two kids in the team. Our shortstops, have a lot of errors.. This coaches kid business really needs to stop being a thing, when I first got into baseball I thought it was just a joke.. 😑
Just practice with him 1 on 1 will get him so much more than any practice with a full team. Yeah I had the same problem with coaches kids and baseball politics I was batting .450 and had a 1 ERA don’t think I’m the next shohei it was bad comp but I ended up not making all stars nor did the 2nd best player because of “the selection process”, even high school has politics try to get him into a winning program he sounds like a great player and I hope you find a good place for him 😊
I thought anyone who ever watched or played baseball would know this. I guess parents are delusional. As you can see I’m not a parent yet.
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I am a consistent player and I play up to these standards and start at 2nd or 3rd base but on my team there are people who are really good and athletic and they are the ones playing SS and CF like you mentioned.
Keep working hard
I love it when coaches say the cold truth. Awesome video, good information, and nailed to the point🎯
Glad you liked it! Truth sets you free.
@@DanBlewett hell yeah! I actually loved it, I don't think there is much of this straight up info out there. Your video should go viral.
Same is with your entire channel
Quick question. If you are left handed can you play shortstop someone told me you cant
U can't play short if you're a lefty u have to play first if u wanna stick in the infield
I'm a lefty too lol
Fernando Tatis should be watching this he should be a second baseman
No he shouldnt you seen the double jump play he fine a SS
@@markelscott100 Yeah but .. too many errors.. there's much better SS.
@@markelscott100 I don’t really watch him I watch his highlights and errors
@@maxwellsdanielson dont do that highlights dont tell the full story
I was SS when i started to play, a great ss, but when i grew up my arm wasn't strong enough, a lot of great plays but the runner was safe... So i changed to 2B my last years and i was almost perfect there
Sounds like you found a great fit for your skillset. Good job.
I did the same exact thing except I started second base this year.
the only reason this is a problem is because the coaches son is generally the SS .. doesnt mean that they dont deserve it .... but ive never seen a coaches son playing 2B
A funny thing about short is that everyone wants to play it. A story I heard once is when Zach Grienke got called up to the Royals he asked if it was ok if he just stayed in the minors and be moved to SS. I think he could have probably pulled it off.
If you’re not Dominican find another position 😂
I’m in luck ig but I play cf💀
I was primarily a pitcher who played shortstop because I was "the best fielder" on my team up until JV. I had a very good glove, a great arm, and very bad foot speed. My hand-eye coordination was also very good, and once I got to a level with better athletes I moved to 3B on days I wasn't pitching. I also was not much of a hitter, so it was really just a stop gap to the higher level, because my pitching was top tier for the level at that time. I could have worked my ass off to try and be a pro pitcher, but I ended up ending my baseball aspirations to focus on my studies, and I think this is an incredibly useful insight to understand how to transition from being the best player on your team to understanding how to hone your talents to continue to mature as a baseball player. The MLB is full of little league shortstops, but the sooner you learn another position, the more ahead of A+, A, AA, etc ball you get if you want to try to be a professional. This is the video you won't find anywhere else, but absolutely need to see if you want to consider making a career out of baseball.
And this is why we stress to the kids, and parents, that at the youngest levels they need to learn some about every position. You never know what puberty brings.
My son isn't a good runner, his reaction times aren't great, and he can't throw a ball that fast or far, but he's more than good enough to play shortstop because I own the county's biggest car dealership
My son is 12 has played baseball for 13 months. Plays 13u is already starting at shortstop unbelievable athlete. Oh he was born in Venezuela 😂 so it's got to be in his DNA 😂
After carefully watching this and objectively evaluating my son's rec league participation, he is the best at everything. 😉
All my answers were yes. But wanted to play varsity as a freshman and only spot open was CF. Ended up working out and played RF in college. Just how you said everyone looks at SS, the same is for CF. All my collegiate OF teammates were CF in HS.
by no means am i watching this vid for myself i’m a third basemen but i’m watching this for my buddy to the left of me
Ok daddy ball coaches make sure you watch this video before you put your kid playing SS and have him batting in the 1 hole !! Thanks for this video !!
"The best players are the ones that practice the most." 👈
My daughter plays 3rd, she is athletic but has a cannon, always has. In rec ball growing up, I needed someone that could throw from 3rd to 1st, usually she was the only one. She is also a pitcher and does some spot work catching. She was coach’s kid, but you’d never know it by her work ethic on and off the field.
I made this same video in a softball version releasing soon @ my snap softball channel haha so stay tuned
Damn good break down Coach! This is exactly the cold hard truth!
Thank you for the point blank reality check and for preempting a potential trip into lala land.
I checked off all of those questions and I’m a CF
Always wanted to play SS but had some arm injuries and arm felt dead the longer I played. So enjoyed the hell out of playing 2B for years until I stopped playing. Kids should just have fun while playing and everything will sort itself out like it always does. My last year playing I had to play SS a few times and was dreading it knowing the throws they make. My arm was killing me after haha but still great times, nothing that high of level just having fun. My brother was better than me and pitched and played SS so he had the arm for sure.
But I agree with video SS is no joke and you cant afford to not have your strongest arms and players there. Gets magnified like crazy the higher you go.
Does SS make harder throws than 3rd baseman?
Grew up playing SS. At 14 was switched to 2B. At 16 was switched to OF. What this man is saying is the truth. The only thing that kept me moving up even though my position changed? Gotta rake, son.
Sometimes even at the college level or higher they can change where you play if the coaches see something. Years ago I coached youth baseball with Tom Brunansky who played with the World Champion Twins in the late 80's. He told me all through his youth and high school he played first base. In the minor leagues, already an adult, he was switched to the outfield. The rest is history.
I came here for TF2 shortstop shove😭😭💀
Kinda figured i wasnt when i was 12 😂😂
My son is a slow runner😢, he’s good at catching and throwing… he’s recruited by a travel ball coach, we have all the good players who played several more seasons than him, but coach made him play SS. We have 6 coaches in the team and my husband is not a coach. I don’t know why coach picked him to be SS. He’s doing good job for now at SS. But he’s just not fast. So maybe as he gets older he won’t be able to play SS. I always thought he’s a good fit for 3rd base.
if he's there now and enjoying it, great! he'll learn new skills and it will only be a positive later on.
a lot of Parents or kids are going to be in denial after watching this
Maybe you’re a Pablo Sandoval and that’s ok
Best defensive player on the field gets short.
When the coach's kid is actually good at ss
The core problem is there is a misnomer that if your kid plays short he will be better than the rest of players as far as development goes. This is simply not true though many uneducated dads/coaches fully believe it is.
i dont think that's true - i think that's your projection. shortstop is arguably the most important position, so coaches put their most capable players there where theyll get the most action. I dont think people think its about development - its about getting in the action.
This totally reminds me of the first all star team practice around middle school. The coach asked us what position we played, every kid on the all star team answered short stop. Some of us pitched too. The coach was delighted haha.
100% of people believe they are above average
@@DanBlewett For sure, I didn't mean to come off like I was anything special. Just little league stuff, I never made a travel team, and that was my first all star game after a growth spurt haha!
Then who plays catcher? They just put one of those allstars in catcher even though he's never caught?
@@nofurtherwest3474 That's a funny observation for sure! This is going back to the 80's, so I really can't remember. I had some experience at catcher, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, and center though. Just mainly played shortstop every year, and was the closer to keep our starters pitch count down. Maybe there was a kid who caught more than he let on? not sure!
Catchers are born not developed like middle infielders. @@nofurtherwest3474
Im a third baseman and I watched for sh*ts and giggles and enjoyed this vid
but did you subscribe?
me, a lefty 👁👄👁
I’m a good shortstop 😢
Shortstop/ center field/ and catcher beyond athleticism it's about being a leader/ captain of the infield and outfield. I do think there are alot of guys that could play shortstop that they make 2nd baseman at the pro level.
Those reasons are why I ended up at Catcher. I could beam it but I was too slow. Still am!
I play football 😀
I squandered my talent. I could have been Trea Turner of today but I chose the wrong crowd to hangout with and quit my sophomore year. From 5 years old to freshman year I made the all Stars ever year for my city, played SS & hit 1st or 4th. I'm sick over it everyday now that I've grown up and matured. Was the best player in my city every year and highly competitive and gave it all up to chase skateboarding...dumbass...also was a pitcher when I wasn't at short and started for the championship game and a bunch of a star games. Sucks.
If this is disappointing news for young folks out there, keep in mind, Mickey Mantle was a shortstop until he hit the bigs...there's no shame in not being the right fit for SS. Willie Randolph - who had an amazing career and had one of the best arms of any 2Bman I've ever seen - started off at the youth level as a SS, but he has told the story of how a scout early on pointed out his inadequate arm was going to eliminate him as a candidate for SS at the next level. Humbling, but this video does an excellent job explaining how you can make the best contribution once you're matched to the right position.
This is all useless to me because it’s obvious I can’t play SS cause I’m a lefty
Wrong, actually a lefty can play any position, i should know im a lefty, have been playing the game since i was 5 and i can say with conviction a lefty can play any position EXCEPT 3rd and probably 2nd ( 3rd because of bunts, and second because its harder to turn a dp) dont let being left handed stop you from playing all the positions. I have a game where i played EVERY SINGLE position in the same game. And yes that includes catcher.
Ps my name is Kyle using the GF youtube account because its linked to my phone
Just become a PO
@@mandymclagan2784 thanks bro
My JV coach forced me to be a shortstop when all I ever done was pitch, catch, and play a bit of 2nd. I SUUUUCCCCKKKEEDDD. But he insisted me to play there for whatever damn reason I hated it.
Yes my question would be what happens when at every practice the kid is by far beating out the others. Everything from timing the transfer to 1st, the balls caught, the range, the knowledge of the game and also the strongest arm. But come game time the kid with the weaker arm, the slower transfer and forgets bag coverage plays short and the stronger player goes to 2nd? How do you even handle that? Just keep quiet and watch as the spot earned is given to the weaker player?
If you’re an infielder, you should mode yourself to be a short stop. Not saying you will play at a SS but nearly every higher level tryout has players taking ground balls at the SS position because it is one of the tougher positions. My kid has primarily played 3b most of his baseball life but will take infield practice at short and plays SS on occasion.
The SS on our 13U travel team made 4 errors one inning on routine plays. Ya, we aren't winning much.
I never realized what an honor it was to play at short when I was younger. I should have kept playing, but I'm only 5'6" so I never would have stayed at short. lol
Please don’t quit baseball because you can’t play short at your top level schools I did and joined the navy I loved the navy but high schoolers don’t let that 18 year old ego crush your dreams
If your little league team don't have a good shortstop, your team is going to suck. And the innings are going to last hella long. Combine that with a pitcher who can't throw strikes.
If you are a good SS and you hit 0.200, you’re in trouble. Usually the best athletes are also the best hitters. Most shortstops I know also rake.
I'm almost sixty, kinda fat, not particularly coordinated, but I think I still have a shot at the bigs.
Well said coach!
I was a great short stop then I fractured my ankle carrer over back in 2003. Wish I was growing up now days
"can't throw a runner out from the hole"
what is The Hole?
area closest to the outfield grass between third baseman and shortstop
Playing SS is the equivalent of being a SG in basketball. At the top level most guys who were SG in high school and even recruited as such will move to PG...90% of the top ranked SS in high school end up being 2nd baseman or outfielders. BJ and Justin upton were the #1 SS in america in high school. I do think in baseball their are guys who play 2nd who could play SS at the MLB level. Example Willie Randolph was def good enough to be the yankees SS and was usually better than everyone who played SS and covered just as much range. Same with Pokee Reese.
All good points. you get it. The funnel narrows.
I always played third or center had great speed for the outfield and a great arm but i never had that falshy side in the infielder I was a good third baseman and really good at pretty much anywhere from the outfield threw a few guys out backed up against the outfield wall straight to home so had a the arm my issue was being able to have the guts to lay myself out in front of some of the balls that's why I was okay with third it took less flash and just more reaction but really I was happy with any position had the most fun at third though
Just watch 2x champ and Bay Area native Brandon Crawford…that’s how it’s done