re: Baseball bat for kid question

Tell him to watch the ball until it hits the bat. Tell him he is the only person in the world that gets to see the ball actually stop and change directions. Once this actually happens, he'll be hooked. "C'mon man, Watch the ball hit the bat, watch the ball change directions" while he's at the plate.

This will also teach him not to pull his head out when he swings.

Hit off the tee (tell him the Major leaguers and college players do it every day). When he finishes his swing, he should be staring straight at the top of the tee.

Then toss him some wiffle balls. Then either tennis balls or baseballs.

15 on the tee, 15 wiffles and 15 pitches … he got 45 reps and never realized it.

Too Late Advice: Next time, let him borrow some teammates' bats till he finds one he likes. Then buy that one or similar.

Unsolicited infield practice suggestion: Near end of practice put in some of your infielders and hit ground and fly balls … with the outfielders running the bases. If it kid gets out, just let him stay on the base and keep hitting. This means the SS and 2B have to field and make the throw under pressure. Both infielders and base runners start to understand situations (force out, not forced, etc.)