By Pierce Jones –
When people hear “workload management,” they usually think it means doing less—sitting out, getting limited. But that’s not really what it is. Not when it’s done right. Workload management is actually about building athletes up. It’s about helping them handle more, not less: more innings, more appearances, more consistency, and more durability across the long haul of the season.
Here’s the truth: If you’re not built to handle the demands of your competition, it’s not a matter of if you’ll break down—it’s when. Let’s say I asked you today if you could run a marathon. You’d probably say “no.” But what if I gave you 10 months to train? You’d probably feel more confident. Now, what if I only gave you two months? That changes things.
Pitching works the same way. The season is a marathon—you can’t just show up and start throwing high-intensity innings without a smart build-up. That’s where workload management comes in: it helps you progress toward what the game will demand from you.
And no, it’s not about restricting opportunity. Just look at Nick Martinez. Last season, Martinez bounced between starting and relieving. He was a setup guy one day, a starter the next, and was still available to pitch between starts. He didn’t do that because someone limited his workload; he did it because he was built for it.
Compared to what we see every April in pro ball, it’s consistently the month with the highest injury rate. Why? Because players aren’t properly built up coming out of the off-season. Their bodies aren’t ready for the stress, and it shows.
2020 is another example. During the COVID season, players were sent home after spring training and brought back with just a month to ramp up. That year, elbow injuries jumped by 3.5 times.
It’s not just happening in the pros. Right now, about 57% of Tommy John surgeries are performed on athletes between the ages of 15 and 19. That number is going up by more than 9% every year. These injuries happen because we’re skipping the steps that help young arms adapt to real workload.
Here’s the bottom line: You don’t rise to the level of your goals—you rise to the level of your preparation. Workload management isn’t about saving bullets; it’s about ensuring your arm is ready to fire when it matters.
Let’s stop limiting—and start building. You weren’t made to be protected; you were made to be prepared.
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Important TBR Updates
- Summer is upon us! A great introduction to the Texas Baseball Ranch® and our world renowned training is through our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps. Upcoming dates include:
May 24-26 (Sat-Mon)
June 6-8 (Fri-Sun)
June 20-22 (Fri-Sun)
July 4-6 (Fri-Sun)
July 18-20 (Fri-Sun)
Aug. 1-3 (Fri-Sun)
Aug. 30-Sept 1 (Sat-Mon)
To register or learn more CLICK HERE
- Have you been considering attending one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamp but are still on the fence? To help, we have a detailed information 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.
- 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.
- NEW VIDEO on our YouTube Channel: “In-Season Pitching Growth: The Champion’s Secret – Pt1.” Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w01vYy_KQig and share your opinion in the comments.
- Interested in our “Summer Intensive Development Program”? Join us for 2-11 weeks this summer. For more information on this one of a kind Summer Training experience and for a registration form visit https://www.texasbaseballranch.com/events/tbr-summer-program/.
- Would you like to participate in the Ranch Summer Program but can’t find 2+ weeks in your schedule? We have an option for you! Attend one of our 3-Day EPBC’s and add the summer program week after. It’s seven days of training and is a great option for those players with an extremely busy summer schedule. Give us a call and we can provide you with more details – (936) 588-6762.
- Our equipment provider Oates Specialties is offering a discount on Water Bulgarian Bags through the month of June. They will be 20% OFF with Free Shipping. You can also get an additional 5% savings by using the promo code TBR5 at checkout on any items (including the water bags). Go to www.OatesSpecialties.com.
