The game of baseball is fascinating because it is both very simple and extremely complicated at times.
For kids, however, the challenge is making the young players learn, but also to have fun because if they cease enjoying it, then the whole exercises becomes moot.
There is also the need for them to become good at it so their enthusiasm towards the game grows.
MLB analyst Eno Sarris had some advice for young kids playing the game.
“I’ve been asking hitting coaches, pitching coaches, and players what I should tell my 10 & 8 year olds to do. 1) have fun 2) throw the ball hard 3) hit the ball hard,” he tweeted.
I’ve been asking hitting coaches, pitching coaches, and players what I should tell my 10 & 8 year olds to do.
1) have fun
2) throw the ball hard
3) hit the ball hard https://t.co/mALu1MYGzx— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) November 9, 2022
Having Fun Is The Key
First and foremost, as stated, the key to everything is that the kid is actually enjoying the game: before thinking about playing in high school or any other level, having fun is crucial.
If he/she has fun and really likes the game, Sarris says the second and third advices are hitting the ball hard and throwing it hard, too, especially for pitchers.
That may differ some from how our parents and grandparents told us to approach the game, and the whole “hit it where they ain’t” mantra.
In modern baseball, hitting the ball hard will guarantee consideration from professional teams, because we now know enough to understand fielders will have a harder time fielding a ball hit at 105 mph of exit velocity, for example.
Throwing arm in fielders is also well seen by scouts and evaluators, and we don’t need to tell you that high velocity correlates with lots of strikeouts more often than not.
If you have a kid who likes baseball and plays it, those three tips are effective.
