Advice for a 13 year old

It’s not that a lot of kids are throwing 75 at 13. The harder throwing kids are throwing 75 at 13. Get help improving your mechanics and strengthening your arm. Do not try to do it alone. Get proper instruction and supervision. In the long run it’s more about your velocity at 15 and 16 that’s an indicator of the direction your pitching is taking.

Hey Bushleaguer , Try to keep in mind that at your age your body is changing. You are growing and developing physically everyday. Maybe only a fraction of a millimeter , but growing non the less.

I say that because throwing a baseball as hard as you can at your age can be a huge health risk . This is coming from the parent of a NCAA D1 pitcher who spent his high school season hitting because his shoulder hurt too much to pitch and his fist year in college had to undergo serious shoulder surgery . Surgery that required a 9-12 recovery time. It sucked .

My kid was always the kid that was clocking his velocity....and there was never enough. When he threw 78mph he wanted to hit 80. Once he hit 80 mph it was 85. I watched him touch 87mph on the left side at 16 years old . He didn't care because it wasn't 90

Be careful . If you get hurt the game gets taken away from you.

Until you're 15-16 years old I would focus on Hitting the ball. If you're gonna pitch . Locate. Learn how to throw a proper change up and breaking ball. You locate and change speeds , you'll get outs. That applies to High school, NCAA, and Pro Ball.

If want to read an important book about all of this , Get this book :

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Bil...modity/dp/0062400371

BushLeaguer posted:

Hi, I'm thirteen years old from across the border in Canada. I'm a 5'7 140 lb utility player who's been using this site for a while to learn more about high school baseball and the process of becoming a successful ballplayer. I have been working in the gym during winter.

I try to be self-aware as a player, and I know that I can hit pretty well and I can run. However I also know that my biggest weakness would have to be my pitching velocity. Very recently I consistently threw 65 on the mound. After digging a little into this site, it's easy to see that lots of kids are throwing 75 mph at my age.

What advice would you give/ What can I do at 14 years old to eventually see progress in my velo?

 

 

You sure you aren’t a parent of a 13 year old player? Most 13 year olds I know don’t write well punctuated sentences and paragraphs and certainly don’t use the phrase “self-aware,” properly hyphenated no less. It’s ok if you are the parent asking the question.

StrainedOblique posted:

Hey Bushleaguer , Try to keep in mind that at your age your body is changing. You are growing and developing physically everyday. Maybe only a fraction of a millimeter , but growing non the less.

I say that because throwing a baseball as hard as you can at your age can be a huge health risk . This is coming from the parent of a NCAA D1 pitcher who spent his high school season hitting because his shoulder hurt too much to pitch and his fist year in college had to undergo serious shoulder surgery . Surgery that required a 9-12 recovery time. It sucked .

My kid was always the kid that was clocking his velocity....and there was never enough. When he threw 78mph he wanted to hit 80. Once he hit 80 mph it was 85. I watched him touch 87mph on the left side at 16 years old . He didn't care because it wasn't 90

Be careful . If you get hurt the game gets taken away from you.

Until you're 15-16 years old I would focus on Hitting the ball. If you're gonna pitch . Locate. Learn how to throw a proper change up and breaking ball. You locate and change speeds , you'll get outs. That applies to High school, NCAA, and Pro Ball.

If want to read an important book about all of this , Get this book :

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Bil...modity/dp/0062400371

 

 

Thanks for the help.

I always thought that pulling out a velo gun was just a way to see how you match up against the competition and to see how you progress, but I can definitely see how throwing at maximum effort too often can lead to future arm problems. It's always hard to differentiate between overtraining and hard work.

Thanks

GaryMe posted:

BushLeaguer posted:

Hi, I'm thirteen years old from across the border in Canada. I'm a 5'7 140 lb utility player who's been using this site for a while to learn more about high school baseball and the process of becoming a successful ballplayer. I have been working in the gym during winter.

I try to be self-aware as a player, and I know that I can hit pretty well and I can run. However I also know that my biggest weakness would have to be my pitching velocity. Very recently I consistently threw 65 on the mound. After digging a little into this site, it's easy to see that lots of kids are throwing 75 mph at my age.

What advice would you give/ What can I do at 14 years old to eventually see progress in my velo?

 

 

You sure you aren’t a parent of a 13 year old player? Most 13 year olds I know don’t write well punctuated sentences and paragraphs and certainly don’t use the phrase “self-aware,” properly hyphenated no less. It’s ok if you are the parent asking the question.

Haha I'll take this as a complement.

I can assure you I'm a kid.

Hi Bush leaguer, I have a 13 yo with your size & wt. I would suggest the Driveline program and good strength program. My son is doing a youth olympic lifting program rather than starting strength.

IMO, 13 is too early for a lifting program. 

Core and Leg strength is key and your foundation.

Speed training is also where you should focus.

Young Pitcher should also include OF during practices, since there is more opportunity for long toss.

In addition, OF provides you with a grand view of the field and defensive flow of the game.

Dont worry about those throwing 75. Each player develops individually. 75 could be that players peak. You have time to gain velo. 

Good Luck, Ay!

BushLeaguer posted:

StrainedOblique posted:

Hey Bushleaguer , Try to keep in mind that at your age your body is changing. You are growing and developing physically everyday. Maybe only a fraction of a millimeter , but growing non the less.

I say that because throwing a baseball as hard as you can at your age can be a huge health risk . This is coming from the parent of a NCAA D1 pitcher who spent his high school season hitting because his shoulder hurt too much to pitch and his fist year in college had to undergo serious shoulder surgery . Surgery that required a 9-12 recovery time. It sucked .

My kid was always the kid that was clocking his velocity....and there was never enough. When he threw 78mph he wanted to hit 80. Once he hit 80 mph it was 85. I watched him touch 87mph on the left side at 16 years old . He didn't care because it wasn't 90

Be careful . If you get hurt the game gets taken away from you.

Until you're 15-16 years old I would focus on Hitting the ball. If you're gonna pitch . Locate. Learn how to throw a proper change up and breaking ball. You locate and change speeds , you'll get outs. That applies to High school, NCAA, and Pro Ball.

If want to read an important book about all of this , Get this book :

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Bil...modity/dp/0062400371

 

 

Thanks for the help.

I always thought that pulling out a velo gun was just a way to see how you match up against the competition and to see how you progress, but I can definitely see how throwing at maximum effort too often can lead to future arm problems. It's always hard to differentiate between overtraining and hard work.

Thanks

Buy that book and read it