Best States in U.S. To Play Baseball

Question
Mike,

I have 2 sons, 10 and 8 years old, who play Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth baseball in Western NY.  They are both very good and have tried out for and made several tournament teams.

We live in the Buffalo, NY area, which is not a big area as far as baseball goes.  Buffalo is big on their hockey.

At one time, I played the game as a youth up through high school and have a passion for the game.  I can see the same passion and love for the game developing in both of my sons.  As a parent, I am at the point of realizing that their chances of making it to the Majors one day is a very long shot and not probable.

My question to you, and hopefully you're the right person to ask this to, is what are the best or most "serious" states to play youth baseball in?  If possible, what geographic areas of the states that you give in your answer are the best?To my knowledge, Southern California, Florida, Texas, and parts of Eastern NY and parts of NJ are breeding grounds.  Are there others that my kids could benefit from in their development and love for the game?  

Thank you,

Joe

Answer
Hi Joe,

The states you list are definitely hot spots when it comes to baseball talent. But I have to say that if your kids are that good, they'll be discovered in most areas. Pro players have come from the smallest of towns in the midwest, to the largest of cities in the southern states, and everything in between. Of course, the one benefit to the southeast & southwest regions is that the weather is condusive to year-round playing, which gives a player more of an opportunity to work on their skills in the off season.

Your kids are still very young, so I wouldn't recommend you uproot your family for the sake of their baseball future. More importantly, if they can get good coaching in your area, that should be sufficient. Playing on tournament teams will also get the word out on your boys. When they're in high school, that's when choosing a region for college becomes important. There are some very good baseball programs throughout the US that they can shoot for, which would help launch any would-be pro career.

Best of luck,

Mike Fortunato