By Pierce Jones –
Baseball is a game that I often see many people always wanting more from. I would say, for the most part, I understand. You want more velocity, more command of your pitches, more strength/stamina, etc. While all of these can be great and very desirable to want more of, there is one area that sticks out like a sore thumb that always rubs me the wrong way with guys wanting more…
The more pitches you have in your arsenal does NOT make you a better pitcher!
In fact, for most young pitchers, it can inhibit you and hold you back. Since starting at The Ranch—specializing in Trackman and working with off-speed pitches—I have encountered 12/13-year-olds with just five pitches countless times. To this day, it continues to blow my mind every time.
The problem isn’t necessarily the five pitches. The problem is knowing the difference between renting and owning those pitches. What I mean by that is, if you are renting a pitch, you are uncomfortable with throwing that pitch in a pressure situation. If your catcher gives you the sign behind the plate to throw a certain pitch and you feel uncertain or nervous about throwing it (and you often find yourself shaking him off), then you do not own that pitch. Owning a pitch is knowing that whatever your catcher puts down for you to throw, you will have the confidence to throw it. And not just throw it; you should be comfortable throwing it with a 3-2 count, bases loaded, last inning, and the game on the line.
With that being said, let me share a story with you about one of our professional guys who trains with us:
Throughout high school, he was not the most overpowering pitcher by any means. All he utilized were just three pitches his whole high school career. After finishing high school, he attended a junior college where he continued to use those three pitches. After attending junior college, he received the opportunity to pitch at a high-level Division I school, where he continued to dominate with just three pitches. It wasn’t until after he was drafted and played a full season in the minor league system that his organization talked to him about implementing a fourth pitch into his arsenal.
This is a great example of how, if you truly have the confidence to OWN your pitches (even if you don’t have a huge arsenal) and understand how those pitches work, you can become very successful.
Oftentimes, many of us can get caught up and think that more is always better. Let that not be the case for you when going through pitch design and developmental stages this summer. Don’t be afraid to step back and think, “Am I renting or owning here?”.
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Important TBR Updates
- Interested in our “Summer Intensive Development Program”? There are 7 weeks remaining this summer. You can join us for three, all seven or any amount in between. For more information on this one of a kind Summer Training experience and for a registration form, CLICK HERE.
- Dates for our 2024 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps can be found on our website. Our next available dates are July 5-7 and July 19-21. Spots are filling up fast so don’t delay! For more information on these 3-Day events or to register, CLICK HERE.
- Would you like to experience both the EPBC and Summer Program? We’ve got you covered. Attend one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps and Add-On one week of our Summer Program immediately after for a total stay of seven days. Call for the details (936) 588-6762 and special savings.
- Have you been considering attending one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamp but haven’t yet pulled the trigger? To help, we have a detailed mailing package entitled “What Makes This Boot Camp Different”. If you’d like to receive this package and start making plans for the summer, email Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a copy.
- NEW VIDEO on our YouTube Channel: “The 5 Pillars of Baseball Pitcher Training”. Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjdsv9PJuxI and share your opinion in the comments.
