If you live in a warm-weather state you are likely to see kids playing baseball almost every month of the year is today’s travel ball environment.
Kids in all sports are being pushed into sport specialization at an early age, which makes it tough for kids that are introduced to new sports past a certain age and puts them at a disadvantage if they compete with the year-round specialist kids.
So, how late is too late to start baseball?
There is no age that is too late if you have a kid that is exceptionally gifted athletically, however, if they are a below-average athlete beyond the age of 12 it starts to get very difficult for kids to catch up to peers that have trained their whole lives in baseball.
Who are some famous baseball players who started playing baseball late?
| Player | Age Started |
| Dee Gordan | 15 |
| Lorenzo Cain | 16 |
| Jackie Robinson | 15 |
| Kenny Rodgers | 17 |
Another notable player that did not start playing baseball until later in life is Patrick Corbin, who didn’t start playing baseball seriously until his dad suggested he try out for the team his junior year in high school.
What is unique about all of these players is that they were great athletes and excelled in other sports as well and were able to pick up baseball very quickly.
Here’s a great video breaking down Dee Gordan’s incredible baseball journey:
Contents
- How to catch up to other kids that have been playing baseball for a while:
- Other things to consider if you are starting to play baseball late
- Can you start baseball late?
- What is the best position to play in baseball if you start late?
- Can you start playing baseball at 13?
- Can you start playing baseball at 16?
- How late is too late to start baseball conclusion
How to catch up to other kids that have been playing baseball for a while:
Specialize
The best way to stand out if you are late to baseball is to pick one position and try and master it.
If you have a good arm pitching or catching can be an option because teams typically always need several pitchers and a couple of catchers are typically rotating in and out of games.
First base and right or left field are probably the easiest fielding positions that require the least amount of athleticism so if you are a good hitter you could try to master one of those positions
Train with a specialist
Everywhere you look nowadays there are hitting and pitching training facilities to help give kids additional training and they can be expensive depending on where you live.
If you have the funds, getting lessons from someone that has played collegiately or at the professional level can be a great way to catch up to peers.
People that have played in college or at the professional normally have over 15 years of experience and can share tips to help accelerate your game, as well as provide feedback on whether or not a player has the talent to play at the high school or college level.
Get Objective Feedback
One of the best things you can do to see if it is not too late to pick up baseball is to get an evaluation of where your skills are at from coaches or older players that aren’t financially incentivized to sell you lessons are training material.
If you have a family friend or relative that has played baseball at a high level, see if you can schedule a workout with them to see if they can give you some honest feedback.
Go somewhere you can play!
If the feedback you are getting is good from coaches and trainers, the next thing you want to do is make sure you join a team where you are going to play.
There is no better way to develop as a baseball player than by getting game reps. If you are sitting on the bench you are not going to get better and you’re not going to catch up to others.
Make sure the teams you join have room for you and can provide you with some sort of idea of how much you will be playing.
Other things to consider if you are starting to play baseball late
Baseball requires some athleticism but is also a skill sport that requires terrific hand-eye coordination and timing, which can be challenging to pick up without taking thousands of reps.
Kids start travel baseball as early as 7 years old in some states and these teams play in year-round tournaments and practice every season.
Travel baseball can be great for some kids that love the sport, however, it can burn out other kids that get sick of the sport and never want to return to around the age of 13.
For the kids that love the sport, it is a significant advantage to get in thousands of reps day after day, year after year compared to a kid who plays seasonally or picks up baseball later in life.
Is it possible that the kid who starts to play baseball late can be the better player? Sure thing, but the odds are not high and typically in these situations, kids that start baseball late and thrive have special athletic abilities.
Can you start baseball late?
Yes, you can start baseball late, but if you want to play high school baseball after not playing much in your younger years you should probably consider attending a small high school where you will get a ton of opportunities to play and develop.
If you have ever played the game of golf you know that it is tough to keep your swing consistent when you only play a couple of times a year. This becomes noticeable when you play against someone who practices and plays weekly.
The same can be said for baseball when you pick it up late. You may have days that you can hang with the best players, but you may not be as consistent as other players that play year-round.
The best way to catch up to these players is to get playing time!
If you sit on the bench on a big high school team you are not going to develop your skills or muscle memory to compete with the best players.
Baseball is a unique sport and if you attend a small school and are good enough scouts and college recruiters will find you.
What is the best position to play in baseball if you start late?
If your kid is over the age of 10 and hasn’t played much baseball and wants to start playing I would recommend pitching.
Pitching is a skill that requires a ton of practice but you don’t necessarily have to be the biggest, fastest, or strongest athlete to be successful.
Pitching requires a ton of hard work and training, but most of the skills that are required can be obtained with a really good work ethic.
Your kid may never run a 6.6 60 yard dash, but with decent arm strength and athleticism throwing 90 MPH is possible with all of the training options that are available for pitchers in today’s world.
Can you start playing baseball at 13?
You can start playing baseball at 13 but your best bet is to play in a local rec league or your middle school team if you are looking for playing time.
Most big middle schools have players that have been playing since a young age and they will likely have relationships with the coaches that will give them a leg up.
Once again, you have to evaluate the athleticism of each kid individually to determine how fast they can catch up to the other kids that have been playing.
The better the athlete, the more likely it that they will accelerate the learning process and be able to compete with kids that aren’t as athletic as them.
Can you start playing baseball at 16?
16 may be too late to start playing competitive baseball unless you have a unique skill that can bring value to your high school team.
- Are you really fast?
There could be a spot for you as a baserunner on the team that can substitute for players and runs the base paths.
- Do you have a great arm?
If you have a great throwing arm, there may be a shot for you on the baseball team as a pitcher or outfielder. Great arm talent is hard to find and some kids that play sports like football or basketball can come over to the baseball field and sling the baseball around with ease. These types of kids are the ones that have the best shot to pick it up at 16, but they better learn quickly!
How late is too late to start baseball conclusion
It is never too late to start baseball if you want to play for fun. If your goals are to become a college or professional baseball player you should get started as soon as possible and try to focus on one unique skill that can help separate you from other players.
With the evolution of travel baseball, it is more challenging to pick up baseball late but if you have success in other sports and good hand-eye coordination, you could be one of the few people that can make your baseball dreams a reality.
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