How fast does a LHP really need to throw to play D1 or D3?

RJ Swindle barely broke 80 mph. He has pitched in MLB.

The low velocity guys fly so far beneath the radar they are never talked about at any level. Announcers never say the No. 1 starter doesn't hit 85 on the gun. Alot of them don't and don't get the credit until they have a bunch of wins. They constantly have to prove they can pitch. Plenty do that. The hard throwers constantly have to prove they can't pitch. Plenty do that also.

Swindle had to adjust to every level of play. I remember watching him get lit up by the Gators on TV, thinking he was not going to sniff another start at Charleston Southern. The next time I saw him pitch was on TV pitching for the Phillies.

The soft tossers have to be managed more than the hard throwers.
You are correct that soft tossers have to show they can pitch and are at a disadvantage because of the mind set of most coaches.
RJ was a great pitcher who had a coach (Murphy)who believed in him. Murphy was our 1st contact with CSU and part of the reason we looked at the school. Unfortunately he was let go before my son got there.
My son's 1st 2 years were great but not a lot of innings compared to pitchers under Murphy.

If great means eventually effective, I'll agree.

I think we might all agree that it is difficult to be effective or great, but unless you believe in yourself, you are done before you start.

San Diego Padres 2009 Wade LeBlance 3-1 3.69 era 82 mph fb.

LeBlanc's last game of the season was against the SF Giants. MLB's Gameday lists the speed, as determined by multiple cameras, of each pitch. I only checked the first threee innings, but he hit 88 multiple times.

I bring this up because we posters here tend to mention the very best speeds that our players have shown. Conversely, we tend to notice the slowest speed from a pro.

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While it only takes one...hopefully YOU or yours....

There is a big difference between possible and probable, between common and rare, between frequent and few...and it is well worth knowing the difference beforehand....then proving them wrong.

Spud web at 5'5" showed us that it was possible to play successfully in the land of the giants...but he is not the norm.


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Might have to scroll down to see report. Leblanc is a good example of a finesse lefty. But he was definitely topping out at 86 as a jr in high school.

LeBlanc HS JR

So if you are a LHP and cruise 83-84 and top out at 86 like this Leblanc guy what attributes and other pitches must you have to succeed or have the chance to succeed at a high level D1 program. Must your change and CB be plus pitches and your fastball better have great movement? Did the fact that he was 6' 3" and 175lbs help him with his rating as well? Had he been 5' 10" and 160lbs would he still have received an 8.5 pg rating? Just curious...

Well, obviously we graded him too low, the way things turned out.

It was a combination of body, projection, outstanding breaking ball, movement on the fastball, change speeds, command, ease of which he did things, arm action, three quality pitches and almost MLB ave. FB as only a junior in high school.

Each pitcher stands alone, but the 6-3/175 proportioned the way it was, sure didn't hurt. If people like to compare I could give a link or two of profiles on other successful LHPs who would be considered more finesse than power types.

Another aspect with regard to LHP velocity at the college level---a lot will depend on the coach of the program--many won't look at kids throwing under 85 while others are just concerned with whether the kid can get batters out and win games---right or wrong that is just the way it is

PG,

I'd love to see the link to the other finesse type lefties.

redsox,

We are kind of swamped right now, maybe I can get a better example later, but here is an outstanding pitching prospect (drafted late but attending Vanderbilt) would have been selected earlier in the draft if more signable. Most would consider him a finesse type lefty. We have seen him touch 89, but he is very good at mid to 87 and throws in that area with command and good life. This kid may not be the greatest example because he is going to throw in the 90s, but I would still consider him a finesse type lefty. Maybe I can come up with a few that are lower velocity finesse types.

Lefty Prospect

PG, perhaps Garvin is not the best example. Everyone knew that he was going to throw harder because of how skinny he was. Garvin currently pitches 88-92, and touched 94 at the Cape. Josh Turley would probably be a better example, or Justin Simmons at Texas a few years ago. He went 12-1 his sophomore year pitching at 82.

Here is my question. Maybe PG has a good thought process on it. Why are there "crafty lefties", but not crafty righties. Can a right hander with great movement, stuff and mental makeup, not be just as effective as a lefty with similar stuff? Just curious.

Brandon Webb for the D'backs. He is a righty who is crafty. In 2007 before he hurt his shoulder, he would get on a role and throw 4-5 innings in a row and never throw above 88. He would throw nothing but sankers. That is what he called them. Sankers. I always thought he had lefty movement.

Finesse HS Lefty

I believe this kid was selected most valuable pitcher of the tournament at the recent PG National Championship (Upperclass) and he's been committed to UCSB for quite a while.

quote:

PG, perhaps Garvin is not the best example. Everyone knew that he was going to throw harder because of how skinny he was. Garvin currently pitches 88-92, and touched 94 at the Cape. Josh Turley would probably be a better example, or Justin Simmons at Texas a few years ago. He went 12-1 his sophomore year pitching at 82.

Koufax,

You're right! Sorry! I know he wasn't the best example, but I was in a hurry. Josh Turley is a much better example. In fact, he is a GREAT example.

Thanks for bringing him up.
Josh Turley

quote:

Here is my question. Maybe PG has a good thought process on it. Why are there "crafty lefties", but not crafty righties. Can a right hander with great movement, stuff and mental makeup, not be just as effective as a lefty with similar stuff? Just curious.

Here is one of many examples, signed with Clemson.
Crafty RHP

Koufax

What ever became of Justin Simmons. If I recall, he was drafted and his changeup was his signature pitch.