How do you connect with young players as a coach today? Why don’t young athletes “get it”? Young people just don’t care about winning like they used to. These are the types of questions and statements I hear coaches ask one another every day. While some of these comments are meant to spark reflection and challenge athletes to reach their best performance, more often they serve as an excuse for why coaches struggle to connect with today’s athlete.

Fortunately, there are countless examples of coaches who do connect—leaders who have developed the methods and traits necessary to reach this generation. Coaches such as Nick Saban, Dave Roberts, Andy Reid, Dan Lanning, and Sean McVay are all authentic to their own personalities, yet they share one common outcome: the ability to inspire players to compete to their greatest level. 

I recently read an article about Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay in which he discusses the concept of the “Trust Triangle.” The Trust Triangle is a powerful framework for any leader looking to build a culture of high standards and competitive greatness. McVay centers his leadership on three core principles: character, competence, and connection. When these three elements are present, trust is built—and trust ultimately drives buy-in, effort, and peak performance.

Character

As a leader, you must set the example by living with the highest level of character. Leaders who live with discipline, make sound decisions, and consistently model the right behaviors establish credibility and trust with their teams. Athletes should see in their coach someone they want to emulate—not just in sport, but in life.

When leaders set the standard through their actions, they go a long way toward earning trust. Research consistently shows that in moments of uncertainty or crisis, people do not gravitate toward the smartest or strongest individual; they look to the person with the greatest character.

Competence

Leaders must also demonstrate clear competence in their craft. When an athlete looks at a coach, the fundamental question they ask—consciously or not—is, “Can this person make me better?” A coach must possess the knowledge, proficiency, and ability to help athletes achieve their goals.

In an era dominated by social media, we are surrounded by self-proclaimed experts, most of whom are rarely right, yet never uncertain. True leadership requires more than confidence; it requires the competence to consistently put people in positions to succeed. If you want others to follow you, you must prove that you have the ability to make them better. 

Connection

Finally, McVay emphasizes the importance of genuine connection. We’ve all heard the saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Strong leaders build authentic relationships with their teams.

The best leaders see their athletes as individuals, not assets. They value people for who they are, not just for what they can produce. Athletes are not pawns on a chessboard; they are people with unique goals, motivations, and perspectives. They want to know that you care about them and that part of your mission as a leader is helping them succeed both on and off the field.

Sean McVay is one of the most successful coaches in the NFL. He became the youngest head coach in league history, the youngest to reach a Super Bowl, and the youngest to win a Super Bowl. In a relatively short time, he has established himself as an elite culture builder and a leader who maximizes human potential.

The Trust Triangle—built on character, competence, and connection—has helped transform the Rams into a perennial contender. If more coaches commit to excelling within this framework, they may find that today’s athletes do get it. They’ll connect on a deeper level and discover that competing, striving, and winning still matter deeply to this generation.

George Carralejo

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Pitching can put a taxing toll on your body—specifically your arm, shoulder, and elbow. To stay healthy and perform at your best, you need a recovery routine that helps your body heal, reduces inflammation, and prepares you for the next game or practice.

In this blog, I’ll share some of the best recovery techniques I’ve seen work for pitchers of all levels. These are practical, proven methods that can help you prevent injury and keep your arm strong season after season.

Prioritize Proper Cool-Downs After Throwing

One of the biggest mistakes young pitchers make is skipping or rushing their cool-down after pitching. The cool-down phase is critical because it helps flush out metabolic waste from your muscles and begins the recovery process.

After your bullpen or game, spend 10 minutes focused on stretching and rebounders. I think Driveline Baseball has an excellent recovery process for pitchers to follow. 

Close with some gentle static and dynamic stretching, focusing on your shoulder, triceps, forearm, and wrist. Stretching improves flexibility and reduces muscle soreness. I promote catch play the day after pitching. I believe it increases recovery time and helps reduce DOMS. 

Use Ice and Contrast Therapy for Inflammation

Pitching causes microtrauma to your muscles and joints, which leads to inflammation. Managing that inflammation is key to preventing overuse injuries.

Applying ice packs to your shoulder, elbow, or forearm right after pitching can reduce swelling and numb soreness. I usually recommend icing for 20 minutes post throwing. 

Another effective method is contrast therapy—alternating between ice and heat. Ice reduces inflammation, and heat promotes blood flow to speed up healing. Try 3-4 cycles of 3 minutes cold, 2 minutes warm.

Prioritize Sleep for Ultimate Recovery

Sleep is when your body does most of its healing and rebuilding. Pitchers especially need quality sleep to repair the small tears in muscles and tendons caused by pitching.

Aim for 8-9 hours of sleep every night, and establish a consistent sleep routine. Avoid screens before bed, keep your room cool and dark, and wind down with calming activities like reading or meditation.

If you’re not sleeping well, your recovery will suffer—and so will your performance.

Stay Hydrated and Fuel Your Body Properly

Hydration is often overlooked, but it’s crucial for recovery. Water helps flush toxins, transport nutrients, and maintain muscle elasticity.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially before and after pitching. Electrolyte drinks can help replenish sodium, potassium, and magnesium lost through sweat.

Nutrition also plays a huge role. Focus on eating a balanced diet rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbs. Protein is particularly important because it provides the building blocks your muscles need to repair.

Use Soft Tissue Work and Foam Rolling

Soft tissue tightness can lead to poor mechanics and increase injury risk. Regular self-myofascial release (SMR) with foam rollers or massage balls can help keep your muscles loose and promote blood flow.

Spend time rolling your lats, triceps, forearms, hips, and calves. If you have access, professional massage therapy or sports massage can provide deeper relief and address problem areas.

Incorporate Active Recovery Days

Active recovery means doing light, low-impact activities that promote blood flow and movement without stressing your pitching arm.

On your off days, consider swimming, cycling, or yoga. These activities keep your body moving, improve flexibility, and aid recovery.

Avoid complete inactivity on recovery days—movement is medicine.

Follow a Proper Throwing Program

Recovery isn’t just what you do after a game—it’s also about how you approach your throwing volume and intensity.

Stick to a structured throwing program that gradually builds arm strength and workload. Avoid jumping from little to intense throwing sessions without proper progression.

Many injuries come from overuse and poor pacing. Listen to your body, and don’t push through pain.

Strengthen Your Rotator Cuff and Scapular Muscles

Strong, balanced muscles around your shoulder joint protect your arm during pitching. Recovery includes rehab and prehab exercises for your rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers.

Incorporate resistance band exercises like external rotations, scapular retractions, and shoulder raises into your routine.

Keeping these muscles strong helps reduce strain on your elbow and shoulder ligaments.

Don’t Ignore Pain or Fatigue

The biggest key to injury prevention is respecting your body’s signals. If you’re feeling pain, tightness, or extreme fatigue, don’t ignore it.

Talk to your coach, athletic trainer, or a sports medicine professional. Early intervention can prevent minor issues from turning into serious injuries.

Sometimes the best recovery technique is taking a step back and giving your body the rest it needs.

Use Technology to Track Your Workload and Recovery

These days, there are tools and apps that can help pitchers monitor throwing intensity, volume, and recovery status.

Wearable devices can track your arm speed and workload to ensure you’re not overdoing it.

Using these tools alongside good communication with coaches can keep you healthy and performing at your best.

Final Thoughts

Recovery is an essential part of pitching that often gets overlooked. If you want to pitch deep into games, stay healthy through the season, and have a long career, you must take recovery seriously.

Focus on proper cool-downs, icing, sleep, hydration, nutrition, and smart throwing programs. Use soft tissue work and active recovery to keep your body loose and ready to go.

Remember: the best pitchers approach the game with detailed plans for all aspects of performance—they know how to take care of their bodies so they can stay healthy year after year.

Make recovery part of your routine. Your arm will thank you.

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Pitching is the most unique position in sports. You’re alone on the mound, facing down hitters, managing pressure, and dealing with the ups and downs of each game. The right mindset is what helps you stay poised, confident, and focused through it all.

So, how do you develop that mental toughness? How do you become the kind of pitcher who thrives under pressure, bounces back from mistakes, and competes with confidence? Here’s what I teach my players about building the mental game—straight from my own experience on the mound and later on the sidelines watching great competitors perform. 

Understand That Mental Toughness is a Skill, Not a Trait

First off, mental toughness isn’t something you’re just born with. It’s a skill you can develop, just like pitching mechanics or strength.

This means it requires practice, intention, and patience. If you want to get mentally tougher, you have to work at it consistently. The good news? Every pitcher can get better mentally if they commit to the process.

Focus on What You Can Control

One of the most powerful lessons I teach my pitchers is to focus only on what you can control.

You can’t control a bad call or an error behind you, but you can control your effort, your attitude, your preparation, and how you respond to adversity.

When you focus on controllables, you stay grounded. When you worry about things out of your hands, you get distracted and frustrated.

Develop a Pre-Pitch Routine

Every great pitcher has a pre-pitch routine—a set of actions or thoughts they use to reset their mind before every pitch.

It could be a deep breath, a specific grip adjustment, or a visual cue. The routine is your mental anchor; it helps you clear your mind, focus on the task, and block out distractions.

I tell my players to find a routine that works for them and practice it religiously. When the pressure mounts, that routine becomes the foundation you fall back on.

Use Positive Self-Talk

The voice inside your head matters more than you realize. Negative self-talk—telling yourself you’re about to fail or worrying about what might go wrong—will sabotage your performance.

Instead, train yourself to use positive self-talk. Say things like, “I’ve got this,” “Attack the zone,” or “One pitch at a time.”

Positive self-talk builds confidence and helps you stay calm under pressure. It rewires your brain to focus on success rather than fear.

Visualize Success Regularly

Visualization is a powerful tool that many elite athletes use to prepare mentally.

Take time before games—or even on off days—to picture yourself on the mound. Visualize your delivery, your pitch execution, and how you handle different situations. See yourself succeeding.

The brain can’t tell the difference between real and imagined experiences. When you rehearse success in your mind, you build confidence and reduce anxiety.

Control Your Breathing

When nerves or pressure hit, your body responds with increased heart rate and shallow breathing. That can lead to tension, poor emotional control, and ultimately negative results.

Learning to control your breathing is one of the fastest ways to calm your mind and body.

Practice deep, controlled breathing—inhale slowly through your nose, exhale through your mouth. Use this technique between pitches or when you feel tension rising.

Set Process Goals, Not Just Outcome Goals

Outcome based goals are often outside your control and can create pressure and anxiety.

Instead, focus on process goals—the things you can do each pitch to improve. These might include specific goals of a bullpen, repeating your mechanics, or staying in the moment when negative results occur. 

Process goals keep you in the moment and focused on what you can do to succeed.

Build Confidence Through Preparation

Confidence doesn’t come from wishful thinking. It comes from preparation.

Put in the work during practice. Study hitters. Be deliberate in your side work. Take pride in being the best conditioned athlete on the field.

When you know you’ve prepared your body and mind, you can trust yourself on the mound. Preparation is the foundation of mental toughness.

Lean on Your Support System

Mental toughness doesn’t mean going it alone. Every pitcher needs a support system—coaches, teammates, family, or mentors.

Talk through your challenges. Ask for feedback. Share your goals and struggles.

Sometimes, just knowing someone believes in you makes a huge difference in your confidence and mental resilience.

Final Thoughts

Developing mental toughness as a baseball pitcher is a journey, not a destination. It takes time, discipline, and daily commitment.

But if you commit to working on your mental game—focusing on what you can control, embracing failure, building routines, and preparing yourself physically and mentally—you’ll be amazed at how much more confident and competitive you become.

Remember, pitching is as much about mental strength as it is about physical ability. The most successful pitchers are the ones who master both.

Start today. Build your mental toughness one pitch at a time. You’ll thank yourself when the pressure is on and you’re standing tall on the mound.

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Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying velocity doesn’t matter. A good fastball can open doors, turn heads, and create opportunities. But at the high school level, and even beyond, command—being able to consistently make pitches—is what separates pitchers who watch the game from those who are actually playing in it.

Let’s take a deeper look at the “velocity vs. command” debate, and what young pitchers should really focus on to succeed both now and in the long run.

The Velocity Obsession

I’ve seen it too many times to count: a young pitcher comes in throwing 90+ mph and everyone is buzzing. Parents are excited, teammates are impressed, and coaches take notice. But then, come game time, he can’t throw a strike, can’t stay composed, and can’t get outs.

Velocity on its own is just a number. If you don’t know where the ball is going, it doesn’t matter how hard you throw ball four. And at the high school level, a well-located 84 mph fastball with movement will often beat a 92 mph fastball that’s wild and out of the zone.

The truth is, plenty of pitchers throw hard. Very few can pitch.

Why Command is King

Command—being able to throw strikes with all your pitches, in any count—is what wins games. A pitcher with command can work ahead in counts, force weak contact, and keep his defense engaged. He throws fewer pitches per inning, limits walks, and stays on the mound longer.

More importantly, command shows coaches that you can compete “in game.” It shows maturity, composure, and the ability to give your team a chance to win.

The best pitchers I’ve coached weren’t always the ones with the best velocity. They were the ones who could hit spots, change speeds, and execute under pressure. That’s what wins championships—and earns trust from coaches at the next level.

Build Velocity the Right Way

Now, this isn’t an argument to ignore velocity altogether. A well-located 90 mph fastball will always be more effective than a well-located 78 mph fastball. Velocity does matter—but it needs to be built safely, gradually, and with a foundation of good mechanics.

Too many young pitchers chase velocity with aggressive throwing programs, weighted balls, and high-effort bullpens—from coaches who have no idea what they are talking about. This leads to arm injuries, and bad habits that are hard to unlearn.

Here’s what I tell every pitcher I work with: earn your velocity through strength, mobility, mechanics, and consistency. Don’t sacrifice command to chase a number. Because if you throw hard but can’t throw strikes, you won’t stay in games long enough to matter.

Focus on Command, Not Just “Throwing Strikes”

Command is about making pitches. That means locating your fastball, working both sides of the plate, and putting off-speed pitches where you want.

I challenge my pitchers to think like surgeons. Don’t just throw the ball over the plate—make purposeful pitches. Have a plan for each hitter. Know when to expand the zone. Know when to pitch to contact and when to go for a strikeout.

Pitchers who develop true command are always in control of the game—even if their velocity isn’t top-tier.

How to Develop Better Command

So how do you develop good command? It starts with discipline and repetition. Here are a few habits I stress with my pitchers:

• Deliberate Practice: Don’t just throw 30 pitches and call it a day. Work on specific zones, pitch sequences, and counts. Chart your results. Hold yourself accountable.
  
• Flat-Ground Work: Use short-distance sessions to focus on release points and mechanics without the stress of full-intent throwing.
  
• Target Drills: Aim for smaller targets during warm-ups. Make it a game. The smaller the target, the more precise you become over time.
  
• Tempo and Balance: Control starts with consistent mechanics. If your delivery is rushed or off-balance, your command will suffer. Focus on smooth tempo and repeatable movement patterns.
  

And most importantly—throw every pitch with intent. That means knowing what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and executing it on purpose.

What Coaches Should be Looking For

Yes, radar guns will always be part of the equation. But ask any good coach, and they’ll tell you: they want pitchers who compete. Pitchers who throw strikes. Pitchers who trust their stuff. Pitchers who can get outs, hold runners, and manage innings.

I’ve coached players who got recruited not because they threw the hardest, but because they were consistent, tough, and smart. They threw strikes, changed speeds, and stayed composed when the pressure was on.

That’s what real pitching looks like. That’s what gets you on the field.

Final Thoughts

To all the young pitchers out there: develop the ability to pitch. Yes, throw hard—but throw smart. Build your delivery. Sharpen your command. Compete with every pitch.

At the end of the day, a coach isn’t looking for the pitcher with the best radar gun reading. He’s looking for the guy he can trust with the ball in game situations.

Be that guy. Focus on what matters. Command the zone, and you’ll give yourself the best chance to help your team win games.

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The best pitchers—at any level—don’t just throw hard. They move efficiently. They repeat their delivery. And they understand how their body works. That’s what I teach every pitcher I work with. Because when you master your mechanics, you give yourself a chance to stay healthy, throw harder and smarter, and dominate consistently.

Here’s a breakdown of the key mechanical elements every high school pitcher must master to reach their potential and build a long-term future on the mound.

1. Start with Balance and Posture

Everything in pitching starts from the ground up. Before we even talk arm angles or grips, I look at a pitcher’s balance and posture. When a pitcher lifts their leg, are they balanced over the rubber? Are their head and spine aligned? Are they stable, or are they falling toward the plate?

A balanced pitcher is a consistent pitcher. Good posture keeps the body connected and allows for repeatable mechanics. Without it, everything else in the delivery becomes a struggle. So I always start here—and I never stop checking it.

2. Establish a Strong and Controlled Leg Lift

The leg lift is often misunderstood. Some kids think higher means better, but height is only part of it. What really matters is control. That lift is your first chance to build energy and direction toward the plate.

I coach my pitchers to lift with purpose. Their knee should come up strong but under control, and their weight should stay centered—not drifting forward or falling back. This sets the tone for the rest of the delivery.

3. Lead with the Hips, Not the Head

Once the leg lift is complete, the next step is driving toward the plate. Too many young pitchers lunge with their head or upper body first, which kills velocity and leads to inconsistency. Instead, you need to lead with the hips.

Imagine driving downhill with your back hip—keeping your upper body stacked and your stride connected to your core. This hip-first move is what generates momentum while keeping your arm in sync. It’s the glue that ties the delivery together.

4. Keep the Glove Side Quiet and Engaged

One of the biggest energy leaks I see in young pitchers is a wild glove side—flailing elbows, spinning shoulders, or early pulls. The glove side should be active, but it needs to stay connected and quiet.

Your glove hand should stay in line with your target, allowing your shoulders to rotate together. This helps maintain direction, increase velocity, and protect your arm. Control the glove side, and you control the finish.

5. Arm Path: Short, Clean, and Repeatable

Let’s talk about the arm. Every pitcher has their own natural arm slot, but the arm path—the journey from glove break to release—needs to be clean and efficient.

Long, loopy arm actions may look flashy, but they’re hard to repeat under pressure and put unnecessary stress on the shoulder and elbow. I work with pitchers to shorten the path, eliminate wasted movement, and get their hand into a strong throwing position early. Less is more when it comes to arm action.

6. Consistent Stride and Direction Toward the Plate

Your stride is where you transfer all the momentum you’ve built into energy at release. A short stride limits velocity and extension. An open stride messes with direction and command. What we want is a strong, consistent stride that drives toward the plate.

Ideally, your stride leg lands on a firm front side, pointing slightly closed to keep your hips from flying open. This gives your upper body something to rotate against and allows you to finish with power and balance.

7. Strong Front Side and Balanced Finish

The finish tells me a lot about a pitcher’s delivery. A balanced finish—landing in a strong fielding position—usually means the rest of the mechanics were clean. Falling off the mound, spinning, or collapsing tells me there’s something off earlier in the chain.

I teach pitchers to land with their head over their front knee, chest down, and back leg following through naturally. It’s not about posing—it’s about transferring all your energy into the pitch and ending in control.

8. Repeatability Is King

All of these mechanical pieces are important, but none of them matter without repeatability. Pitchers don’t need perfect mechanics—they need mechanics they can repeat over and over again, under pressure, in any count.

That’s why I have my pitchers throw in game-like conditions, work on their tempo, and train their delivery from stretch and windup. The goal is to build a delivery that holds up in the seventh inning just like it does in the bullpen.

9. Strength and Mobility Support Mechanics

You can’t talk mechanics without talking about body movement. If a pitcher is tight in the hips or weak in the core, they won’t be able to move the way we want them to. Strength and mobility go hand in hand with good mechanics.

That means doing the right work in the weight room. Mobility in the hips and thoracic spine, strength in the legs and core, and stability in the shoulder are all key. Mechanics aren’t just about how you move—they’re about what your body can do.

10. Be a Student of the Game

Finally, I always encourage my pitchers to be students of the game. Study video. Learn how to move the best. Ask questions. Mechanics aren’t something you “fix” once—they’re something you constantly adjust, improve, and understand.

The more a pitcher knows about their delivery, the more confident they become. And that confidence shows up in every pitch they throw.

Final Thoughts

Pitching is part art, part science—and mastering your mechanics is the foundation for both. If you’re a high school pitcher who wants to play at the next level, or just become the best version of yourself, start with your delivery.

Be coachable. Be intentional. And most of all, be consistent.

Because the best pitchers don’t just throw hard—they throw smart. And smart pitching starts with proper mechanics.

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I’ve been fortunate to coach teams that reached the top: a high school team that won the CIF Championship in 2013 and a college squad that captured the California State Championship in 2023. Both were incredible experiences, but not because of the trophies. What made them special was watching young athletes commit to a process, come together as a team, and grow into something bigger than themselves.

The wins were the result. The habits were the reason.

It Starts with Culture

Before you talk strategy, before the first practice, before the first pitch—you have to establish a culture. A winning culture doesn’t just mean you want to win. Every team wants that. Culture is about how you show up, how you treat each other, and what you hold each other accountable to, every single day.

With both championship teams, we made it clear from the start: this wasn’t going to be about individual stats or personal attention. It was about doing things the right way—showing up early, respecting the game, supporting your teammates, and always putting the team first.

And when players started living those values without needing to be reminded, I knew we had something special.

Discipline Beats Motivation

Anyone can be motivated for a week. But it’s the athletes who stick to their routine when it’s not exciting—those are the ones who become champions.

Our teams had early mornings, long practices, and plenty of setbacks. But we made discipline the backbone of everything we did. We had consistent practice habits, self-disciplined players, detailed game prep, and clear standards of performance. If someone slacked, they didn’t just hear it from a coach—they heard it from their teammates.

Motivation might get you started. But discipline gets you to the finish line.

Embrace the Role

One of the biggest differences between good teams and great ones is that everyone knows—and embraces—their role. That’s not always easy. Not everyone’s the starting pitcher or the cleanup hitter.

But what made both our CIF and State Championship teams so powerful was that every player bought in. The bench guys were just as engaged as the starters. The pitchers charted games like it mattered to them. The bullpen gave each other constant feedback. The guys who didn’t show up in the box score were still the first ones cheering in the dugout.

When everyone knows their role matters, and takes pride in it, the team becomes unstoppable.

Responding to Adversity

No championship season is smooth. We had injuries, tough losses, slumps, and moments where things could’ve unraveled. What set our teams apart was how they responded.

We didn’t panic. We didn’t point fingers. We leaned on each other.

As a coach, I always remind my players: you can’t control everything, but you can control how you respond. And those habits—resilience, focus, and trust—are what carry you through the hard innings and late-game pressure.

Those championship runs weren’t defined by blowout wins. They were built in the moments we rallied together after things went wrong.

Consistency Over Flash

Everyone loves the highlight-reel plays. But championships are built on the little things done right over and over again.

Backing up bases. Taking extra reps after practice. Running out every ground ball. Holding each other to a standard.

Our title teams weren’t the most talented rosters I’ve ever coached. But they were the most consistent. They showed up the same way whether it was a preseason scrimmage or a playoff game. That level of consistency is what separates contenders from champions.

Leadership Comes from Everywhere

You don’t need a “C” on your jersey to lead. Some of the best leaders I’ve coached weren’t the loudest or the most talented. They were the guys who showed up early, stayed late, picked up their teammates, and led by example.

During both title runs, we had leaders in every part of the dugout. Starters led. Role players led. Seniors led. Underclassmen stepped up too. You don’t need a title to be a leader.

When leadership is shared, the pressure doesn’t fall on one or two people. Everyone feels responsible for the group’s success. And that’s powerful.

The Real Win

Winning a championship is unforgettable. But what stays with me most isn’t the final score. It’s the transformation. Watching a group of young men buy into something bigger than themselves, make sacrifices, and achieve what most teams only dream about—that’s what makes coaching so meaningful.

And here’s the best part: those same championship habits—discipline, teamwork, resilience, leadership—stick with them for life.

They’ll use those habits as students, professionals, husbands, and fathers.

Because once you’ve built a winner from the inside out, that mindset doesn’t go away.

Final Thoughts

Coaching has given me some of my proudest moments—not because of the titles, but because of the people.

Every team is different. Every season has its own challenges. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from coaching championship teams, it’s this: habits win.

The right culture, the right discipline, and the right mindset don’t just lead to wins on the field. They build winners in life.

And that’s the real championship.

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Don’t get me wrong—velocity matters. It helps pitchers get noticed, gives some level of satisfaction, and helps put you on the radar.. But if a young pitcher is going to thrive under pressure, overcome failure, and become a true competitor, they need something deeper. They need confidence. And as coaches, it’s our job to help them build it.

Velocity Get You Started. Confidence Ensures You Finish.

Every young pitcher I work with starts with the same questions: “How is my velocity?” “Is my arm in the right slot?” “Where was my body on foot strike?” Early on, they’re focused on the technical side—and they should be, to a degree. But as they grow, that mindset can start to hold them back if it becomes the only thing they think about.

When a pitcher walks out to the mound, their movement patterns should already be baked in through hours of deliberate practice. The game isn’t the time to overanalyze every movement. It’s time to compete.

That’s where confidence comes in. The great pitchers—the ones who want the ball in big moments—don’t always have everything aligned perfectly. But they believe in their stuff, trust their preparation, and know how to compete through adversity.

Confidence Comes from Preparation

One of the first things I tell my pitchers is this: “Confidence isn’t a feeling—it’s an earned byproduct from preparation.”

Confidence doesn’t come from hoping things go well. It comes from doing the work when no one’s watching. Deliberate bullpen sessions, strength training, conditioning, watching film—those are the hidden reps that build belief.

When a young pitcher knows they’ve put in the work, they don’t crumble after a bad pitch or a tough inning. They respond. They adjust. They keep fighting. That’s not talent—that’s mindset.

Teach Them How to Compete, Not Just Throw

Pitching isn’t just about velocity and location. It’s about problem-solving. Understanding hitters. Making adjustments. Staying composed. It’s about competing.

Too often, youth pitchers are trained to be “throwers,” not “pitchers.” They’re told to throw strikes, hit a radar number, or mimic a certain pro. But that doesn’t teach them how to win each pitch.

When I coach, I focus on helping young pitchers understand the game. How to set hitters up. How to pitch with runners on. When to challenge, when to stretch the zone. These are skills that come with experience—but they also come with coaching that emphasizes baseball IQ, not just biomechanics.

Build Them Up Mentally

Confidence is fragile, especially for young athletes. That’s why coaches need to be intentional about how we talk to our players.

A pitcher who gives up a home run already feels it in their gut—they don’t need a coach to pile on. What they need is someone who teaches them how to respond. Not with anger. Not with fear. But with grit.

When I coach, I don’t just talk about what went wrong. I ask, “What did you learn?” or “What’s the adjustment here?” That way, failure becomes part of the process—not something to be feared, but something to grow from.

The mound is an isolated place. If we don’t teach our young pitchers how to handle failure, they’ll never build the resiliency to overcome adversity and thrive in high pressure situations.

Celebrate More Than Stats

It’s easy to praise a kid after a shutout. But what about when they grind through five tough innings and keep their team in the game?

Some of my proudest coaching moments have come not after championship wins, but when I’ve seen a young pitcher push past self-doubt, trust their stuff, and keep competing when things became difficult.

Confidence is built when we celebrate growth—not just results. If we only reward wins and strikeouts, we miss the chance to recognize the mental toughness, the decision-making, and the resilience that make a real pitcher. We need to be promoting a growth mindset.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one message I hope to pass on to young pitchers—and to the coaches working with them—it’s this: mechanics and velocity are part of the foundation, but confidence is the engine that drives success.

Teach the grip, the stride, and the follow-through. But also teach how to breathe when the bases are loaded. How to stay focused after a missed call. How to believe in themselves when the game’s on the line.

Because at the end of the day, pitching is about competing. And competition, like confidence, starts from within.

Let’s help our young pitchers build that from the ground up.

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