By Carson Ellis –
Fall baseball is one of the most important times of the year for pitchers. While there are still games being played and competition happening, most pitching coaches at the high school and college levels are thinking about something bigger than the scoreboard. They are thinking about development, evaluation, and preparation for the spring.
The fall season gives coaches an opportunity to see pitchers in a different environment. Instead of simply asking, “Did he get the hitter out?” coaches are looking deeper. They are evaluating command, pitch quality, athleticism, mentality, workload, velocity, and how a pitcher responds to coaching. The goal is to figure out what each pitcher needs to improve before the season becomes meaningful.
Training With a Purpose
One of the biggest priorities in the fall is training. Coaches are trying to build better pitchers.
This can mean improving movement patterns, developing pitch command, strengthening the body, building velocity, improving secondary pitches, or becoming more efficient later in games. Every pitcher is different, so the training plan should reflect what that specific pitcher needs.
The fall season is also the time to work on things that may be difficult to change during the season. During the spring, there isn’t always enough time to make major adjustments. Fall provides a longer runway to make those changes, test them, and see whether they translate to the mound.
Some of the best questions for a pitcher during the fall are, “How good am I right now?” and “What can I improve before spring?”
Evaluation Beyond the Box Score
Coaches are also evaluating much more than statistics.
A pitcher might give up a few runs during a fall outing and still have a very good day from a development standpoint. Maybe the pitcher showed improved fastball command, threw his changeup with confidence, maintained his delivery late into the outing, or made an adjustment after struggling early.
Coaches are watching how you pitch physically and mentally, not just what the final line says.
They are asking questions like:
- Can he consistently throw strikes?
- Does his fastball have life and command?
- Are his secondary pitches developing?
- Can he execute when behind in the count?
- Does his delivery repeat?
- How does he respond after giving up a hit?
- Does he make adjustments when something isn’t working?
- Is he becoming more consistent?
- Can he handle increased workload?
- Is he coachable?
The Evaluation Goes Beyond the Mound
Pitching coaches are also evaluating who you are away from your actual innings.
Are you showing up prepared? Are you taking your training seriously? Are you working in the weight room? Are you recovering properly? Are you paying attention when you’re not pitching? Are you asking quality questions? Are you helping your teammates?
These things can separate pitchers when coaches are deciding who they can trust once the season starts.
At the high school level, fall can help coaches identify which players are developing into varsity contributors and who may be ready to take on bigger roles. At the college level, coaches are evaluating how players fit into the pitching staff and which pitchers are putting themselves in position to earn innings when the spring arrives.
Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
The fall season is also a time when pitchers should be willing to experiment.
You might throw a pitch you’ve been working on and get hit. You might make a movement pattern adjustment that doesn’t immediately feel comfortable. That’s okay. If you’re trying to improve, you’re going to have moments where things don’t work.
The important part is learning from those moments. Coaches want to see how you respond. Do you know how to make an adjustment? Do you continue attacking? Do you stay composed? Do you learn from the experience?
Failure during development is information.
Build the Pitcher You Want to Be in the Spring
The biggest mistake a pitcher can make during the fall is worrying too much about being perfect. The fall isn’t about proving that you are already the finished product. It’s about building the pitcher you want to become.
Train with a purpose. Compete with a purpose. Pay attention to what your coaches are telling you. Learn what your strengths and weaknesses are. Take care of your body. Develop your pitches. Improve your command.
When spring arrives, you want your coaches to look back at the fall and see a pitcher who made significant progress.
The fall season is where you build it. The spring season is where you show it.
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Important TBR Updates
- It’s back! You asked, we answered. We are binging back our pitching coaches workshop. It will be held this year on December 4th & 5th. Early Bird savings ends October 15th. For more information or to register go to www.CoachesBootcamp.com or email info@texasbaseballranch.com.
- Registration for our Advanced Alumni Camp on January 2 & 3 is now open! Save $500 with Early Bird registration through November 10th. Space is limited to 32 pitchers. You must have attended a previous Ranch event to participate in this camp. CLICK HERE to register.
- Join us for a Fall/Winter Elite Pitchers Boot Camp!
October 10-12 (Sat-Mon) Spots Limited
November 21-23 (Sat-Mon) Spots Limited
December 28-30 (Mon-Wed)
January 16-18 (Sat-Mon)
February 13-15 (Sat-Mon)
To register or learn more CLICK HERE
- 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 Info@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a copy.
- Attention Catchers! Our annual Elite Catcher’s Boot Camp will be held December 11th – 13th. Registration is now open. CLICK HERE to learn more and reserve your spot. $500 Early Bird savings available.
- Our October classes are underway but you can still join us! Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, and you can choose to attend one or both days each week. Spots are limited. Email Info@TexasBaseballRanch.com or call our office at (936) 588-6762 to secure a spot or ask any questions.
- Coach Wolforth is hosting a special 90 minute webinar – “The Velocity Code: 3 Secrets to Improving Velocity and Staying Healthy” on Thursdays at 7pm CST. If you’d like to attend the next webinar, CLICK HERE to register.
