Showcase Season… Or Development Season?
Way too long ago….in a galaxy far, far away…..baseball pitchers used to have an offseason. A time of year when they could actually get away from the mound, get their bodies stronger, work on their arm care, clean up their mechanics, and prepare themselves for the upcoming season. Nowadays…..it seems like the minute the summer season ends, we are right back into showcase season, looking for the next radar gun reading, the next recruiting opportunity, and the next person to tell us how good our son is!
Now don’t get me wrong…..showcases have their place in the recruiting process. They can be a valuable tool for the right player at the right time. BUT…..when it comes to developing a young pitcher, we have to ask ourselves a very important question…..Are we doing what is best for his development, or are we doing what we think is best for his recruiting?
Those two things are not always the same!
The Fall and Winter Are For BUILDING…..Not Just SHOWING!
One of the biggest mistakes I see with young pitchers is the constant need to prove how hard they throw. We want to see the radar gun light up. We want to see the numbers on the recruiting profile go up. We want to show college coaches that our son can throw 85, 88, or 90 MPH. And while velocity is certainly an important part of the equation…..it is only ONE part of the equation!
What about the strength needed to maintain that velocity? What about the mechanics needed to throw strikes consistently? What about the arm care, mobility, recovery, and physical development required to withstand the demands of a high school season that runs from January through May?
These are the things that often get overlooked when our fall and winter calendars are filled with showcases, bullpens, and opportunities to get on a mound in front of another radar gun.
Think about it…..if a pitcher spends the fall trying to impress people with his velocity, when exactly is he supposed to spend time building the foundation that will allow him to throw harder and stay healthy in the future?
The RADAR GUN Can Be A Distraction!
Here is the problem with chasing velocity during the offseason…..it can encourage pitchers to focus on the RESULT instead of the PROCESS.
A pitcher walks into a showcase and gets a few warm-up throws before being asked to throw a handful of pitches at maximum intent. The radar gun is out, the coaches are watching, and everybody wants to see a number. There is very little time to evaluate how that pitcher moves, how he prepares his arm, or what his body needs to improve.
And what happens if he doesn’t throw as hard as he expected? We start looking for another showcase. Another bullpen. Another opportunity to get that number up.
Meanwhile…..the work that actually helps him develop as a pitcher can get pushed to the side.
Strength training, mobility, mechanical adjustments, and a properly structured throwing program are not always as exciting as watching a radar gun. But these are the things that can help a pitcher improve over time.
You Can’t Build An Arm By Constantly TESTING It!
Imagine trying to get stronger in the weight room by maxing out every single week. No real plan. No progression. No recovery. Just walking in and trying to lift as much weight as possible every time you touch a barbell.
Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?
Yet…..that is essentially what some pitchers do with their arms!
They spend the summer throwing games, finish the season, and then immediately jump into fall showcases. Before long, they are throwing bullpens, attending winter showcases, and trying to increase their velocity before the high school season even begins.
The problem isn’t necessarily one showcase. The problem is the cumulative workload, the lack of recovery, and the failure to have a plan that accounts for everything the pitcher is doing.
Your arm doesn’t know that you are at a showcase!
It doesn’t know that a college coach is watching. It doesn’t know that your recruiting profile needs an update. It only knows the demands being placed on it.
That is why a pitcher needs a structured plan that considers his throwing history, current workload, physical maturity, recovery, and goals for the upcoming season. Sometimes that means throwing. Sometimes it means building strength. Sometimes it means adjusting the workload or taking time away from throwing to recover.
The goal is NOT to see how much we can get out of an arm in October or December…..the goal is to prepare that arm to perform when the games matter!
What Should Pitchers Be Doing In The Fall And Winter?
For most high school pitchers, this time of year should be about building a foundation for the upcoming season. The exact plan will depend on where they are in their throwing cycle, how much they threw during the summer, and when they are expected to compete again.
But generally speaking, we should be focusing on a few important things:
- BUILD STRENGTH! Develop the lower body, trunk, and upper body so the pitcher has the physical foundation to handle the demands of pitching.
- IMPROVE MOVEMENT! Work on mobility, balance, coordination, and the ability to move efficiently. A pitcher who moves better has more tools available to improve his delivery.
- DEVELOP THE THROWING PROGRAM! Build throwing volume and intensity progressively rather than jumping from limited throwing to maximum-effort bullpens or showcase appearances.
- PRIORITIZE ARM CARE! Establish consistent routines that support recovery, shoulder and elbow function, and the ability to tolerate throwing.
- CLEAN UP THE MECHANICS! Use the offseason to identify areas that need attention and make adjustments gradually. It is much easier to work on movement patterns when every session isn’t about producing the highest possible velocity.
- HAVE A PLAN! Every pitcher should know what he is working toward, why he is doing it, and how his training fits into the bigger picture of the upcoming season.
Notice something about that list…..not one of those things requires a showcase!
Does that mean you should never attend a fall or winter showcase? Absolutely NOT! If a showcase fits your recruiting goals, your throwing schedule, and your physical preparation, it may make perfect sense. But it should be a planned event within your development program…..NOT the entire program itself. Plus it will save your thousands and thousands of dollars.
BE READY When The Season Starts!
Here is what I want every pitcher and every parent to understand…..the goal of the offseason is not to win the month of October. It isn’t to have the highest radar gun reading at a December showcase. And it certainly isn’t to walk into the first high school practice in January with a tired arm because we spent the previous three months trying to prove how hard we can throw.
The goal is to enter the season stronger, healthier, better prepared, and ready to compete.
Think about how much work goes into a high school baseball season. Between practices, bullpens, games, travel, and the demands of being a student, these pitchers have a lot on their plates. There is very little time to make up for poor preparation once the season begins.
That is why the fall and winter matter so much!
DEVELOP FIRST…..SHOWCASE SECOND!
At Throwzone Academy, we want pitchers to understand that long-term development is a process. It takes time, patience, consistency, and a willingness to do the things that may not produce an immediate result on a radar gun.
There will always be another showcase. There will always be another opportunity to get your numbers in front of a coach. But you only have so much time to prepare your body and your arm for the demands of the upcoming season.
Make sure you are using that time wisely!
Remember…..the best showcase you can give a college coach is a healthy, strong, and prepared pitcher who can take the ball and compete consistently.
Build the foundation now…..so you can reap the benefits when the season begins!
See you at the field!
Until next time,
Jim
