Hey
@BimboColesHair I might be nerding out too much with this and I understand completely if you're not able to answer this question but:
What exactly does the org look for in a pitching prospect that's projectable for velocity increases, as we (you and your coworkers) seem to do it better than anyone else? I recall reading an article a while ago about how fast arm speed with mediocre velocity is a good indicator of room for growth. Are there other specifics you look for beyond that, such as inefficient lower body mechanics, etc?
I remember you mentioned that our recent draft pick Campbell is an obvious fit into this archetype, does that go beyond just the wide range on his fastball?
Thank you and love reading your answers in this thread!
You know what, this is a good enough question to answer because it’s outside of the box of the normal question I get in here.
All of us have different views on how to tap into the already “tapped out” guy. So I’ll give mine.
For me it all stems from mechanics. I’ve said this before on the forum, but I always live off it when approaching someone to work with; It’s easier to add velocity to a mechanically sound pitcher than it is to make a guy with poor mechanics mechanically sound with unteachable velocity.
Big reason Cleveland finds these college pitchers everyone writes off as finished products year in and year out is because they target mechanically sound guys who need little to no work on obtaining professional mechanics. Shortens the time it takes for little changes here and there to stick and their stuff to improve.
From there it becomes a number of simple (for Cleveland), quick items where all of a sudden a 3rd, 4th, 5th, 19th round pick is showing stuff he never showed in college less than a year ago.
Either optimizing a guys arm path (a solution for fast arm speed, slow pitch speed), taking pitch tracking data and optimizing something grip or release point related, strength and conditioning (the primary solution for lower body mechanical inefficiencies), or changing their arsenal as a whole.
For a players first pro off-season, which I think is the most important stretch in a players baseball career, it varies on the player and the player dev staff for how they gather info and create their plan for individual players.
Some player dev people want you instantly into strength and conditioning and explosion training. Some player dev people want you working with weighted balls before touching a regular baseball. Some want biomechanics readings to work on weight distribution or ground force readings to optimize your explosiveness with your leg drive. Some want pitch tracking data to figure out how to add a few hundred RPMs to certain pitches if possible.
What makes the process fun is everyone is different and everyone is on a completely different plan from everyone else. But finding a way to take all of those different pitchers going down different paths and leading back to the same trajectory is what other teams struggle to master.
If you hit on 25% to 50% of your draft class, who already have good repeatable mechanics and throw strikes, know how to pitch, and have multiple offerings, and see velo increases then you are able to keep churning these guys through level after level year in and year out. Easier said than done though.
I’m not going to get into specifics of what else is targeted for draftees. But if you see a college pitcher who has good mechanics, throws 4 average pitches for strikes and in any count, Ks a lot of hitters, and BBs few hitters that is a good start.
As for the velo on only Campbell’s wide ranging FB and velo increases pertaining to only that, no. 99% of guys who see a velo increase or improve their velo consistency also see velo increases on their secondary pitches. It’s the one hurdle most have to get over the hump on because for most pitchers who are established added velo on a secondary pitch like a slider, curve, cutter, change up, etc = a straighter pitch. Regaining the movement takes a bit of time, but not as long as it would take to take a guy with unteachable stuff and get him mechanically sound where you are helping their arm life and their consistency/command.
