Ben Joyce

[kritikalcat]

I know he’s a Vol, but anyone else watch footage of Ben Joyce. Back from Tommy John surgery he recently threw 10 100+mph pitches in one scoreless inning, topping out at 103.5 on the radar gun. Crazy heat and he threw a 98 mph breaking ball. In all of 2021 not a single MLB pitcher clocked 103 MPH

Phenom or flash in the pan?

 

[Comebakatz3]

I know he’s a Vol, but anyone else watch footage of Ben Joyce. Back from Tommy John surgery he recently threw 10 100+mph pitches in one scoreless inning, topping out at 103.5 on the radar gun. Crazy heat and he threw a 98 mph breaking ball. In all of 2021 not a single MLB pitcher clocked 103 MPH

Phenom or flash in the pan?

Vols have done a great job finding pitching. Makes me sick. Got the kid for the White Sox, Crochet, that made the majors in his first season after being drafted. Got another kid this year that is a stud, but he's got elbow soreness and isn't going. There coach looks to be exactly what we hoped Mingione would be after 2017.

 

[SeanCain]

I know he’s a Vol, but anyone else watch footage of Ben Joyce. Back from Tommy John surgery he recently threw 10 100+mph pitches in one scoreless inning, topping out at 103.5 on the radar gun. Crazy heat and he threw a 98 mph breaking ball. In all of 2021 not a single MLB pitcher clocked 103 MPH

Phenom or flash in the pan?

I’ve coached youth baseball for several years and one thing that’s changed since I played is travel ball. In my opinion, these kids play and practice way too much. I think this is the main contributor to all the arm issues today.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I can’t believe the travel baseball culture now. When I was growing up in the 90s, it wasn’t abnormal for kids around little league age to start getting into travel baseball, but it was largely the 11 or 12 year olds that would get into it and then stay in it through high school. Now kids are in it as young as 5 or 6. Then it is extremely serious by age 8 and they basically say that if your kid isn’t in it by age 8 that they shouldn’t get into it because they’re already too far behind. Just craziness to me. Kind of glad I have a girl. lol

 

[mrschwump]

My son started playing travel ball at age 13, played until 18 then college ball. It was great fun, played in tourneys all over south/midwest. Then entree fees for tourneys were generally $300-$500, teams had sponsors that could deduct fees. That was 20 years ago, those same tourneys now have like $1500 entree fees. Have talked to several coaches and they tell me there are far too many travel teams now, talent is diluted. All it takes is a dad with money who thinks his kid is the next(fill in the blank) and he'll hire a coach and pay fees. One can cruise the internet and see 5-6y/os sporting gaudy "championship rings" for winning tourneys. It's over the top BS.

 

[SeanCain]

My son started playing travel ball at age 13, played until 18 then college ball. It was great fun, played in tourneys all over south/midwest. Then entree fees for tourneys were generally $300-$500, teams had sponsors that could deduct fees. That was 20 years ago, those same tourneys now have like $1500 entree fees. Have talked to several coaches and they tell me there are far too many travel teams now, talent is diluted. All it takes is a dad with money who thinks his kid is the next(fill in the blank) and he'll hire a coach and pay fees. One can cruise the internet and see 5-6y/os sporting gaudy "championship rings" for winning tourneys. It's over the top BS.

At least your kid waited until he’s 13. I can tell you first hand that most I’ve encountered go to travel around 7-8. Travel ball has decimated the youth leagues here in Lexington. Two separate leagues in town recently merged because so many kids left. Some of the kids/coaches I know should have stayed in the youth leagues but travel is much more prestigious.

 

[mrschwump]

At least your kid waited until he’s 13. I can tell you first hand that most I’ve encountered go to travel around 7-8. Travel ball has decimated the youth leagues here in Lexington. Two separate leagues in town recently merged because so many kids left. Some of the kids/coaches I know should have stayed in the youth leagues but travel is much more prestigious.

That's true and 7-8 is too young, kids will get burned out quickly. Our local league where I live had 700-800 kids playing when my kids came thru, lucky to have half that now. Isn't all travel ball of course, kids now rather play soccer and video games.

 

[Comebakatz3]

At least your kid waited until he’s 13. I can tell you first hand that most I’ve encountered go to travel around 7-8. Travel ball has decimated the youth leagues here in Lexington. Two separate leagues in town recently merged because so many kids left. Some of the kids/coaches I know should have stayed in the youth leagues but travel is much more prestigious.

Being so serious about it at such a young age is not only going to create physical problems, but mental ones as it pertains to burnout. Many will stick with it as they just love it, but there will be a lot of great players that just get tired of it being their entire life and they'll lose interest.