As I head out the door to meet a few of my Invincible Velocity Young Guns* for a long toss training session, the memory of another hot summer afternoon returns to me. It is mid-July in 2007 and I am sweltering in the 3rd base dugout at Walton High School just north of Atlanta. The start of our game is delayed and my team is getting restless. It doesn't take long for them to decide the time has come to determine once and for all who can throw a baseball the farthest.  Jackie Bradley, Jr. (Boston Red Sox) instantly jumps up and declares his participation and the field of competitors dwindles quickly.  At the time Jackie B. owned the PG National record for hardest throw by an outfielder at 101 mph.  A few of his Richmond Braves National teammates rise to the challenge though. Among them, Danny Hultzen (Seattle Mariners), Tim Melville ( Kansas City Royals), Jacob Mayers ( Arizona Diamondbacks) and Will Roberts (Cleveland Indians).  These five love to throw hard and far.  It is a spectacle to watch them warm up before games. By the end of warm ups they will be standing against the fence in the opposite outfield throwing over the opposing team.  On this day the goal is to stand at home plate and throw the ball over the centerfield fence.  One by one, Jackie B., Danny, Timmy, Jake and Willie take turns peppering the warning track and then the batters eye with missiles. Finally a ball sails out of sight and the dugout erupts. Jackie B. has left the yard! To this day, whenever I see an article bashing long toss as a component of velocity training, I easily dismiss it as the work of someone who has never witnessed the majesty of a baseball flying straight and true for the better part of 400 feet. 

*We call our Invincible Velocity trainees age 14 and younger "Invincible Young Guns". Our 15-17 year old Invincible Velocity trainees are known as "Invincible Phenoms" and our Pro and College guys are just referred to as Invincible Studs . I watched and marveled as Jackie B., Danny, Timmy, Jake and Willie grew from Young Guns to Phenoms to Studs. Their love for throwing a baseball hard and far and their relentless pursuit of velocity inspired the creation of Coach Jeff Roberts'  Invincible Velocity Program and continue to shape its principles.