Pitching
Derek Holland Shows You How To Take Care of Business!
The best players in the game know how to use emotion to achieve peak performance levels. They don't let negative emotions dictate how they perform, but they do use positive emotions as an asset to execute in key situations. In this interview Derek Holland reveals a...
How Josh Beckett Was Taught to Throw His Nasty Curveball
When thrown well, the curveball has the opportunity to be one of the nastiest pitches in baseball. I can't think of anything nastier than a pitcher buckling the knees of a hitter with a sick curve. The lure of the curveball and the enjoyment of making hitters look...
The “Best Way to Condition/Train Pitchers” w KU Baseball Strength Coach
I realize that the “Best Way to Condition Pitchers” title might be a little hard to prove because there are a lot of great pitchers and coaches who train many different ways. Regardless, I think that the video below does a good job of describing the “Why” in this type...
Why Too Many Pitchers Never Reach Their Potential (With Pitching Coach Dan Spencer)
If you want to pitch at the “Next Level”, you will face obstacles along the way that will make or break your baseball career. Your chances of successfully performing at the next level depends on how you respond to the adversity that will come your way… because...
From Not Recruited Out of High School, to Almost Getting Cut in College, to Pitching in the Big Leagues- Chad Reineke’s Awesome Baseball Roller Coaster and Pitching Lessons He’s Learned Along the Way
I have a great story for you guys today. We’ll get to today’s big league pitching advice video on what to do after giving up a big hit, importance of staying positive on the mound, the best pitching advice Chad’s ever heard, and more… But first a quick behind the...
Indians’ Trevor Bauer Shares His “Wacky” Pitching Philosophy, How He Deals with Failure, His Mound Mentality, and More (Video)
Trevor Bauer might just be the most polarizing pitcher in the game today. He long tosses well beyond the length of a football field BEFORE every game he pitches. He never runs poles. He has at least seven pitches he can throw and over ten others he’s worked on in the...
The Key to Being a Great Pitcher
I love asking the question, What is the biggest separator between good and great _____? You can fill in the blank with pitchers, hitters, fielders, high school players, and college players. Today, we fill in the blank for pitchers. We’re joined by Indiana...
Pitching Grip Breakdown with Stony Brook Pitching Coach Mike Marron (video)
The Stony Brook Seawolves baseball squad grabbed the attention of the nation during their unprecedented run to the 2012 College World Series. A big part of that 52 win season was a pitching staff that posted a 3.15 ERA (23rd best in the country). The leader of that...
What Should Pitchers Throw in an 0-2 Count? Red Sox AAA Pitching Coach Weighs In
Both Sides of the 0-2 Debate Today we are diving into a pitching discussion about what a pitcher should throw in a 0-2 count. Essentially, there are two sides of this passionate argument: 1. DO NOT in any circumstance throw a strike. Either throw a breaking ball in...
“Throw the Ball Right” With Dodgers’ Pitching Prospect Chris Withrow
This article is brought to you by Jaeger Sports, creator of Jaeger Sports J-Bands. If you’re a pitcher, guess what? You are going to give up hits and runs. What happens from there is one of the greatest separators of good and great pitchers. The sooner you...
How To Increase Velocity & Arm Strength Through Long Toss with Alan Jaeger (video)
“What do I need to do to increase velocity… improve arm strength… throw harder… hit 90 mph on the gun…?” Those are the questions I frequently get from NLB players / parents / coaches. Well, today we dive into exactly how you can increase velocity and arm strength....
Need to Take Your Pitching to the Next Level? Here’s What John Smoltz Did (Hint: Mental Toughness)
At the All-Star break of the 1991 season, John Smoltz was 2-11 with a 5.16 ERA. It was the middle of his second full season in the Big Leagues and even though he had had some success in his rookie year, there were many people that doubted whether he would ever develop...
“The Importance of Learning to Breathe” and More with Dodgers' Prospect Stephen Fife
Thanks to Stephen Fife for stopping by to hang out with Next Level Ballplayer. Stephen was, by his own admission, a late bloomer. He didn’t hit 90mph on the gun until he was 21 years old! After bursting on the scene his senior year at the University of Utah, he was...
Successfully Making the Switch from Starting Pitcher to Reliever with Rockies Prospect Keith Weiser
Even if you are a stud starting pitcher right now, chances are good that at some point you will be asked to throw out of the bullpen at the “Next Level.” This happens all the time to starting pitchers when HS underclassmen make the varsity team, when college freshman...
Clubhouse Convos with Derek Holland (Video)
The other day, the Rangers’ Derek Holland and his incredible mustache were nice enough to sit down with Next Level Ballplayer.com for an exclusive interview. Holland was the second most dominant AL pitcher during the second half of the 2011 season (Verlander) and then...
Coaches’ Corner with Arizona State Pitching Coach Ken Knutson
This week in Coaches Corner we have Ken Knutson, pitching coach at Arizona State University. Prior to coach Knutson’s three seasons at ASU, he spent 17 years as the head coach at the University of Washington. While at Washington he coached 31 All-Americans, including...
Clubhouse Convos with Matt Whiteside
Today in Clubhouse Convos we sit down with Matt Whiteside, relief pitcher for the Rangers, Phillies, Padres, Braves and Blue Jays over 11 seasons in the big leagues. Matt officially retired in 2006 after 15 years in professional baseball and currently is co-owner of...
Training the Pitcher Part I- Why Running Poles Are Overrated and a List of Effective Alternatives
If you are a pitcher, you have seen professional pitchers run poles, heard coaches talk about the importance of poles, and no doubt logged some miles on outfield warning tracks yourself. They have become a fixture for pitcher's fitness and recovery. In all my years...
