Posted by: Ronnie (rwynn@comsouth.net) on Thu Oct 14 12:50:31 2010

> I know this site is mostly dedicated to swing maechanics, however I have a question about pitch selection.
>
> I have a fourteen year old son that plays highly comptetetive in 15-16 year old leagues. He has played about 90 games this season and has had over 300 plate appearances. He has always had an excellent rotational left-handed swing.
>
> He has unbelievable hand-eye coordination and NEVER swings at bad pitches. In his >300 at bats he has struck out less than five times the entire year.
>
> Yes, that is less than FIVE!!!!!
>
> Here is the kicker, some unbelievable stats:
>
> -In all those at bats, I cannot remember one where he did not have at least one strike on him.
> -I would say that in at least half of those at bats, he had two strikes.
>
> HE ABSOUTELY WILL NOT SWING AT STRIKE ONE, EVER!!!!!
>
> This worked well for him until now when kids are developing better off-speed pitches and now he is behind the count and at the mercy of what the pitcher is throwing. He is slumping big time, still not striking out, but grounding out to first and second quite often on two strike pitches with a defensive swing.
>
> I try to tell him, but since he knows everything and I know nothing (according to him) he says he is not ready. I am also torn because his eye is so good, he never swings at bad pitches and walks a lot.
>
> Patience is a great thing and I don't want him to become a free swinger who is hacking at everything. I just know that if he were to jump on some first pitch fastballs, he would have much more success. So I am torn because I don't want to take that selectivity out of his approach, just want to add a little aggresiveness to jump on first pitch. He bats fourth and when he has guys on second and third, I tell him as he is wlaking up, "first good one" only to see the first pitch right in his wheel house and him stepping out and picking up some dirt to rub in his hands and getting ready for the 0-1 pitch. Happens every time.
>
> The question is:
> -Do I leave it alone, and it is great that he has such a great eye and he will figure it out?
> -Do I keep after him to swing at more pitches early in the count and risk that he loses his great focus on the stirke zone.
> -Is there somewhere inbetween?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Chris, If he can hit leave him alone during the game - if he wants to talk about it he will. He is playing up and doing well - enjoy watching him grow. My son is 16 and hits 17-18 yr old D1 signees like he owns them, both FB and off speed. My son will will hit a high and tight inside FB down the RF line behind in the count and the same pitch down the left field line ahead in the count. It drives me nuts when mine takes a meat ball too, but I can't remember the last time I saw him strike out either, so I don't say anything. Let him grow - when he feels it, he will hit the first pitch - enjoy the few years you have left with him and stop advising unless he asks for help. Since I stopped telling him what he was doing right or wrong, he is talking a lot more. If the swing is good what more can you do for him? He is finding his way and sounds like he is doing fine. We can teach mechanics but not hand eye coordination. Leave him be - it is his choice whether to swing or not swing. When mine was 14 we went through some of the same things ya'll are........
Best Wishes to your son!
Ronnie