Tagged With "off-season"
Topic
Winter pitching velocity
Hello! I'm looking for some perspective on what I can expect from off-season workouts in terms of pitching velocity. My 2022 (age 15.5) ended last season on a good note, touching 81 and sitting 80 in his last two outings. What can I expect when he starts showcasing next month? He's doing a 4x/week velocity program but has just started throwing lightly. He showcases in the middle of next month. Will he gain because of rest and lifting? Will be stay the same because he hasn't thrown much yet...
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Getting started
I need some help getting started off in my season better. For multiple years now I've noticed I finish the season as what I believe is the best I can play, however I feel like it takes a while to get to this point. It's like the last tournament is when I play well. Any tips?
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Pre-season team conditioning
Cabbagedad asked the following question in the Power360 thread. Rather than hijack the thread, I thought I would respond and start a separate conversation here. cabbagedad posted: So, Matt, maybe you can provide some additional advice. Apologies to others for diversion of OP but I didn't want to PM and prevent others from any shared information. Our HS field is not at the HS campus and the campus fitness facility is too small and lacks proper equipment anyway. We try to put together a plan...
Topic
Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Just a little background I'm a junior Mif/OF located in VA I'm a little on the short end at 5'5 I'm currently throwing low to mid 70's across the diamond and high 70's from the outfield with a 60 time in the low 7s. As you can see these numbers are not that great, I have 1 Juco offer but dream of playing baseball at a decent 4 year institution. The dilemma however is my High School baseball program. We play in Division 5a Virginia we haven't had a winning season in years and unfortunately my...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Definitely not too late for D3, D2, and even some D1s. My son had several schools talking with him during his junior/senior summer from all levels. As the process wore on, it really became apparent where the best fit was (academically and athletically) and he committed to a D3. (We just had a senior on our HS team commit to a D2 in the past week.) I will say, what he found with the D1s that were talking with him was that they were pretty much rounding out their rosters at that point and it...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Play because you enjoy the game and your teammates, the rest of it is not really in your control and will eventually resolve itself. Work Hard, Play Hard, Have Fun. You are not too late for D2 or D3 options. Many players "commit" to D3s during Senior year, timing depends on admissions process of the school. There are many D3 walk-ons that end up with playing time.
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
I agree with Buzzard05. My son (5'8 155) was cut his sophomore and junior year. He worked his tail off (lifting and baseball) not because of high school baseball but wanting to play college. We put together some video, and he went to specific school showcases that he was interested in. He received interest from 3 of the schools and he will be playing next year in college (D3 Muskingum). He made the varsity this year, he is having a great time because he is hanging out with his buddies for...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
You are going in the right direction, joining a good summer travel team (assuming you will get decent play time and instruction) and working on strength training. Do not allow the HS program scenario to be an excuse. You can overcome it and still enjoy playing HS ball. As you are discovering, you can work on strength/speed/agility on your own, including during HS season. You can also work on skill development - find a decent instructor and then put the learning to practice when you take reps...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Thanks for the opinions/advice I'm dedicated to getting stronger and improving my game but do you'll have suggestions an what I should do to show my talent to college coaches should I make a video? What showcases should I attend?
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
You came to the right place. There is a ton of information you can find by searching topics in this forum, including putting together the most effective recruiting plan. It is different for everyone. You have to consider what your college and career plans are outside of baseball, what you/your parents can afford, where you would go geographically, cultural fit, baseball fit, etc., etc. Most will tell you you need to get in front of schools now. From what I am reading, I think you need to...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
DI_, You get one shot at this....take it. If you decide later to walk away on your terms then do it, but don't walk away now. You've described a situation I've heard many times before. Nobody is going to serve it up on a platter and hand it to you. Finding a college baseball program is hard work and it gets even harder to get playing time once you find a team. Opportunities are out there, you just have to find them. Get some help from your travel coach, or baseball people that you know. Good...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
One way for folks on the site to direct you in the right place for showcasing opportunities is for you to explain what your academic accomplishments, goals, and abilities are. Do you have a high GPA, and a good ACT Score?
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
As far as academics I've made honor roll every marking period of high school. I have a 3.6 GPA and will take SAT next month
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Have fun your last year of high school playing baseball! Work on the things you can change for example, your academics, your work habits and finally being proactive about your recruiting. I never seen dreams comes true by quitting . Keep grinding!!
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
What your high school doesn't offer is just an excuse. You are not behind due to your high school. You are behind due to your lack of motivation and planning. When you weren't lifting weights in a planned program you could have been doing it on your own. I don't know any college players who got there because of their high school. They got to college ball on their motivation and work ethic (along with talent). There isn't a college player who has taken more grounders or flies at high school...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Your PSAT score combined with your GPA could help narrow things down a bit. A PSAT score would suggest a similar score on the SAT. At least that's what the SAT folks say.
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
If you will be playing with one of the best travel teams in VA, then your coach/manager probably knows a lot about this process. I would encourage you to schedule some time with him to talk about your aspirations and get started with a plan. IMO, the most effective way for someone in your situation to be seen by the right schools, is to first identify a set of schools yourself. Make a list of schools where you think admissions, finances and baseball are all within your reach. Once you have...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
If you are intent on playing baseball after high school, you simply cannot quit your high school team. The most you can do is find a way to change schools. But not playing at all is a terrible red flag that you will not overcome in your recruiting efforts.
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
D1 - by all means you should not forgo your senior year of baseball. If you skip it you will always be saying to yourself "what if". You are probably a good candidate for a D2 or D3 school. You need to put together a list of prospective schools and get to a showcase this summer and fall to display your skills. College coaches seldom come to HS games and if they do it is to observe a prospect they already have on their radar. JuCo is certainly a good alternative. My son played two years of...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Can you switch hit? What eye is dominate, left or right? Do you hit .400? Bob
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
At least you have started seeking help. Get to work. Your school is not stifling you , it just isnt motivating you. Hit the summer showcases. Stay on your grind as far as work you need to get better. Including weights and speed training. Work , work, work, and more work. Not too late for anything yet. This is a big summer for you. The door to your dream is still very much open. But it wont stay open forever. Good luck.....
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
I think one of the main things to be considered here is how decisions are made. You cannot give the decision makers more reasons not to like you . All your positive traits are weighed against your negative traits...........if you are a great fielder, but are shorter, slower and lesser than average arm strength don't add "didn't play senior year".....
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
My point is simply this. Lots of people get disgruntled about their HS programs. And lots of people get disgruntled with their collegiate programs too, for that matter. If you identify yourself as someone who quit because you were disgruntled, no one is going to care about your reasons or whether you had some sort of justification. If you quit, you label yourself as someone who might become disgruntled on the collegiate team, too, if things don't go your way. And with all sorts of other...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
To answer the original question, "Should I forgo my senior baseball season", only if you hate baseball and yourself. No right minded, free willed baseball player would consider this. Now, I know under certain circumstances perhaps, yes. Under your circumstances, NO. Does not sound as if you hate the game. Not to make light of hating yourself because that is a serious issue in and of itself, but many here will promise you that eventually, not playing when you could, will never sit well with...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
I feel like some of you'll aren't fully understand my intentions I'm not saying I want to quit because I don't like everything that's going on I was asking should I sit out my senior year to work on development and make myself a better prospect and would college coaches look down on my decision to do so?
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
No, I get it. I really do, but find a way, some motivation to contribute to your high school. You have no idea where you're going or where you'll end up. I light bulb may go off during your college playing days. A coach may inspire you to coach. Maybe you end up coaching. Use your current experience to make a better future you. Keep playing in every game that you can, practice, work whenever you can. The most important thing to remember has been said in this thread: a college coach will...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
I feel like your taking my post out of context the point I'm getting out is should I forgo my senior in order to prolong my careeer at the next level and you comment about those who can't play the game and hating yourself the fact is I do have a life threatening condition I deal with T1 Diabetes everyday and I'd like to play for a long time but I just wanted to know whether playing high school is my best option in regards to getting to the next level
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Do both - develop and play for the hs team. Neither activity precludes the other. Neither diminishes the other. Be a "no red flag" guy who works harder than anyone else and all this other stuff will work itself out.
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
We get it. There are people responding who have coached baseball in high school and high school age travel. Trust colleges coaches will have an even dimmer view of not playing. If you think you're dealing with stuff now, wait until you get to college ball. A high school coach is making some extra pocket change by coaching. Hopefully he loves coaching. For a college coach it's his profession. It's how he pays the mortgage and feeds his family. There won't be any warm and fuzzy. If you can't...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
I think you need to play your senior season AND continue to work on development. Those aren't mutually exclusive activities. Even if you feel your HS coaches are not supportive of your development, or not helping you develop, you can try to focus on one thing every practice to get better at. Maybe it is working on baserunning, taking better routes to fly balls, ball exchange out of your glove, etc. There are things you can work on yourself that don't really need the involvement of your...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
D1_, Yes. Your best option in regards to playing at the next level is to play senior year, high school baseball. And EVERYTHING that you need to learn and know about preparing yourself for the possibility of playing college baseball is located on this site. Many here will be available to help. The value of this site is incredible.
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
First Kudos to you for reaching out to this board and taking that step...it's not eacy to ask for advice and even tougher to hear criticism...so good for you for taking that step. As a travel coach that has been fortunate enough to assist several players in their college decision making process and helping them get into the right college situation...I believe it would be a complete disaster to forgo your senior high school baseball season if you have any hope or desire to play in college. If...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
1. Play your senior year. This is a red flag to colleges if you don't. Colleges expect you to have the time to train with them, play with the team, workout on your own and handle multiple college courses. They will not accept the excuse that you didn't play with your high school team for 10 hours a week so you could train on your own. 2. While you are playing you can still train on your own and yes you should do that. (Gym membership, weight room at school, or if neither of those fit there...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Position players don't get better by not playing. Overcome the obstacles, you will be a better player and person for it. Often times JR College is a good route for undersized high school players to help achieve the dream. Every starter on my son's .500 JC team played professionally and/or at a 4 year school.
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
Pretty much agree with everyone that playing for your HS team is a priority. (Again, like so many paths forward in baseball, I know an outlier who played his Sr year in an outside alternate league, went to UCLA, and is now making his way up the MILB chain.) The rest is - and always has been - up to you. I know several handfuls of small HS players who have had very successful baseball careers at the pro, college and coaching levels. The common thread for every one was a burning desire to turn...
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Re: Should I forgo my Senior baseball season?
D1; what do think about in the dugout, on deck and in the batters box? do you backhand ground balls? What eye is dominate? Be prepared to answer many more questions as you progress. Can you hit .400? can you have a .500 on base average? Bob
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Re: Winter pitching velocity
My guy was in the same place and yes, he lost a little the first month or so after winter resting. Just takes time for the arm to get used to daily throwing, loosen up, etc. But by the time the showcases come around he should be back to the level where he left off, maybe a shade stronger or lower depending on how his body reacts. The benefits show up in a few more months. Natural progression would be 3-5mph improvement.
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Re: Winter pitching velocity
My 2022 ended the summer season in late July regularly hitting 83. In August he shut down throwing and started working out hard on a program through Cressey Sports Performance. He started throwing again in mid October touching 85 and touched 87 in early December. He put on roughly 13lbs of muscle and increased both flexibility and stability in key areas between early August and late October. Hopefully that is a data point you can use but I am not certain a sample size of one really means ...
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Re: Winter pitching velocity
Between natural growth progression and the velocity program, you can certainly expect to see increases but it really varies by individual. There is no formula. There can also be spurts and stalls. And, yes, certainly during ramp up, you can not only expect regression but must (in effect) force it - vitally important that the ramp up is properly gradual, not rushed. In fact, this is one of the challenges to fitting in a rest period, particularly from this age on as he may be dealing with...
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Re: Winter pitching velocity
I don't think attending a showcase in February will serve you much purpose, unless you just want your son to experience that type of setting for down the road. Sounds like your son did have a rest period, which is imperative. If he's just starting to throw lightly now, I'm not sure he should be going to a showcase in a month. As Cabbage points out, he's going to feel pressured to through hard, risk injury, with very little outcome on the other end.
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Re: Winter pitching velocity
A lot of the PBR state qualifying events are in Feb. At least here in the NE they are presidents week.
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Re: Getting started
Are you doing any Winter Training? What time does your high school season start and end? Are you taking private instructions on the side? You are 17, what are you trying to accomplish in baseball? Are you trying to play in college?
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Re: Getting started
Yes I've been doing all of that. I'm trying to play in college that's the goal. My high school season starts in January and ends in April. Also important to note i don't start my travel ball season bad normally but it takes a while to get to my best.
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Re: Getting started
You simply have to figure out WHY it takes you so long to get to your best. Lack of reps? Lack of focus? Lack of physical fitness coming in? And what do you consider your 'best?' More hard hit balls? Better stats? More comfortable? There's a reason for it, you simply have to be very honest with yourself and figure it out. Once you do, change you habits accordingly.
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Re: Getting started
Please don't take this as harsh. But it's reality. There are players who desire to play college ball. There are players who will put in whatever effort is necessary to get to college ball. If you're seventeen and haven't figured out how to kick start your season you need to do some catching up real fast, physically and mentally. You're seventeen. What's your business plan to get to college ball. Chances are you have to pursue college ball rather than college ball pursuing you.