But Coach, I Can Play First!
Apr 18, 2025
I remember it like it was yesterday.
We were mid-tournament. Our first baseman rolled her ankle bad on a rundown. Everyone’s panicking.
And I go, “Hey Coach—I can play first.”
Blank stare.
“No, you’re a pitcher. You’re not even warmed up for that.”
The crazy part? I was ready. I grew up playing all over the field. 3rd, short, first, even caught a few innings when needed.
But by that point in my college career, the “pitcher-only” label had sunk so deep, it didn’t matter what I could do. I wasn’t trusted outside the circle.
That moment stuck with me—not because I was dying to play first base—but because I realized how fast we can box athletes in.
So to my young athletes reading this: stay athletic. Take ground balls. Take swings. Run bases. Stay game-ready—because one day, your team will need you.
And to parents: if your daughter loves other positions too, keep encouraging that. Specializing too early can sometimes limit more than it helps.
What’s one position your pitcher secretly loves to play? Drop it below. Let’s celebrate versatility.
