My son plays on an elite baseball team. It's his fifth year, but first playing high school also. This year the season kicks in
after the high school season, and is shorter than the seasons have been before. He has always had two practices during the week and one optional batting night; this year it's one longer practice and still an optional batting night. Private lessons are available for pitching or hitting or any other aspect of the game if needed or desired. Practices are a half an hour away.
The team has been full since September. Almost all of the players came back from last year. They practiced outside as long as they could (till mid-November), then moved indoors. They'll be back outside again as soon as they can be, ie when fields are dry. Part of the success of a team, IME, is that bonding and camaraderie that builds in the off season, which is why it's really important for everyone to attend practices. It's a beautiful thing when they come together as teammates and friends, and as a team they're all pulling for eachother without the petty jealousies that can occur on some teams. That said, DS's coach strives for equal playing time and rotates players through as many positions as possible so most of them can be put in anywhere, or to pitch. That has worked out really well for the team, and for DS.
Like another MA poster above, we've traveled all over New England and NY. Other teams in our organization have gone further if that's what they wanted to do - it's up to each individual team. (Ours was budget minded.
) Generally there are two double headers on each weekend day. We've had weekends where we're in Maine on Sat and Rhode Island on Sunday, lol. (A GPS is a MUST! Especially when playing fields are remote!) We pack lunches and sometimes bring a grill. Only twice per season were hotels required. We've enjoyed it a lot as a family. Even DD. We have a blast and have made lots of different friends from all over. We would do it again, for sure. But DS has been fortunate to have had a great relationship with his coach and has been with him since he started in elite. That's not the case for most people - many change teams every year or two if they're unhappy. (DS also plays on local teams each year so he's had a good variety of other coaches as well.) There is nothing worse than when someone's unhappy on the team - it affects everyone. That's why a good fit with a team is important.
My question would be, how does your son know about this team? Are they looking for players just to fill their roster? If so, that might be a red flag. Is your son as experienced and skilled as the other players? Does he know anyone else on the team, or the coaches? You don't have to answer here, but can he play a variety of positions? Pitch? If he can, that will get him more playing time than say, if he only plays first and doesn't pitch. We've seen this happen when the player is limited and that's when people become unhappy. (Which happened mainly in the early years. Now tryouts are very selective with only one or two spots on the team.) If your son makes the team and decides he wants to play, make sure he goes to all practices and games. If you have to attend a wedding, make sure the coach knows ahead of time. Try to be there for everything else. This will be in your son's favor. And of course, your son should be a good sport and have excellent behavior on the bench, etc. Players are expected to pay attention to what's going on, encourage their teammates, and even help coach eachother. Bad behavior isn't tolerated. (Though you will still see it on some teams - from the coaches, down.) I guess I should say that in our organization, it's not tolerated. And that's one of the things I've liked about it - even when others are behaving badly, our coaches will say, "We aren't going to stoop down to that level. Let it go." etc.
Two hours away seems a little steep. Are you sure there aren't similar teams that are closer to you? Ask around and look on the AAU and other leagues' websites. Also check at local baseball training facilities - you must have them, they are everywhere around here. Another poster mentioned American Legion; many areas have Junior Legion teams and those are good, too. They also kick in after the HS season and many games are played during the week, not weekends. And then there are the tournament/showcase teams, which it sounds like the team you are interested in is.
People have sometimes asked DS if he ever gets tired of playing baseball, and I've had other parents ask me how you know if your kid is cut out for one of these teams. Here's how we know. These boys will play two tough, hot double headers and still gather round for a whiffle ball game in the parking lot or when they get home. Basically they just want to keep playing. They love it that much. DS is always "hitting" or "pitching" something, somewhere. It's almost never a chore to go to practices or games - once in a while when he has to get up super early, like 5am to be at an 8am game two hours away (you always have to be there one hour early for warm up!), but once we're on the road, he's happy.
Good luck with your decision.