The Danny Almonte scandal that infuriated the Little League world a few years before Michael’s time introduced a new concern to the game: age and adulthood. Because Michael’s story seems similar to Danny’s, and because the speed of his throws seem impossible for a 12-year-old, coaches become concerned that Michael is too adult to compete with their children. Ironically, these coaches “act like children” (98) by obsessing over Michael’s age. As Mr. Minaya is fast to point out to Michael, their immaturity is embarrassing.

In many ways, Michael is mature and adult beyond his age. He has an “old soul”(172), his father always said, and it seems unfair to him that this maturity and compassion goes unnoticed while his prodigious skill stands out. While others around him, like Manny and his teammates, constantly say “dude” (121)and act immaturely, Michael stands out from that crowd. He even makes adults, like Uncle Timo, look like adolescents by comparison.

Maturation is also part of Michael and Ellie’s story. Ellie is the first girl whom he has found interesting, in a romantic way. And so, while others debate Michael’s age, he really does experience growing up throughout the story. But part of his maturation requires him to be less self-sufficient and more vulnerable with others; Carlos' need to let others help him serves as an example of how adulthood often looks different than one might expect.