OT-Question for Zap or other baseball guys

[RU5781]

My son just turned 5 at the end of Sept.
I signed him up for baseball this spring.
He is ambidextrous. He writes lefty, but can use both hands.
As far as sports, he will use both, but he seems to do better righty (more power throwing).
My question is...because he can do stuff using both hands, will they push him to be a lefty? He wants to do it, but right now he is stronger on the right side.

 

[ruready4somefootball]

As far as baseball is concerned,being right handed allows you to play any position in the field. Being left handed, eliminates 3B,SS,2B and C. If he already throws harder right handed, that would be what I'd steer him towards. On a side note, MLB relief pitcher Billy Wagner as a kid was also able to throw with both arms and broke his right arm so severely as a youngster that he started throwing exclusively left handed and became a dominate closer for many years.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

My son just turned 5 at the end of Sept.
I signed him up for baseball this spring.
He is ambidextrous. He writes lefty, but can use both hands.
As far as sports, he will use both, but he seems to do better righty (more power throwing).
My question is...because he can do stuff using both hands, will they push him to be a lefty? He wants to do it, but right now he is stronger on the right side.

He is 5. No one should be pushing him, to do anything on the baseball field. Let him learn to enjoy the game first. Then, that same game will dictate his road. A left handed power hitter, is always a draw, and financial security. But, a switch hitter(think M.Mantle) with power from each side, is a franchise maker. At 5 I doubt you know which will be his strength, it will be obvious. So, sit back and enjoy the ride. And, don't let anyone push your son one way or the other, if he develops love for the game, he will know. Then he will tell you, just be prepared to listen to him.

 

[RickB113]

Left handed pitching is the hardest thing to find in the sport. If it is close I would throw lefty. If not then keep him right handed only. I would have him switch hit though.

 

[Beancounter88]

In a lot of sports (not just baseball), being a true lefty has advantages even in youth sports. A lefty in soccer or hockey has a big advantage playing on the left side.

 

[rubaseball78]

I'm with above with seeing what develops naturally since he is only 5. However, if he has very good speed, do consider the left side of the plate. Although a different sport, we learned this lesson with my daughters. Both are very fast. Older one was a natural left handed hitter. When younger one came along as a natural right handed hitter, we left her that way. Freshman year in high school we taught her how to hit left handed as she has been timed home to first in 2.6 seconds from the left side. Basically turned an average 260-270 right handed singles hitter into a 380-400 hitter from the left side. Basically she has now learned to take what the defense gives her. If they play back, she bunts. If they play in, she hits it past them.

 

[RU5781]

Thanks guys!
He's not that fast. Haha. He says he wants to be a pitcher, which has me intrigued about the left side. But he already has a cannon from the right, which gives me pause.
I know I'm overthinking this for a 5yo.

 

[rubaseball78]

Here is a caution on pitching and something to stay on top. There was a young girl who played with and against my older daughter. At a young age, she was a very dominant pitcher (unhittable) at 10U. As she and her competition aged, the competition began to catch up to her. 12U she was still a good pitcher. 14U and older, and high school she was getting crushed. She had a very difficult time handling the lack of success as she got older and became a real head case. She overpowered people when she was young and never really learned how to compete as a pitcher once everyone else caught up to her physical skills.

 

[LC-88]

Thanks guys!
He's not that fast. Haha. He says he wants to be a pitcher, which has me intrigued about the left side. But he already has a cannon from the right, which gives me pause.
I know I'm overthinking this for a 5yo.

Lefty pitchers don't grow on trees. Most kids don't start pitching until age 8 or 9. It's usually coach pitch, or machine pitch before that. At this point it can't hurt for him to throw and hit both ways. See what happens, and make sure his mechanics are sound.

When he is old enough to start pitching, and if he is serious about being a pitcher. I'd suggest going to a reputable pitching coach in your area. Have him learn the correct mechanics. It will probably save his arm over the long term. It can get a bit expensive, but I think worth every penny. My son started down this path at age 9, and thankfully pitches well, and has no arm issues. He's 13 now. I've seen alot of young arms get shredded due to improper mechanics. Best of luck to him.

 

[knightfan7]

5781, my son was the same way growing up. He ended up throwing, writing, and in basketball shooting lefty. Only thing he did righty all the time was batting. We just allowed him to do what was most comfortable. Only coach that tried to change him was at a basketball camp (felt he should handle the ball righty after watching him do both) but he didn't want to.

 

[KnightsofChrome]

Lefty pitchers don't grow on trees. Most kids don't start pitching until age 8 or 9. It's usually coach pitch, or machine pitch before that. At this point it can't hurt for him to throw and hit both ways. See what happens, and make sure his mechanics are sound.

When he is old enough to start pitching, and if he is serious about being a pitcher. I'd suggest going to a reputable pitching coach in your area. Have him learn the correct mechanics. It will probably save his arm over the long term. It can get a bit expensive, but I think worth every penny. My son started down this path at age 9, and thankfully pitches well, and has no arm issues. He's 13 now. I've seen alot of young arms get shredded due to improper mechanics. Best of luck to him.

Just remember one thing, great mechanics or not, that arm has an expiration date on it. No one knows what it is, least of all you're son. But, remember the number one Pro Pitcher killer is, Tommy John surgery, not all come back from it. Tommy John surgery has become rampant in the Pros., while hardly existing in the 1970's. This is a direct relation to kids from warmer climates throwing year round in different leagues. Parents push to get their kids better, and most coaches at that level, don't care. They just want to win. So, be careful with self indulgence, and aspirations of bigger and better. Right, lefty, or both, development is important, but each boy is different, a good coach will help. But, bottom line slow is better than fast. Stay with a fast ball, show him that different pressure with different fingers, on different parts of the ball will get enough movement on the ball to confuse, and strikeout most kids in little league through high school. As he matures, he can develop curves, sliders, and such. Good luck!

 

[RU5781]

Thanks again.
I really think pitching is where he'll wind up...he has a knack for it, and he loves following the young Mets staff. He's going to be big (thinking Syndergaard size), so it will be interesting.
I also don't want to push him and I want him to have fun.

 

[LC-88]

Just remember one thing, great mechanics or not, that arm has an expiration date on it. No one knows what it is, least of all you're son. But, remember the number one Pro Pitcher killer is, Tommy John surgery, not all come back from it. Tommy John surgery has become rampant in the Pros., while hardly existing in the 1970's. This is a direct relation to kids from warmer climates throwing year round in different leagues. Parents push to get their kids better, and most coaches at that level, don't care. They just want to win. So, be careful with self indulgence, and aspirations of bigger and better. Right, lefty, or both, development is important, but each boy is different, a good coach will help. But, bottom line slow is better than fast. Stay with a fast ball, show him that different pressure with different fingers, on different parts of the ball will get enough movement on the ball to confuse, and strikeout most kids in little league through high school. As he matures, he can develop curves, sliders, and such. Good luck!

KofC is spot on. Even with good mechanics, over use/abuse may waste a kid's arm. Educate yourself on arm care. Some coaches don't care, but some don't know. It is ultimately your responsibility as a parent. Pitch count, days of rest, types of pitches, etc. When I see 11 year olds throwing hard curve balls I cringe.

For example my son's last game this fall was the last weekend in October 2015. He just started throwing (both pitching and fielding throws) this past weekend. Total shutdown for 2 1/2 months.

Since you are already asking good questions, it sounds like you are off to a good start. Best of luck to the both of you. You will enjoy your time together.

 

[RUJohnny99]

http://www.nuvo.net/GuestVoices/archives/2014/03/18/your-kid-and-my-kid-are-not-playing-in-the-pros

 

[knightfan7]

Thanks again.
I really think pitching is where he'll wind up...he has a knack for it, and he loves following the young Mets staff. He's going to be big (thinking Syndergaard size), so it will be interesting.
I also don't want to push him and I want him to have fun.

Good for you. Too many dads trying to live their sports dreams thru their kids.

 

[RU5781]

http://www.nuvo.net/GuestVoices/archives/2014/03/18/your-kid-and-my-kid-are-not-playing-in-the-pros

I know this. It's what he wants right now. I'm not going to tell him he has no shot.
He has the size. And he's always going to be one of the younger kids, so he should be playing "up" theoretically.
Would I love if he turned into a star player? Sure! Do I think it's going to happen? No.

 

[RU5781]

Good for you. Too many dads trying to live their sports dreams thru their kids.

I just want him to have fun. That's what it's all about.
I loved playing when I was younger...there was no pressure at all. Some of my best memories!

 

[seels2662]

Many many great major league baseball players bat left and throw right. Wade Boggs, Joe Mauer, Bryce Harper, etc.

 

[RickB113]

Don't spend money on a pitching coach. Teach him the balance position (not at age five, but age 7 is good). Then teach him to consistently throw the ball down and away. For a left handed pitcher that would just below the left knew of the catcher on the corner of a plate. You have to be the most mechanically correct to get the ball there. No curve balls until 13. Teach him a change up before that.