1 year update: Cut from 12u team, what next?

Previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Homeplate/comments/1chvfcf/update_cut_from_12u_team_what_next/

Hi everyone! It's been over a year since my last post and I wanted to give an update on where we are. Thanks again to this community for your perspective and advice.

After last season ended, my son tried out for the local club team and was offered a spot on their second 13u team, making this the 3rd organization we've been with in 3 years. This team seems to be the perfect fit for him and where he's at skill wise. The team is playing in a lower division and in our season opener this weekend, it looks like most of the other teams have also placed themselves correctly because all of the games were evenly matched. The coaching in this organization has been phenomenal. They are strict on the kids for process and mechanics while being very supportive from the mental and emotional side. I've been really impressed by the team coach and the specialist coaches, and the development has been really noticeable in the players.

As for my son specifically, he's still the smallest on the team, and with his April birthday, he's also the youngest. Defensively, he's moving between outfield and catcher. He's the number 2 catcher on the team, which means plenty of time behind the plate since the coach so far has split the catching innings pretty much in half. He had a rough inning in a game this weekend (2 passed balls and a few wild pitches that he thought he should have handled) and lost his composure, but his coach stuck with him and started him in the championship game. In warmup, his pitcher bounced one that hit him in the shoulder and something clicked. After that, he started sliding around and blocking with ease. He looked like an entirely different player. After the game, I asked him what happened and he said after he got hit, he told him self he had to "lock in". That's all it took apparently. I just told him I was proud that he was able to bounce back and help his team. Offensively, the tee and cage work has finally paid off (along with bigger field and the mound moving back). His swing is smooth and he's making solid contact. I wasn't sure how it would go in his first games of the season, but he had 2 hits, 1 sac bunt, and only 2 strikeouts over 4 games this weekend. His other ABs were ground outs, so overall I'll take the progress as a win compared to the strikeout parade that was last season.

Overall, most of you guys were right. Just keep grinding and working on the things you can control. I'm well aware, as is my son, that he has distinct size and athleticism disadvantages and thus a ceiling in this game. Despite that, he still loves it and wants to maximize his ability to keep playing to as high a level as he can get to, even if that may just be a freshman or JV team in HS.