Skip to main content

Hi all, I'm a 2017 and was wondering what you guys thought about starting a mission to become a pitcher at this point in time. I've never really pitched much as I'm a primary outfielder but on the recruiting trail I feel like having pitching experience can benefit me. Essentially, I do not want to pigeon hole myself to just outfield. Is learning pitching at this age too late? Do any of you have some helpful routines, workouts for adding velo, etc? Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Originally Posted by warriorbaseball16:
Hi all, I'm a 2017 and was wondering what you guys thought about starting a mission to become a pitcher at this point in time. I've never really pitched much as I'm a primary outfielder but on the recruiting trail I feel like having pitching experience can benefit me. Essentially, I do not want to pigeon hole myself to just outfield. Is learning pitching at this age too late? Do any of you have some helpful routines, workouts for adding velo, etc? Any feedback is greatly appreciated!


No, not at all. I'm working now with a 2018 who has always been a centerfielder. He decidedd he wanted to try pitching. We've been working for about three months now. His velocity is outstanding and he's quickly learning the finer points. He hasn't yet seen the mound in a game (that's going to happen Thanksgiving weekend in a Vegas tourney) but I myself am excited to get him out there. I think he's a varsity mainline starter by his junior year. He's a hard worker.

 

As far as help, I'm a little hesitant to offer too much training advise without knowing more about you and seeing your mechanics. However, you should go for it.

If you really feel a burning need to pitch, you should go for it.  But if it's all about recruiting, maybe not, unless you've got a cannon, which from the  video you posted recently, you do not seem to have.

 

The number that gets tossed around here a lot is that only 10% of high school players go on to play college ball.  If college ball is your dream,  then you should go for it with all you have. But your HS career is a worthy goal all by itself.  So I'd ask myself, and maybe ask my coach, does my team need me on the hill in order to be successful?  Or does it already have plenty of good pitching? If the answer is the  latter, I'd work as hard as I could on being a better hitter and a better outfielder, which will be a lot easier if you're not spending time doing pens.   That will help you help your team, and it will probably pay more dividends in recruiting  than pitching will if you're not capable of being a #1 or #2 pitcher on your team.  BTW that doesn't mean you shouldn't be doing long toss and bands religiously to strengthen your arm. Everybody needs a strong arm.

 

Just IMHO.

Last edited by JCG

Truth is, you may be turned into a pitcher by a coach later on down the line.  A SS from my son's high school was recruited as a middle infielder to a JC, and when he arrived, they made him a CF. Shortly thereafter, they saw he had a gun, so they turned him into a RHP.  This year he started his Jr. year as a RHP for Wichita State.  It happens in the minors too.  If you can pitch, go for it.  It may be your ticket to bigger and better things.

My son was a primary catcher/rare pitcher until the fall of his sophomore year in HS.  That was when it became clear which path to follow and 12 months later he was verbally committed to a D1 school as a pitcher.

 

If you want to do it I say go for it.  HS teams can never have too much pitching and in my son's experience if you desire to play after HS college coaches are always looking for pitching as well.

 

Good Luck

 

 

A friend pitched the second half of his senior year for the first time due to injuries. He had already signed with an SEC team as a catcher. The coach decided he was a pitcher. He pitched six years in the majors.

 

Another friend did the same thing. He out pitched a major prospect in a high school playoff game with a lot of scouts in attendance. He was drafted as a pitcher and signed the next month. He made it to AAA.

 

It's never too late if you have the potential.

How are u going about It?

what has your HS coach said?

it will be an uphill battle to be honest. Imo you need a passion for pitching to stick with it.

your no longer little league age where it's easier to change positions. Yes, you'll hear a few stories out there where someone started late and did well. But learning to pitch is a marathon, not a sprint.  Sounds like u just want to do it so you will have a better chance playing at college level. Personally I would improve on what skills u have now, esp w hitting and look at good D3 academic schools. 

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×