Any pointers for coaching a child with 4 fingers?

[AdamInNY]

This year I'm the manager of a minors rec ball team (ages 9 - 12). I have 12yo twins on my team. One of them has 4 fingers on his right hand. He didn't lose a finger, he was born this way. He catches with his left hand and bats lefty. This is his first year playing organized baseball, but since his brother has played he has definitely played in school yards, etc. He is most comfortable catching the ball, taking his mitt off, and throwing with his left hand. Has a great attitude and hustles. Want to make sure he gets the most out of this season. Just wondering how others have handled similar situations.

Adam

[danocaster]

I would guess that since he's most comfortable throwing left handed, that's the route he should take. Learning to catch with the other hand is much easier than learning to throw with the opposite hand.

I don't think the missing finger will really be an issue, especially if it is in the glove. I would think it would only affect throwing if someone were missing an index or ring finger....

I have friend that was born without one of his fingers on his left hand (pinky). In fact, he is missing that whole outside edge of the hand. He didn't let that get in the way of becoming the best guitarist that I know. He's live in Nashville now and tours with a major band.

[AdamInNY]

He catches with his left hand, takes the mitt off and throws with his left. Even though he's never played organized ball, he's clearly played in the backyard with his brother.

[dominik]

get him a glove for his right hand.

[Chris O'Leary]

get him a glove for his right hand.

I agree...

[AdamInNY]

I have plenty of lefty mitts. I have to see if that will work. Not real sure how functional the fingers are. I'll see tomorrow at practice.

[shake-n-bake]

If his left hand is his dominant hand and he's not trying to be a lefty, then yes I think a glove adapted to his right hand would be the way to go.

I'm down to 3 normal fingers on my right hand. My pinky is completely non-functional and my ring finger is getting there. It's still about 50-75% of normal depending on what I'm doing with my hands. I've got a weird disease called Dupuytren's Contracture Disease. This doesn't really effect my throwing though. I've actually got the sickest circle change-up.

Being right hand dominant it's still more natural to figure out how to make everything work with my right hand, though I am getting noticeably more ambidextrous. I think if the kid is a natural right hander then perhaps figuring out a way to throw right handed would be better. Then you factor that it's his first year of baseball and it's not like he's got a long history of not throwing right handed.

I use athletic tape a lot. I tape my ring and pinky fingers together and it's sort of like having 3 regular fingers and one extra large one that's not all that functional, but not that prohibitive either.

Admire the kid's courage and determination.