potential as a reliever

[baseball2234]

hey i just had a question on my potential as a reliever. I know that teams need pitching over hitting, and id consider myself good hitter with good power. Lately ive been pitching in relief and really just blowing away batters, 7 innings 0 era and 12 k's. This is with just 1 offspeed pitch thrown in the 7 innings. My fastball gets up to 80 and im in the high school class of 2010. What do you think, do i have any potential as a relief pitcher?

[TG Coach]

hey i just had a question on my potential as a reliever. I know that teams need pitching over hitting, and id consider myself good hitter with good power. Lately ive been pitching in relief and really just blowing away batters, 7 innings 0 era and 12 k's. This is with just 1 offspeed pitch thrown in the 7 innings. My fastball gets up to 80 and im in the high school class of 2010. What do you think, do i have any potential as a relief pitcher?

Potential? With the numbers you provided it looks like you are a relief pitcher.

[Reed Johnson]

hey i just had a question on my potential as a reliever. I know that teams need pitching over hitting, and id consider myself good hitter with good power. Lately ive been pitching in relief and really just blowing away batters, 7 innings 0 era and 12 k's. This is with just 1 offspeed pitch thrown in the 7 innings. My fastball gets up to 80 and im in the high school class of 2010. What do you think, do i have any potential as a relief pitcher?

Doubt it. You will be lucky to make it to A.

[baseball2234]

well ive never really pitched seriously, but i have a family friend whos son started pitching when he was 17 and is now in the mets farm system as a starting pitcher, so i was thinking hey what the heck ive got a fairly strong arm why not give it a shot and its worked out so far as a reliever

[Centerfielder2]

How are u blowing ppl away with an 80 mph fastball ?
im in the same class as u n all i see if 80s
when i played jv

then i got moved up n i saw 85 everyday

so im jw what league ur playing in?

[baseball2234]

JV sometimes is freshman sophomores and juniors. im an upcoming sophomore and im playing people only my age in summer ball. im not lying at all man so maybe you play in a better league than me but i was blowing it by people at 80. Maybe i had some natural movement or something? i dont know. thats crazy seeing 85 EVERYDAY maybe you happened to face all their aces because if you can control your pitches and throw 85 you might pitch D1 and probably D2. Thats what i have to start practicing, control and command. Hitters hit bobby jenks even though he throws soo hard, and i dont expect to throw 99 ever, so control and command are huge for me, and for everyone actually

[TG Coach]

JV sometimes is freshman sophomores and juniors. im an upcoming sophomore and im playing people only my age in summer ball. im not lying at all man so maybe you play in a better league than me but i was blowing it by people at 80. Maybe i had some natural movement or something? i dont know. thats crazy seeing 85 EVERYDAY maybe you happened to face all their aces because if you can control your pitches and throw 85 you might pitch D1 and probably D2. Thats what i have to start practicing, control and command. Hitters hit bobby jenks even though he throws soo hard, and i dont expect to throw 99 ever, so control and command are huge for me, and for everyone actually

I thought you were talking about being a reliever at the level you were at. I didn't think you were talking about the majors. Here's some advice for you. Stop looking for the pot of gold that might not be there for you. Do start climbing the ladder to see if you can get to the next level. You should be looking at what it takes to excel at your current level and what it's going to take to excel at the next level. In your case, that would be varsity. You also shouldn't be deciding for yourself where you should play. You should be looking at where the openings are on the varsity and where you could best help the team. That's the fastest way to make varsity.

If you develop a 90 Plus fastball you stand a decent chance of pitching at some D1 level, whether it's major or mid-level. If you're a lefty you need to throw an 85 Plus fastball. Then if you succeed at the college level and develop your fastball and strength you may get a shot at the minors. Keep in mind 1,500 players are drafted each year only 15-30 rookies stick (for a career) each year.

In addition to your baseball, get good grades. You're likely to go farther with your education than baseball. But even with baseball, coaches don't want players who will become ineligible.

[TG Coach]

JV sometimes is freshman sophomores and juniors. im an upcoming sophomore and im playing people only my age in summer ball. im not lying at all man so maybe you play in a better league than me but i was blowing it by people at 80. Maybe i had some natural movement or something? i dont know. thats crazy seeing 85 EVERYDAY maybe you happened to face all their aces because if you can control your pitches and throw 85 you might pitch D1 and probably D2. Thats what i have to start practicing, control and command. Hitters hit bobby jenks even though he throws soo hard, and i dont expect to throw 99 ever, so control and command are huge for me, and for everyone actually

My son will be a freshman this coming year. He's been invited to the offseason workouts this summer with the varsity. The varsity coach told him to increase his upper body strength and his bat speed. He said the low end pitchers throw 82 with the high end usually at 87 unless they see a 90+ prospect.

[baseball2234]

thanks for the advice, and yeah when i said potential i meant for the future. I was on varsity freshman year starting in the outfield for the 2nd half, but ill try pitching next year

[baseball2234]

oh wow then im probably wrong about the speeds that we faced this year

[TG Coach]

oh wow then im probably wrong about the speeds that we faced this year

I depends on the competition. We live in one of the top ten populated states. Our high school is in the largest school classification. A rural high school player isn't going to see top speeds most of the time.

[Centerfielder2]

JV sometimes is freshman sophomores and juniors. im an upcoming sophomore and im playing people only my age in summer ball. im not lying at all man so maybe you play in a better league than me but i was blowing it by people at 80. Maybe i had some natural movement or something? i dont know. thats crazy seeing 85 EVERYDAY maybe you happened to face all their aces because if you can control your pitches and throw 85 you might pitch D1 and probably D2. Thats what i have to start practicing, control and command. Hitters hit bobby jenks even though he throws soo hard, and i dont expect to throw 99 ever, so control and command are huge for me, and for everyone actually

its cool

in the summer i played 16u n it was about the same speeds

so i was used to it from highschool but most of the coachs and teams around where i live at obessed with throwing juice so that pretty much all you see

but if u just started pitching you could prolly get great control n most speed

good luck

[kylebee]

I thought you were talking about being a reliever at the level you were at. I didn't think you were talking about the majors. Here's some advice for you. Stop looking for the pot of gold that might not be there for you. Do start climbing the ladder to see if you can get to the next level. You should be looking at what it takes to excel at your current level and what it's going to take to excel at the next level. In your case, that would be varsity. You also shouldn't be deciding for yourself where you should play. You should be looking at where the openings are on the varsity and where you could best help the team. That's the fastest way to make varsity.

If you develop a 90 Plus fastball you stand a decent chance of pitching at some D1 level, whether it's major or mid-level. If you're a lefty you need to throw an 85 Plus fastball. Then if you succeed at the college level and develop your fastball and strength you may get a shot at the minors. Keep in mind 1,500 players are drafted each year only 15-30 rookies stick (for a career) each year.

In addition to your baseball, get good grades. You're likely to go farther with your education than baseball. But even with baseball, coaches don't want players who will become ineligible.

TG,

This is a lot more constructive than your usual crap about how no one will ever make it. Please keep this up instead of the condescending tone we all know and hate you for.

[TG Coach]

TG,

This is a lot more constructive than your usual crap about how no one will ever make it. Please keep this up instead of the condescending tone we all know and hate you for.

Sorry. I deal in reality. If people can't handle reality, that's their problem. Both posts you refer to deal in reality. It's a lot easier to explain to a 15yo how to go through the process than a fool who thinks he can jump from LL to the majors because he's an athlete. And I did give the former LL'er a shot. Throw a 90 Plus fastball.

[baseball2234]

tg coach no1 wud ever make it anywhere if they used your bogus approach of reality. In reality only like 1 percent of high school players will play pro ball, so why are we trying anyway? we are probably in the 99 percent that wont make it. A main reason why most of the major leaguers made it is because they dont give up because some people tell them the odds and reality, but they believe in themselves that they can make it.

[kylebee]

Sorry. I deal in reality. If people can't handle reality, that's their problem. Both posts you refer to deal in reality. It's a lot easier to explain to a 15yo how to go through the process than a fool who thinks he can jump from LL to the majors because he's an athlete. And I did give the former LL'er a shot. Throw a 90 Plus fastball.

Because a goal is difficult (and for most, impossible) to attain does not mean we should not attempt to reach said goal.

Do you see why?

[baseball2234]

it seems like hes just insecure that he did not make it and enjoys putting people down, i read his posts on the other thread "do i have a chance" or whatever its titled...i would much rather give it my absolute all and completely fail than not going for it with my all and when im older telling my kids i could have made it if i threw 90 mph but you know in reality i just couldnt so i gave up.

[TG Coach]

tg coach no1 wud ever make it anywhere if they used your bogus approach of reality. In reality only like 1 percent of high school players will play pro ball, so why are we trying anyway? we are probably in the 99 percent that wont make it. A main reason why most of the major leaguers made it is because they dont give up because some people tell them the odds and reality, but they believe in themselves that they can make it.

You should play high school ball because you enjoy playing baseball, not because you want to be a major league baseball player. You should play high school baseball because you love the game. You should work hard to maximize your potential. Then if you're one of the few talented enough to get to the next level you'll find out. When I look at some of the posts here I know you guys have no idea how hard it is to get to the next level. Playing D1, major JuCo or being drafted isn't one step up from high school. It's several steps up from high school ball.

Here's a great quote from my college coach my freshman year: "You know that one guy you had trouble hitting in high school? He's here, every day, every game at this level."

There are high school varsity players on the field because of lack of talent within the school district or it's a small district. Even in a large school classification only half the teams have challenging pitchers. Everyone in D1college ball was a high school stud.

You guys have no idea. I'm not telling you it's not possible to play in college and possibly go pro. I'm giving you the reality of the situation. A college summer ball teammate of mine lead the nation (D1) in hitting his junior year. He hit over .500. His team played in the CWS. He wasn't drafted. He didn't have enough power to offset not being able to run a sub7 sixty.

Enjoy playing the game now. Work hard to earn any oppotunity that might be available. Even if D1 turns out to be out of your reach a good high school player can play D3 and enjoy the competition for four more years. And some players develop late and get drafted from D3.

[baseball2234]

i understand how hard it is. Im not saying it is a piece of cake, but what you are saying to some people is are you crazy what thats impossible when its really not. Throwing 90 mph is not everything, its the results that matter. I have a friend whos 5'6 130 and is playing 17 year old ball and PEOPLE CANNOT HIT HIM. his fastball is 75 but he changes speeds so well. I understand your point about how hard it is, but i dont understand why we need to be told that its impossible to make it, because that brings our confidence and hopes down which makes us a worse ball player. I enjoy playing varsity ball but my ultimate goal is to keep playing throughout college and farther and i know it is hard.

[TG Coach]

it seems like hes just insecure that he did not make it and enjoys putting people down, i read his posts on the other thread "do i have a chance" or whatever its titled...i would much rather give it my absolute all and completely fail than not going for it with my all and when im older telling my kids i could have made it if i threw 90 mph but you know in reality i just couldnt so i gave up.

Here's the reality if the situation. I played major D1. I was drafted out of high school and college. But at the same time I was drafted out of college I was also recruited by the #1 company in the world to work for at the time. They offered to put me through their management program and pay for my MBA. I had already seen older teammates fall by the wayside in the minors. I saw a former teammate hit .337 in A ball and get cut over an injury as soon as he was rehabilitated. I saw another teammate be AAA player of the year and never get called up because he was in the minors of a loaded MLB team. He got injured before he ever got his chance. Another former teammate was the best reliever on the staff at every level he pitched but never got past AAA for a million reasons. Those million reasons were the dollars paid high draft choices with ERA's double his. I also played with players who made it. But they were all chosen in the first twenty rounds. I once asked a scout why there were sixty rounds to the draft (think it's fifty now). He told me the ten to twenty real prospects in their minor league system need teammates to play the game. If a few late picks pan out it's gravy.

I evaluated my business options versus being drafted in the 47th round. I had the balls to ask the scout to give a real assessment of my abilities. Here's what you don't understand. A arm that's considered a cannon relative to high school and above average in college ball, may now be average at the pro level. A swing that produces a league leading home run total in high school and decent power in college can be considered average at the pro level.

You guys have no idea of the speed of the game at the pro level compared to the high school level. A friend's son went back to play in his college's alumni game before heading for spring training. He went 3-3 with three doubles. He told his dad in the minors two of the three balls would have been caught. That's the difference between major D1 and just AA ball.

My life has been successful. I've been successful in the business world. I have absolutely no regrets. And my oldest is now playing D1 ball after tearing up D3 and transferring. I wish you as much success in your life as I've had in mine. Good luck.

[TG Coach]

i understand how hard it is. Im not saying it is a piece of cake, but what you are saying to some people is are you crazy what thats impossible when its really not. Throwing 90 mph is not everything, its the results that matter. I have a friend whos 5'6 130 and is playing 17 year old ball and PEOPLE CANNOT HIT HIM. his fastball is 75 but he changes speeds so well. I understand your point about how hard it is, but i dont understand why we need to be told that its impossible to make it, because that brings our confidence and hopes down which makes us a worse ball player. I enjoy playing varsity ball but my ultimate goal is to keep playing throughout college and farther and i know it is hard.

A high school is limited to the talent within it's boundaries. That's where you will see undersized players possibly perform well. It may also depend on the size classification and level of competition at the school. I can tell you a pitcher throwing 75mph wouldn't make varsity at our high school.

Since the conversation has been about making pro ball throwing 90 IS everything (85+ for a lefty). The pros are more interested in potential than results. They can teach a pitcher with a 90mph fastball how to pitch. They can't teach someone who knows how to pitch with a 75mph fastball how to throw 90. Look at MLB rosters. How many pitchers are under 6'1".

In previous management I was told the Mets organization didn't require minor league managers to fill out nightly reports on pitchers under 6'2". I asked how Sid Fernanadez (5'9") overcame this standard. It's because he was bringing the heat in the mid 90's, plus he was a lefty.

I doubt your 5'6", 75mph pitcher will be recruited for D3. D3 pitchers throw at least 80. His best bet will be walking on or playing at a D3 that doesn't recruit.

[Jake Patterson]

A high school is limited to the talent within it's boundaries.
Unless it's a private school.

[MCBaseball13]

JV sometimes is freshman sophomores and juniors. im an upcoming sophomore and im playing people only my age in summer ball. im not lying at all man so maybe you play in a better league than me but i was blowing it by people at 80. Maybe i had some natural movement or something? i dont know. thats crazy seeing 85 EVERYDAY maybe you happened to face all their aces because if you can control your pitches and throw 85 you might pitch D1 and probably D2. Thats what i have to start practicing, control and command. Hitters hit bobby jenks even though he throws soo hard, and i dont expect to throw 99 ever, so control and command are huge for me, and for everyone actually


I'm a upcoming sophmore too, i started HS varsity as a freshman and against the good teams all you see is mid to high 80's with sick curveballs. 4A, the highest in NC.

If you only throwing 80 with no offspeed, thats not hard to hit.

[Centerfielder2]

A high school is limited to the talent within it's boundaries. That's where you will see undersized players possibly perform well. It may also depend on the size classification and level of competition at the school. I can tell you a pitcher throwing 75mph wouldn't make varsity at our high school.

Since the conversation has been about making pro ball throwing 90 IS everything (85+ for a lefty). The pros are more interested in potential than results. They can teach a pitcher with a 90mph fastball how to pitch. They can't teach someone who knows how to pitch with a 75mph fastball how to throw 90. Look at MLB rosters. How many pitchers are under 6'1".

In previous management I was told the Mets organization didn't require minor league managers to fill out nightly reports on pitchers under 6'2". I asked how Sid Fernanadez (5'9") overcame this standard. It's because he was bringing the heat in the mid 90's, plus he was a lefty.

I doubt your 5'6", 75mph pitcher will be recruited for D3. D3 pitchers throw at least 80. His best bet will be walking on or playing at a D3 that doesn't recruit.

Not all D3 pitchers have to throw 80 my brother caught at bridgewater college and they are a good d3 team and they had two starters under 80 and they pitched in major games in reigonals
it wasnt about their speed but hitting their spots and using their defense

[achaley07]

in texas the average high school pitcher throws around 82-83 counting the players that dont ever see the mound in a game average starters i would say would be a 85-86 in our district since we were one of the better teams in one of the toughest districts in the state we faced 87-90 on a daily basis and last year there was a pitcher in our district hitting 96 and another in the city throwing about 93 but this year i was pretty much the gasser at 91.

[Charger567]

Look at MLB rosters. How many pitchers are under 6'1"

I know there aren't that many, but there are some notable pitchers.

Bartolo Colon
Elmer Dessens
Jason Frasor
Chad Gaudin
Tom Gordon
Clay Hensley
Byun Hyun Kim
Tim Lincecum
Pedro Martinez

[Centerfielder2]

in texas the average high school pitcher throws around 82-83 counting the players that dont ever see the mound in a game average starters i would say would be a 85-86 in our district since we were one of the better teams in one of the toughest districts in the state we faced 87-90 on a daily basis and last year there was a pitcher in our district hitting 96 and another in the city throwing about 93 but this year i was pretty much the gasser at 91.

well im glad i dont live in texas

[achaley07]

definatly very competitive...but isnt that what makes it fun?

[Centerfielder2]

yeahh
id prolly get used to it


but i live in md n i was on varsity this year in the highest class in Md 4A n i only saw two kids above 90

one going to University of Md
and the other to GT

[Jake Patterson]

A rural high school player isn't going to see top speeds most of the time.

Google Andrew Carignan and Matt Harvey.

[TG Coach]

Google Andrew Carignan and Matt Harvey.

I said most of the time. Mark Rogers, the 5th pick of the Brewers a couple of years ago is from an island of 200 off the coast of Maine. He throws 97mph. But that's not the norm from a less populated area. In most cases it's the larger high schools in the suburban areas that have the most to choose from.