FastBat
Well-Known Member
How many times do you see a stud SS in travel ball end up playing right field in college It's because you need those kind if athletes in the outfield at the higher levels.
Are you saying that the best athlete on an 18u travel team is at SS? I'm surprised by that, only b/c in my experience after 12U, defensively most players can catch a ball in a small range and throw it to first. I think maybe the smartest player with the best glove to cover steals is at SS, better glove than 2B (I always thought 2b was the weakest defensive player on the team). In the outfield, they have to cover far more ground and most players offensively can hit consistently in the grass.
I think the best athlete other than pitcher/catcher (not implying P/C are most athletic on team) would be SS or CF. But, CF is probably faster and SS is has a stronger more consistent arm.
Also, realistically most left handed players even in rec or 10u may play third base or ss, but I rarely see that outside of rec/10u. If you have a lefty player, why bother, I would just head straight to the OF.
I guess it depends on the caliber of play. But in rec ball, as an example, we put the best athletes at first and third (left handed or not). With the premise that third basemen has to cover from home plate backstop, to left field fence, to out of bounds left side fence, to middle of field; and opposite for first basemen. I never see fields set up like that anywhere else, so I guess it depends on the talent you have on the team! (Little rec ball humor there!)