We had a kid on our team who was fat and slow running. But he could hit fairly decent and, man, could he block a base path-- a natural for catcher. His slowness on the base paths turned out to be not such a big deal because he would either clear them with an extra base hit or strike out most of the time.
I was a skinny little runt and couldn't hit well, but I did learn to throw well enough that I made a fairly decent relief pitcher and to field well enough to be a utility infielder. I also learned how to get on base a lot by walks . . . just by being patient at the plate and learning most kids at the jr. high/high school level couldn't throw strikes most of the time.
I still keep in touch with much of the old gang from way back then even though I've lost track of almost all of my graduate school class.
I’m 63 and can still hit, catch and throw. Those 3 seasons I consider the best job of my life, and all it earned me in remittance was about $1000, a new glove and a fungo bat. But what you get back in imparting what you know of the game to those kids makes you feel like a billionaire.
I know what you mean about a lot of kids not able to hit the strike zone consistently. That’s how I got elected to pitch both sides so often in 21 Outs. 150 or so pitches twice a week or so. Some day I’m gonna write a poem or something about being a “Batting Practice Pitcher”.
And to be held in their memories for what they gained, from you.
What a life!