David Price isn’t just one of the best pitchers in the league, he’s also one of the game’s premier competitors. Here’s a quick look inside the pitching phenom’s head as he talks about, throwing hard, arm recovery the day after a start, pre season mindset, what he wants to accomplish in baseball and more.
How many pitches do you throw in the bullpen before games?
I listen to my arm. Usually 15-40 pitches. I just throw until my arm feels good. When I feel good I stop. (quick note: David and all other pitchers throw some in the outfield and do their stretching before their pregame bullpen. When you step on the bullpen rubber, it shouldn’t be the first time you’ve thrown a ball that day.)
Is there a secret to being able to throw hard?
I taught myself to throw hard by always throwing hard. I’m a believer that if you want to throw hard, you need to throw hard all the time. Some pitchers throw 100% only on the days they pitch. Even on most of my off days I’ll let it loose.
Do you throw every day during the season?
I try to, but it all depends on how my arm feels. Sometimes the day after I start a game, I’ll just run and maybe swim or do kettle bells. For the most part I’m throwing every day, even if it’s just easy long toss in the outfield.
What do you do to recover on days after you pitch?
Running makes my arm feel better. I’m running all the time to break up the lactic acid (in my arm). I also like to swim and do kettle bells. I’ll do kettle bell workouts almost every day.
You had a great year last year. What is your mindset going into a new season?
I want to be 32-0. Period. Not 31-1. 32-0. I want to be perfect. Reporters have asked me why I’m so hard on myself. I tell em, “That’s just how I am.”
What do you need to improve on as a pitcher?
Everything!! I’m always looking for ways to get better. Always looking for ways to improve.
What do you want to accomplish in professional baseball?
I want to be a hall of famer. I don’t play for a paycheck. I wanna leave my mark on baseball. When people think about pitching, I want them to think about David Price.
What you’ll notice if you ever spend time around David Price is that he is a relentless competitor who’s always striving to get better. It’s easy to see that he has talent, but what really separates him from others is his mentality. After a year in which he finished 19-6 and 2nd in the AL Cy Young voting, he is still hungry to improve.
