You could track a hundred different numbers. For a young player, you shouldn't. The goal isn't a spreadsheet — it's spotting whether they're improving and where to focus at practice. Here's the shortlist that actually earns its place.
That's enough to compute average, on-base percentage and slugging — the three numbers that tell most of the hitting story.
Chances and errors, which give you fielding percentage. Just remember it doesn't reward range — a player who reaches more balls may make more errors precisely because they got to plays others wouldn't.
Advanced metrics like WAR, wRC+ or spin rate are fascinating and completely unnecessary for a 10-year-old. They need sample sizes and equipment youth ball doesn't have. Master the basics first.
The reason most parents quit tracking is friction. A clipboard works for a game or two; by mid-season it's a shoebox of paper. Grab the free printable stat sheet to start, and when the paper gets old, let an app keep the running totals.
At-bats, hits, walks and strikeouts cover the essentials — they give you batting average, on-base percentage and a read on plate discipline, which is where most development shows up first.
No. Advanced metrics need large samples and equipment youth baseball doesn't have. Stick to the basics and watch the trend over a season.