Hi,
Need some advice.
My son is 12 and ending his Little League “career” soon. He’s in the Little League All Stars Sectional Tournament as I write this, but after losing yesterday it looks like the team is done (he pitched well, though, shutting down one of the top teams in the state in relief in the 5th and 6th innings).
Next year he will be 13 and on a travel team playing the 60/90 diamond. The jump from 46/60 to 60/90 seems big to me, but that’s what we have around here.
Since he will be in 7th Grade next year, he will have two full seasons of 60/90 baseball (7th and 8th Grade) before High School. I have heard stories of kids having arm injuries when they jump from 46/60 to 60/90 at 13 years of age. My good friend’s son had serious shoulder and elbow injuries just this past season when he moved to 60/90 at 13.
It has been suggested to me by some (who have played and coached minors ball) that since my son will have two full seasons at 60/90 before High School, he has a “mulligan” and should use the first season (7th Grade) to “adjust” to 60/90 and focus on fielding and batting, not pitch, and return to pitching in 8th Grade.
I kind of like the idea. His strength is pitching, but he could use a year of focusing on fielding and batting. Plus, with all the youth throwing injuries I have seen and read about, a year off from pitching at his physically delicate age (12 now) might be a good thing. On the other hand, will a year off from pitching really mess him up?
What do you guys think?