There and Back Again, A Pitchers Tale: The Beginning

Ok, so maybe not the most original title for a blog, but I’ve been going down LOTR rabbit holes recently and thought the title fit for what I want to talk about....

I started my journey to throw 90mph when I was 15. I asked my coach if I could start doing "The Throwing Program". This was an exclusive group. He was reluctant to say yes. I don’t think he wanted to point blank tell me “no”, but he also didn’t want to deal with me seeing as how I was a talkative nuisance.

He agreed to train me with the caveat that I had 2 weeks to prove my commitment. He also reserved the right to “kick me out” at any time.

What he and I would accomplish over the next few years would change my life.

This was August 2007, a month before my sophomore year (high school). My day 1 max velocity was 72mph.

Over the next 3 years of high school, throwing harder became my obsession. I would daydream during class and doodle a radar gun showing “90” on it.

By the time I was a senior, I was routinely throwing 87-89mph.

89. Eighty Nine. Eight Nine. NOT 90.

I firmly believe I did throw 90 at some point without a gun being present, but everyone knows the rules...radar or it didn’t happen. I topped out at 89mph in high school. Period.

I unfortunately ended up getting Tommy John the fall of my freshman year after tearing my UCL in July 2010 (I stupidly pitched twice in one day).

My rehab, in short, was shitty. It was 2 full years before I felt healthy again. While I went on to have a solid college career, no elbow pain, a max pulldown of 94mph, and 100mph with a 3oz ball, 90mph off the mound still eluded me.

After 6 years of college baseball (2 redshirt years and a Masters later), I “retired”. I spent 4 years teaching high school history, coaching in the summers and rarely getting the chance to throw and stay in shape.

I have been coaching full time for about 1.5 years now. One of my priorities when I started this career change was to get my arm healthy and in shape again. I have done that - and even got up to 85mph this past May.

I am now 29, quickly approaching 30, and I am starting to feel that obsession creep back in.

90mph. 90. Ninety. Nine Zero. I want it… I need it. I thought the journey was over, but it’s just beginning.

Now I recognize the context of baseball has changed greatly - when I started this journey in 2007, 90 was the magic number. Only the ELITE were throwing 90 in high school. These days, it is still elite, but far more common. 95 is the new 90. But I don’t care. I set the goal to throw 90 in 2007, and I haven’t truly achieved that yet.

Going off of a typical window for a players prime, I have 5 good years left. There’s no point wasting time - I’ve done enough of that.

I will be blogging and podcasting about my journey. The ups and downs, the things I learn along the way, and the stories of players I train and THEIR journeys to throw 90 as well!

I am very excited to share this with whoever wants to come along for the journey with me.

LETS GET IT!

Fun fact - my coach who "reserved the right to kick me out" is one of my closest friends to this day, and was in my wedding this past September. I told you those few years would change my life!