Ask Applejack

Most D-1's are looking for the pitcher that can bring it in hopes that they can develop him into a pitcher instead of a thrower with his talent.
To be frank with you, I don't think there will be a lot of interest in a high school pitcher that is in the low 80's unless he's a freshman or sophomore. I'm speaking at the D-1 level.
But if he knows how to pitch, there will be plenty opportunity for him.
I threw in the upper 80's coming out of high school and my path was to go to JC and develop strength wise and baseball wise. Like an otj training. And then shoot for a D-1.
I was fortunate enough to play at an elite JC program in the SE and caught the attention of some pro scouts when we played Dekalb South out of Georgia.
Being left-handed is also a plus.

 

AJ- what's your thoughts on why more young kids are developing arm troubles than ever before? I can't ever recall a time growing up that a young kid had a torn rotator cuff and arm impingements.

 

More variety of pitches taught. The most harmful are the split/fork ball and the screw ball.
Also pitchers are throwing breaking pitches at a younger age.
But I think the most important part is coaching. There has been a significant amount of emphasis put on winning at an early age and the coaches are abusing the better pitchers by throwing them a lot and not teaching them the proper methods of treatment after pitching.

 

Good points. But you know, even during my era kids were throwing CB's at a young age. It didn't seem to affect them like it does now. I guess the thing that confuses me is this:

You have one side of the fence that says kids are pitching too much with summer and fall ball. Too many innings..too many pitches.

Then you have the other side stating that the more you throw (with proper rest and after-treatment) the stronger you get.

 

Kids have always thrown breaking ballls.

I think the answer is actually simple and not really baseball related. I think even though there is more weight training, kids today are not really as physically fit as a generation ago due to:

Air conditioning
Fewer kids working
Multiple cars in every driveway so no walking/running/biking
Video games vs. playing the game out in the yard
Parents don't/can't let kids just run the neighborhood anymore

 

Man, you must not have been in my neighborhood, kids are everywhere.......lol.

Don't think my kids will get a car until graduation, gotta run.........lol