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...
9 Things You Can Do To Be a Better Pitcher
Throw at least 70% first pitch strikes- A pitchers life motto should be: Get ahead, stay ahead. Think about it this way, every strike that you throw makes the batter’s chance of a hit go down. Have someone keep track of your first pitch strike percentage and...
Pitching with David Price: Throwing Hard, Recovering After a Start, How He Wants To Be Remembered, And More
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...
