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.

While waiting out another rain delay, I did a quick analysis on some pitching velocity data I found online that was produced in a recently held individual showcase called "Best of the East." The event featured mostly 2014, 2015, 2016 grads and one hard throwing 2017 graduate. The data included name, grad year and high school of each participant. Seventy participants pitched and had their fastball velocity recorded. Using the high end of their recorded fastball velocity range, I compared each player to our Battle Up! Arm Strength Chart and came up with the following data of my own.

--- Only 2 of the 70 "Best" pitchers at this event are on a professional development track 
--- Fewer than 1/3 of them throw hard enough to be considered a legitimate collegiate pitching prospect.
--- 55% of the East's "Best" pitchers display only high school worthy fastball velocity
--- The other 10%  or so of the readings are equivalent to the velocity you find in your neighborhood recreational league games

Combining the last two observations together suggests 65% of all the pitchers showcasing in an event billed as the "Best" in the region don't yet have the velocity to presently qualify as a legitimate collegiate pitching prospect. The remaining one-third who did show collegiate potential threw just barely hard enough to qualify for the collegiate track but with another passing year would likely fall below those standards..

What do these results suggest to me?  Two things. The first thing the data shows me is that the door to college scholarships and professional contracts is WIDE OPEN to anyone willing to get after it with velocity training! And I mean WIDE OPEN!

If this event showcased the "Best" in this region then how softly must the other bazillion pitchers showcasing themselves all summer long be throwing?

Secondly, if you add an extra 5 mph to the fastball velocity of the kids at this event, the percentages associated with each developmental track increase geometrically. The number on pace to develop into pro prospects quadruples. The number on track to become collegiate prospects doubles.

The door's open. Our INVINCIBLE Boot Camps and Mini-Camps can put you on track to reap the rewards! Are you ready to get after it?

Next time: Pitching is where the money is in baseball!

I am always amazed when I attend college showcases at how few pitchers display anything close to the velocity it takes to play at the next level. Week after week, all summer long they all pitch their hearts out. Many pitch their teams to one victory after another and by seasons end they are sure they are well on their way to playing in college or the pros.  Most will not get the chance. It's not because they didn't  put their hearts in it or win often enough. Those things matter but only if you have enough velocity. Pitching at the next level is conditional upon one fact: velocity. If you have enough velocity then your competiveness, pitchabilty and secondary pitches matter.  You can be the most decorated pitcher around but if you only throw 79 or 82 then no one really cares. Are you satisfied you have enough velocity to meet the first condition to be recruited as a pitcher?  Here is how to tell IF you have enough: [+]. Then this is how you get enough:[+]