Why Change Positions?

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

At some point during their careers, players are asked by coaches to play a different position, or positions that they’ve never played before. Players and parents sometimes take offense to this, but it may be in their best interest in the long run. There are many reasons why your position may change at the next level, whether you’re looking up at the high school level, varsity or college. College coaches like to recruit players and athletes that are versatile, and players need to be prepared for adjustments like this. This could be the difference between making a high school or travel team, and ultimately affecting their marketability as a college player.

A lot of people make the mistake of discounting certain programs because they look at the roster and see that their position is stacked by several players. What prospective players need to understand is that in the college search process, the position they play and the position they’re most marketable at are two different things. We’ve had several players in our Exclusive Program that find themselves with better options at the college level when they agree to begin working at another position.

Most coaches will recruit up the middle, because they value that athleticism. They build their teams around those positions because they know if a player can’t cut it there, they can move him to a less demanding position, like the corners (if his bat plays there). This is true at any level of baseball--as you move up the ladder of competition, more is required to stay in the middle of the field. For example, during my playing days, I was a shortstop at the high school level, but then made the move to third base and eventually the outfield in college. So, if you’re a corner infielder or outfielder in high school, your competition is not only against other players at your position, but against players at those premium positions, as well!

When I was coaching at the University of Maryland, I recruited a player that I had never seen before. He was a rare right-handed batter, left-handed throwing first baseman from Pennsylvania. What caught my attention was not his bat, however; watching him during infield practice, I really liked this kid’s size, arm strength and how the ball came out of his hand. When I approached him after the game, I was surprised to hear how little pitching experience he had. I recruited and signed this young man as a pitcher without seeing him throw one pitch! Eventually, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves out of the University of Maryland as a pitcher. This is a perfect example of a mismatch between your position and your tools.

One of my favorite stories from my coaching days has to be the story of Steve Schmoll. Coming to a fall tryout for the baseball team as a catcher, he was the last player released in the fall because we didn’t have room for him on the roster. I really liked this kid, not as a catcher, but as a pitcher because of his size, arm action and potential on the mound. Instead of giving up on baseball, he took our suggestion to put work in as a pitcher and come back next year. Not only did he make the club as a pitcher, he started several ACC games when I was at Maryland, and eventually took over the role of closer during his senior year. Throwing from a variety of arm slots and armed with a low 90s fastball, he was a prime candidate for professional baseball and eventually made his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers!

The bottom line is that you haven’t failed if you’re no longer playing your “original” position. You only fail if you’re not willing to make an adjustment. Being flexible and open-minded, along with showing a desire to play wherever you can help the team, are very underrated, but recruitable tools. In fact, they may make the difference between playing at one level and not playing at all. After all, you can only prove yourself if you’re on the field. So the next time a coach wants you to try another position, take it as a compliment and an opportunity to get ahead!


Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.