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If your swing and metrics are truly spectacular, they’ll likely find a place for you, but defensive fit will play a role in roster and scholarship decisions. Having a true position fit based of your defensive tools & attributes [that makes sense with your hitting metrics] will be critical.
Position Profiling
This series is about hitting so we won’t get into the weeds on defensive tools.
We’ve discussed appropriate hitting metrics by position (and how your swing impacts those metrics) but coaches also need to figure out if a player has the tools to fit a position prototype…which lends important context & meaning to those hitting metrics.
The idea of absolute vs relative metrics applies here also [age & level of physical development]. So does the metrics “formula” [Strength/Size + Mechanics = Metrics].
Examples of things coaches will consider: starting with questions on athleticism, defensive actions, speed & arm strength…with a series of if/then questions to determine fit based on trade-offs from a sliding scale.
- Athletic & fluid movements?
- if no, enough offense to offset defense?
- Foot work, hands & defensive actions for SS/2B/3B?
- If yes, quickness/range/arm strength for SS?
- 2B-only arm? 3B-arm but lacks SS range?
- If no, speed for CF? Offense for Corner?
- Arm for RF? Or LF/1B only?
- If yes, quickness/range/arm strength for SS?