Why Isn't Your Son Good Enough to Play Short?

A lot of parents (and players) think they should be starting at shortstop over their teammates, and baseball positions can be hotly contested. What does it take to play shortstop at a high level in baseball? 🚨 Order a Copy of my pitching book 👉 amzn.to/3EzMHBo
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Did this shortstop take too long to make the throw? 🎥 • Infielder Takes Too Long
Timestamps
0:00 Why your son isn't a shortstop
0:48 Five questions about a shortstop's skills
4:22 What if he lacks some of the skills?
5:12 Why it's so rare to be a true shortstop
7:18 How good do you have to be to play in college?
10:50 What to do about it
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[@nj-1008]

Sometimes a kid doesn't play short because the coach's kid is there.

[@Danny-jf4mh]

Exactly

[@kylechadick5341]

Also probably has double the time training compared the other kids.

[@kaiwisharp8588]

True LOL

[@haydenkohn9253]

Yes

[@chrstian3893]

@@kylechadick5341 dont matter if they trash but its ok if they goated at ss

[@phazerx4525]

I’m not even a shortstop and I still found this video interesting

[@micahfleischman9697]

same

[@ohkmilk7557]

yea im an outfielder and it was very useful to use as a comparison against centerfield

[@rodneylyons2915]

Exactly

[@iBringTheRain24]

I don't even know what baseball is nor speak English and I still found this video interesting

[@colinpaige3769]

Same

[@InDepthBaseballYT]

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

[@DanBlewett]

thats great - smart move!

[@nofurtherwest3474]

What is difference in the player type between SS and pitcher?

[@wesleycurtis8446]

@@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.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@wesleycurtis8446 thanks bro. so pitcher's don't have to be very athletic?

[@sierrabrew7759]

@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.

[@edwinserrano1070]

It's better to be a good/great 2nd or 3rd baseman than a mediocre SS.

[@aaronvincent9602]

I’ve always never wanted to play shortstop, idk if that’s weird but I like to play everywhere except shortstop

[@riseabovethesheep9232]

I answered no to all these questions. That’s why I’m coaching the team…lol

[@masonfarley9102]

I saw the title and I was like oh Damm

[@ryangrohe4626]

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]

hey, we all change.

[@ryangrohe4626]

@@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

[@DanBlewett]

take the lessons learned from baseball and apply them wherever, glad it worked out for you.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Did you play basketball too?

[@onehandclapping3094]

Does your son have the same last name as the coach? Leadoff SS and starting pitcher

[@coleschiel9754]

What if he i am leadoff ss and starting pitcher but my dad not the coach?

[@kylechadick5341]

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]

@@kylechadick5341 and they get everything handed to them but go off

[@gameislife3081]

@@coleschiel9754 Then your mom is the coach

[@kylechadick5341]

@@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

[@ThePdog3k]

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.

[@M1nistersBlackVeil]

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

[@cwj9202]

Well said, Dan. Good information as usual.

[@ballgloveking]

Great video, good message that needs to be heard

[@bmoreakaAB]

All of the parents complaining about playing time answered "yes" to all of these

[@jaketalbot1863]

Nailed it 😂

[@nofurtherwest3474]

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.

[@pm.meowth4850]

“He’s a lefty” Me but I’m too short for first base!!

[@i_throw_ched289]

POV: your a lefty and have these traits but your stuck in center field

[@masterchiefwho1959]

Oof

[@7P9G]

always love ur videos

[@DanBlewett]

Glad you like them!

[@braviafeed]

Damn good break down Coach! This is exactly the cold hard truth!

[@fso_argy]

Grew up playing center field/2ndd, wish I had an opportunity to play short.

[@sinewavs1995]

Damn same I play left and second

[@jackcerven2415]

Well said I hope my coach sees this video

[@bohana8082]

Good point 👍 Hopefully the Parents understand now!

[@thatboydre8649]

I really liked this video even though I’m a first baseman

[@elishasaal1382]

I love it when coaches say the cold truth. Awesome video, good information, and nailed to the point🎯

[@DanBlewett]

Glad you liked it! Truth sets you free.

[@elishasaal1382]

@@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

[@justincowans2677]

Well said coach!

[@nxouu5745]

This is definitly valid info, ill take it into consideration as i want to play baseball for a college in the united states. Thanm you, the video was great

[@slundgr]

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?

[@ryanashby2459]

All this great info goes out the window if you're coach's kid.

[@DanBlewett]

hurts the kid in the long run

[@slundgr]

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.

[@michaelstrong3118]

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

[@4rdF1Hunny]

I put my kid at first and second!

[@huertassportsadventures5138]

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.

[@marlonbrando33]

Watching this video because I want to learn about baseball, very informative

[@jongordon5048]

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.

[@DanBlewett]

not really my expertise, good athletes figure out footwork on their own

[@kiplane5229]

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. Now i love playing outfield but i still like playing the infield just not as much as center.

[@kiplane5229]

@@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

[@DamnnYouScubaSteve]

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.

[@vektacular]

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.

[@DanBlewett]

100%

[@jp1806]

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.

[@7P9G]

could u discuss pitchers and centerfielder too?

[@TylenxI]

Im a pitcher and i still loved this

[@benmendez5023]

Hey, good video! I was wondering if you could talk about the "intangibles" when it comes to playing baseball. Thanks!

[@DanBlewett]

Yes I can

[@bloopandablast9257]

@@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.

[@todddavis6687]

Great information. Give them truth and let them respond.

[@donnadie5882]

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

[@DanBlewett]

Sounds like you found a great fit for your skillset. Good job.

[@501stCloneStudios]

I did the same exact thing except I started second base this year.

[@kaon1755]

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]

Keep working hard

[@billkarim9715]

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.

[@godsquad4984]

Its ight i play ss and im just not it there im a great hitter im better at 1st and 3rd

[@nofurtherwest3474]

What kind of attributes make a good first baseman?

[@gotch7126]

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!

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Its LL you shouldn't be too hard on them. It should be fun still.

[@steveg1045]

I was a great short stop then I fractured my ankle carrer over back in 2003. Wish I was growing up now days

[@jonny-dp2qr]

Most teams I was on stuck me at SS but I always thought of myself as an average fielder. If the ball was hit hard I wasn’t getting in front of it I’d try to Olay it every time. Always wished I was a CF

[@bochafish]

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]

100% of people believe they are above average

[@bochafish]

@@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]

Then who plays catcher? They just put one of those allstars in catcher even though he's never caught?

[@bochafish]

@@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!

[@Sentinel_eye]

Catchers are born not developed like middle infielders. @@nofurtherwest3474

[@nicholasmcdaniel2912]

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

[@yarchism]

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.

[@dustinlamb7941]

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.

[@DanBlewett]

I made this same video in a softball version releasing soon @ my snap softball channel haha so stay tuned

[@dirtyschoolclothes7260]

That throw in the 5.5 hole will let you know if you're a SS or 2B , yea they have the radar on you at showcases but they wanna see if that throw has true carry or if it's sinking and dying.

[@DanBlewett]

yep. that separates people.

[@jimmyjoe6721]

I said yes to all of these questions as a shortstop myself so this video is legit

[@DanBlewett]

go team

[@coachtodd1373]

Good job on ripping the band aid off. I wish everyone could see this video.

[@worldtree2027]

Tbh I never understood the obsession with SS, Catcher and Pitcher to me are the more significant and cooler positions.

[@garrettspivey]

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

[@puniboxedulol2902]

I checked off all of those questions and I’m a CF

[@jeffreysmith5175]

This is very true. You can see when someone has potentials. It's sticks out like a sore thumb. It's starts back in little leagues.

[@nappygilmore9273]

Good point about true shortstops being rare. By the time an SS is at the MLB level they’re almost a super player in the field with unreal fielding/throwing ability

[@DanBlewett]

100%. They really can do it all.

[@scottl1363]

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.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Does SS make harder throws than 3rd baseman?

[@sweetypoo2164]

Can you discuss what it takes to play catcher at a higher level

[@DanBlewett]

Sure thing. Will take some time, be sure to subscribe so you're notified.

[@Breyden1]

I played with a ss 6”3 305 I never understood how he could move the way he did

[@sgt.weed1573]

I'm a Lefty(RF).. but I switched to my right hand for 2B. SS was not even an option.

[@nickjayner3702]

Could you do this for a catcher if you haven’t already?

[@DanBlewett]

eventually yes. I have a video on pop times coming soon

[@brownstarmagic2162]

Can u make this for center field please

[@DanBlewett]

yessir

[@beanz0248]

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.

[@DanBlewett]

Yep. You definitely get it. At some point, they do need honesty - sports are a meritocracy, for the most part, at the higher levels.

[@tierseason]

I have all the traits except number 1 must be the most athletic. Also I am not too fast(sprint times) but I have some of the best range on my team. So as a result in my 14u team I am 2b/CP/backup catcher.

[@DanBlewett]

nice, keep working hard!

[@josephmannix5120]

3rd base here I come lol I have a rocket of an arm because I pitch and can feild very well but I'm kinda lanky with big feet so I have to work on my foot work because they get in my way

[@DanBlewett]

sounds like you fit the 3B mold well then, and there's no shame in being a third baseman. Its about finding your best fit, but of course working on improving footwork will only make you better

[@josephmannix5120]

@@DanBlewett ya that's true

[@slundgr]

@@DanBlewett Very true. I tell kids I've coached that it all starts at the feet. Defense is played with the feet first. Brad Lidge spoke to my son's HS team when he was with the Astros and said many of them carried jump ropes to use for footwork, cardio and other benefits.

[@ltccherno2536]

Those reasons are why I ended up at Catcher. I could beam it but I was too slow. Still am!

[@amirsaid543]

I play 3rd but this video is cool

[@johnpilcherfishing5156]

Do they recommend that shortstops bat left handed at the elite level of showcase to college.

[@DanBlewett]

no

[@tucangri83]

My son is his 13u's ss. I'd say our catcher is physically stronger and a bit faster when it comes to base running but I checked off every other box. He is also lead off as he has great discipline on the plate and a great stick to compliment it. No I'm not the coach but I did coach in the past and we put in the work to keep him mentally and physically prepared. I really enjoyed the video and all the info. I'm actually going to show him this video just to keep him on his toes and working extra hard if he wants to continue in this position. Thanks again for the info

[@godsquad4984]

Id say if he has just a bit of above average reactions or very good ones that makes up for the speed at ss so no need to worry there

[@wobblykiks335]

I was always told that 2nd baseman were shortstop without the arm

[@DanBlewett]

yeah thats mostly true - many players who were drafted or recruited to college as shortstops move to 2nd if they dont have enough arm strength at the new higher level

[@williamherbert7938]

"The best players are the ones that practice the most." 👈

[@antoniorenteria6799]

We had rangy shortstops that could get to every ball, but the strongest arms on our team were our center fielder and first baseman when they weren’t pitching.

[@stump1897]

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.

[@norulesandnoorders]

This weekend my kid was called true shortstop by the opposing team in an out of town tourney. Prompt me to do a search on what it meant and led me to this video. Thank you for the information. Tells me we are doing a good job with the kid up to now.

[@frankiebiase6632]

Grew up a second baseman and now I’m playing short in an adult baseball league and I remember why I played second

[@Alexskateboards10]

Great vid. Baseball was my whole life; I got called up to varsity to be the starting shortstop my sophomore year. I was doing well at showcases in the meantime, starting to hit home runs from both the left and right hand side of the plate on the big field and I was in great shape. My arm strength continued to increase and at 16 I was able to hit 89 mph across the diamond. Things were looking up. My high school coach was big on CrossFit, and we never took ground balls at practice or had any hitting practice aside from side toss with smoosh balls. I began to argue with him a bit over this, and by the same time the following year I found myself at third base. In the summer I was a leader on my teams and played very well with and against people I watched on tv in this most recent a college World Series. It was impossibly frustrating to be keeping up as a starting shortstop with a team full of d1 commits in the summer, and not even be earning the starting role on my high school club. After this I became lazy, a lot of my muscle turned to fat and by the end of my junior year I was lucky to see an inning per series at shortstop. As we missed the playoffs for the 15th year in a row (as our jv team had won their 4th consecutive playoff series’), I cursed out my coach and quit. It always pains me to see these videos and think of what could have been. Players I’ve played with at a high level are being drafted and making their major league debuts (Nolan Gorman), and now I’m an overweight 22 year old who hasn’t stepped on a diamond in almost 5 years. Life is crazy. If you have a talent, don’t let anything stop you from pushing yourself to be the best you can

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.. 😑

[@kevc130]

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 😊

[@davruck1]

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.

[@Trey_03]

Can you do one on third basemen or catcher

[@DanBlewett]

yessir. in the works. be sure to subscribe so you see it when it drops

[@Trey_03]

@@DanBlewett I play both but mainly catcher so I wanted to see if I fit the position

[@Jimmytheexplorer]

Lmao that's why I'm an outfielder

[@Jarbeefus69]

Yea I quit baseball because there was too much daddy baseball. Wish there wasn’t a such thing

[@luke121396]

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.

[@m.j.a7704]

Coach blewett, I have a dream of making my son a major leaguer. What do you think it is the one most important thing as a parent to help him achieve that level?

[@DanBlewett]

Helping him build his own love for the game and work ethic. You can't "make" him, only he can make himself.

[@angelcr-z3328]

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.

[@eightinches3671]

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.

[@jasonwilliams4159]

Agree. Go to any mlb draft. There’s a bunch is SS drafted. Buster Posey was a SS

[@davruck1]

Throughout the majority of baseball history SS was a defense 1st position like catcher. Any offense was a bonus. Now it’s the sexiest position, but defensive ability is still what’s most important. Nobody cares if you can rake when you’re giving up extra outs every inning, even if it’s not an error.

[@dirtyschoolclothes7260]

Especially in the playoffs, to prime of a position on defense to be giving the opposing team extra outs, doesn't show up much in regular season if your SS can mash and iffy on defense but in the playoffs when you're playing against a good team every single game your SS has to be able to catch/throw .

[@TheSaltBoiCometh]

I’m showing this video to every coach ever

[@anonymoustoo4945]

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

[@user-wt8im2ro1p]

Quick question. If you are left handed can you play shortstop someone told me you cant

[@brennanjohnson5908]

U can't play short if you're a lefty u have to play first if u wanna stick in the infield

[@brennanjohnson5908]

I'm a lefty too lol

[@josephpretorius8607]

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.

[@jackcerven2415]

I suck at SS and I'm comfortable with that. I'm one of the better pitchers in my league and play a little first and 2nd base.

[@DanBlewett]

I sucked at the infield in general. find your fit.

[@ClementeGalloJr]

The sound you just heard is the hearts of a bunch of youth coaches breaking. 💔💔💔

[@user-od4tg8lf3t]

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?

[@alexarmstrong578]

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

[@jaden7826]

This is why I play third. I’m slow with a good stem and glove.

[@jaketalbot1863]

You never know tho if im the best infielder on my 14u team and I don’t work hard enough the third best infielder could be better come time

[@DanBlewett]

I didnt say you couldn't improve over time. I was talking about getting playing time on your team today.

[@prpapas]

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.

[@michaelbalasis7308]

Is this different for other positions? Also how much harsher would this video be if you were referring to being drafted to mlb instead of college? Also you said colleges mainly pick SS's what would the order be like SS, 3b, Cf maybe catcher and pitcher earlier depending on a teams needs?

[@DanBlewett]

It's not really harsher, the standard is the same for being a starting shortstop at any level - if you're asking those 5 questions at 14U, ask them at 16U, ask them at D1, ask them in Single-A, they still apply. They're going to take the best overall infielder and stick him at short. When I said they mainly draft SS, that really only meant when they're looking for middle infielders or third baseman - vast majority of best available amateur infielders play short, and then they'll be converted to 3B or 2B if they aren't quite good enough in pro ball. Does that make sense?

[@DanBlewett]

But you could say that pro teams will draft the most Shortstops and Centerfielders because they'll be able to convert to other positions, but that's a little less true of outfielders because guys with big power in college wont be fast enough to play center, but generalizing, SS, CF, C, 1B and P are the most draftable positions because they're the hardest to fit those molds for a pro player.

[@michaelbalasis7308]

@@DanBlewett thanks for clearing that up, I have an unrelated question, I'm 15 and plan on trying out for my sophomore team this upcoming school year (depending on the tryout date I may be 16 by then ) I haven't played on an actual team in a few years and I played rec league then, but for the past year or two I've been practicing on my own time fairly regularly (exercise, long toss, BP, batting cage, hitting from a tee fielding grounders and popups that are thrown to me) I'm a shorter player (5'6 or so) and heavier (but have been losing weight via exercise and putting on muscle) I'm a pretty solid hitter and have been working on fielding, and tbh my footwork is nothing special, but id say I have a strong arm and am decent at fielding most balls hit to me, I have experience in OF but feel I lack the speed, and I'm not big enough for first rn, is it a long shot that I make the team ( including lower levels jv, or sophomore b team) I'm not sure what position would be a good fit for me, maybe 3rd if i sharpen up my fielding? Or 2nd if I cut weight? Or outfield where I have experience (maybe rightfield.) Are you familiar with the difficulty of sophomore tryouts? Is my lack of team practice and lack of good genetics the nail in the coffin or do I have a shot? I know there is no easy position and I wont make it if Im not good wherever I'm placed, but I feel I have the mentality and drive to really get good if I can make the team, I'm just unsure about my position and have to practice more which is hard by myself

[@michaelbalasis7308]

Issue is usually, when a player is shorter they make up for it by being quick and light on there feet, as a shorter heavier player, I need either a growth spurt or to get in shape

[@petem2700]

@@michaelbalasis7308 offence is king. If you can hit, they will find a position for you. Could be DH, or even situational pinch hitting. But if you can hit.......

[@maxfarrell7237]

The sad thing is that I’m the best shortstop on my team and I’m left handed

[@alexabell5004]

We are almost the same person.... they didn’t want a lefty catcher :D

[@drbriee1531]

Andrelton Simmons runs a 7.2

[@DanBlewett]

I didnt say absolute speed was important.

[@GrahamSlam]

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

[@turnthree5617]

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.

[@jky3678]

100% on point. i've been a great outfielder and was asked to play short on a co-ed adult team. While I may have been the best SS for that team, I was not what the team needed at short.