I have lots of young athletes ask me, “What did you do when you were in high school to try & throw harder?” My answer is always the same. 1 I tried to throw the ball as hard as I possibly could through the catcher every pitch. 2 I tried to imitate/move like my idols...

Lots of times young athletes will get caught up in the result of each pitch (velo, location, ball/strike, movement, etc.). Usually statements like, “How does that guy throw so hard!?” will follow. However, there’s a reason elite throwers put up insane velo numbers...

It’s b/c they’ve figured out how to apply the maximum amount of force into the baseball w/ their body’s current abilities (strength, mobility, kinetic sequencing, etc.). So when young, capable athletes ask me why they don’t throw 88+mph, instead of providing them with a complex..

...mechanical breakdown (throwing arm kinematics, pelvic sequencing, lead leg block, etc.), I’ll simply ask them to pick their favorite pitcher. Let’s say Jacob Degrom for arguments sake. Okay, Jacob Degrom throws 100mph & there’s many different reasons why...

But to keep things simple, I will ask the athlete one question... Compare your throwing motion to Mr. DeGrom, do you move similar when you throw the baseball? (Usually the answer is no). Okay, there’s one reason why you don’t throw 88+. Coaches should ustilize elite throwers...

...as prime examples when instructing young athletes how move efficiently. It’s one thing for an athlete to idolize their favorite player. It’s another to use said idol’s physical abilities as a roadmap to assist in their own developmental process...