I need an honest response

BD,

Your correct, the info you give is not enough. The numbers you mention are good but not great! Of course, it depends on many things beside what you have mentioned. It all depends on how good you are now and how much you improve over the next year.

Best of luck and Merry Christnas.

Lefty or righty? A 6-2, 84 mph junior lefty will certainly catch a coaches eye.

Add a few pounds .

D-1 will require great pitching stats to go with what you've said already.

Not knowing "how" you pitch makes it difficult to assess you. For example, how well do you locate those pitches? Do you think you've completely matured physically, or will continue to grow?

Raw numbers you are similar to what my son was at the same age. He's now a sophomore in college, 6-4, 195 and is touching 90. He didn't get a lot of major college looks out of high school because he was a righty, very slim, and throwing middle 80s. But, he is playing for a good NAIA program where he got a chance to play immediately.

82-84 is cool, but as mentioned it depends on your control. And to add to that, having good movement with your pitches is a bonus.
Things like attitude and hustle area always good. I'd say even a pitcher should hustle on/off the field just like the rest of the players. If a scout can spot you communicating and talking to your catcher, I'm sure he'd like that as well.

Mr3000:

My son played three years on varsity as a shortstop and closer. As a shortstop he always runs swiftly on and off the field...very noticeable...I've had people comment on that to me. It doesn't cost a dime and it should always be done in my opinion.

When he pitches he doesn't vary his routine...why should he? If running on and off the field as a shortstop commanded peoples attention then it should be done also by a pitcher...right?

Not according to his highschool teammates...particularly the other pitchers. They razzed him about it...telling him he was only doing it to show them up...they were wrong about that.

Bottomline is that, although he is thoroughly a team player, he never stopped running...didn't win any points with his teammates who complained but it helped get him a scholarship to play ball in college.

In my book your advice to BD2579 is sound...even including the part about a pitcher hustling on and off the field along with the others.

gotwood

Interesting point that you make regarding on and off the field.
I recall my son as a HS junior being talked to by a scout after one particular game which was a blow out--he told my son never ever walk on or off the field. He never did again

BD get yourself on a strength program, you could easily gain 30 lbs which will increase your MPH's. Also your curveball MPH's speed needs to get into the 70-71 range. It should be about 13 mph slower than the fastball.

Coaches are looking for a good fastball with movement you can throw for strikes and good command or breaking pitchers and being able to change speeds. plus sound mechanics.

quote:

Originally posted by Dibble:
BD get yourself on a strength program, you could easily gain 30 lbs which will increase your MPH's. Also your curveball MPH's speed needs to get into the 70-71 range. It should be about 13 mph slower than the fastball.

Coaches are looking for a good fastball with movement you can throw for strikes and good command or breaking pitchers and being able to change speeds. plus sound mechanics.

Ummm...gaining 30 lbs is not easy.

TRhit:

When my son was 14 and playing on a travel team they were wrapping up a practice when a cluster of the players were approached by the team's young pitching coach.

This coach was a college student and pitched for his college team...evidently the Diamondbacks had shown some interest in this young man...in other words he had some stature in the eyes of the our 14 yr. olds, aside from just being their pitching coach.

He told the gathered bunch of boys "You're of an age where people are starting to come around to look at you...you will never know who may be looking at you or when...carry yourself well and hustle on and off the field".

He said it with much more punch than any of us dads could have mustered. Since that exchange I have never seen my son even jog on or off the field...it is always something just short of a full sprint...thank you Paul Jimenez for inspiring my son.

BD,

Work hard...nothing will get you to where you want to be faster. Weights and eating right will assist you, as will time. You will get bigger naturally with age, but you're a junior and pretty lanky. Time to expedite, I'd say...

Get to a Prefect Game ID or showcase. Want to know where you stand? That's where you find out.

What catches a coach's eye is what he sees when you are out there on the mound. Work toward that.

Good luck!

quote:

What catches a coaches eye on a information sheet other than grades.

BD,

Neatness, accuracy, correct spelling, etc.

If space is provided mention your unbelievable love for the game and willingness to out work everyone else. Mention your willingness to do everything that it takes to help the program.

Of course, that's only if all the above is the truth.

As mentioned by others, besides having good mechanics, the best thing you can do for your velocity is get stronger. Most importantly ... this doesn't mean just go into a weight room and start bench pressing. Make sure you find a trainer that knows specifically what muscle groups are important for pitching ... legs, torso, back, shoulders. In order to develop more velocity, you have to have sufficient strength to decelerate that additional momentum down the hill. If you're not strong enough, your autonomous nervous system simply won't let you go 150% ... you'd fall over or end up injury prone. Think of your body as a race car that must have very good brakes ... obviously good mechanics and sequencing that deliver good arm speed are important, but ultimately if your body is going to carry more momentum down the hill in order to deliver that momentum into the ball, your body needs to be able to absorb that momentum through deceleration.

My son was also 6'2" and 165 lbs, but as a freshman. As a freshman he threw 81-82. He did hit the weights and gain weight, but his velocity started to improve most significantly when he supplimented general weight training with specific muscle group training for pitching and yoga starting in his sophomore year. His sophomore year, he was 6'4" and 185 lbs, 83-84 FB ... by his junior year he was 6'4"++ and 210 ... his FB jumped to cruising at 87-89. He's continuing to work on strength conditioning now as a senior, and also working on fine-tuing his mechanics to carry more momentum down hill as his body is now strong enough to absorb it (about 215+ lbs now) ... hopefully this spring we'll see him move into 90+ territory.

Others also mentioned good offspeed pitches, movement, and control. All very important. One thing I see a lot in HS baseball is kids that don't work enough on their 'deception'. This is a combination of things. Vary how you set your grip so you don't start 'tipping' your pitch. Make sure your arm slot hides the ball from the batter for as long as possible. Throw your pitches with the same slot and arm velocity so that the batter has as little time as possible to "pick up" the pitch ... your offspeed pitches result from the grip, not a slower arm speed. If your offspeed pitches not only have good movement, but are delivered 'deceptively', you don't necessarily need to always throw them for strikes ... in some cases you intentionally don't want to throw them for strikes if you can deceive the batter into chasing it out of the zone.

My son goes to school in New Jersey.

82-84 for a high school junior, in the wintertime, is fine.

6'2" at that age is also a good sign. Plenty of body to gain weight!

Work hard; study hard; eat nutritious meals; and, good things will happen. Grow into your body.

You're fine.

Wish my son was 6'2"

pbonesteele that is good info. I have seen this many times where guys go to school and blossom into great pitchers.
I would add that you should believe in your ability regardless of what people tell you. That does not mean being arrogant or full of yourself. You should know if you are good. Also do you want the ball ? do you want to face the best competition?
My son is also a skinny 6'4" 176 lbs maxing at 84. His stats were off the chart and he never got the respect he should have, in 04 he ahd 27ks in his first 11 innings against some of the toughest competition in Ontario. 05 was just as good. My point is you have to know how good you are and how bad you want it. Get the best instruction you can afford, work as hard as you can with proper guidance. Don't let people put you down if you believe in yourself. never lose your composure on the mound even if you are having a tough day. Do not believe in the old tale if you are good they will find you. Get a video together and you market yourself.