There is a saying in baseball, “You can never have enough pitching!”
If you have ever coached, played or been a fan of a team, you understand and can verify that this is 100% accurate.
At the Little League level, many teams will work to have every player on the team at least able to throw some strikes to eat up some innings.
At the Major League level, most teams can make deep runs into the playoffs when they have at least 3-4 quality starters and a strong bullpen.
Teams will often build their team around the pitching of their team.
Regardless of what level you might currently play at, how to be a good pitcher does not change from level to level. There are some basics that we will cover below to take your pitching skills to the next level.
How To Be A Good Pitcher in Baseball (7 Tips)
- Location, location, location
- Have enough velocity
- Keep hitters off balance
- Mentally tough
- Field your position
- Be a student of the game
- Practice mechanics
Tip #1: Location, location, location
The best pitchers are able to locate their fastball. The great pitchers can locate their fastball and their off speed pitches. If you watch most pitches that are hit hard or hit far, they are often down the middle of the plate.
When a pitcher is unable to locate their pitches and leave pitches over the middle of the plate, bad things typically happen for the defensive team. Working on locating pitches is step one for anyone working on becoming a good or great pitcher. The location the pitcher wants to avoid is right down the middle and should focus on hitting one of four corners.
- Low and inside
- High and inside
- Low and outside
- High and outside
The pitcher can work on throwing the fastball to these 4 locations. Have your catcher setup and try to hit the exact spot. During the game, working these 4 corners will keep the hitters guessing and changing their eye leves. The occasional pitch off the plate, intentionally thrown, can cause the batter to chase the pitch when they are behind in the count at 0 ball and 2 strikes (0-2 count).
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Tip #2: Have enough velocity
While there have been pitchers like Greg Maddux who haven’t had elite velocity, but are still in the hall of fame, having elite velocity is a game changer.
For the pitcher that doesn’t have elite velocity, having enough velocity in combination with hitting locations and having quality off speed pitches is enough to help someone be a really good pitcher.
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The pitcher will want to work on building and increasing their velocity, but done in a safe manner under the direction of a coach. There are some specific areas players can work on that can help improve velocity:
- Improve leg strength
- Increase flexibility
- Improve mechanics
Here are 10 tips to increase velocity in baseball:
Tip #3: Keep hitters off balance
Having an off speed pitch is a game changer for many pitchers. While many automatically default to the breaking ball, a change up is a wonderful addition to the pitchers options. The coach of a baseball player can work on the fastball and changeup until the player has reached a safe level to start working on a breaking ball or curveball.
The goal here is to hit your locations and change the speed. Here are some possible combinations. Assuming an 0-2 count.
- Throw an 0-2 high fast ball and then follow up with a 1-2 change up down and away
- Throw an 0-2 change up out of the zone and then follow up with a fast ball down and away.
Changing speed and location and occasionally leaving the zone is a good strategy to keep the hitter off balance and guessing what is coming next.
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Tip #4: Mentally Tough
Let’s face it, even the best pitchers have bad days. The only thing you can control as a pitcher is your routine, a positive mindset and sticking with your physical training between starts. Live with the outcome of what takes place in the game and build your confidence around your routine and your mindset.
The best pitchers can recover from a bad first inning or a rough stretch in a game. The worst pitchers start to collapse because they lose confidence and start to lose a positive mindset. Instead, stay focused on what needs to be done and work your location and off speed pitches.
Watch the MLB pitchers and take note on how they conduct themselves during good and bad times and their approach to getting batters out through keeping hitters off balanced.
Tip #5: Field Your Position
There will be several ground balls or line drives hit back at you during a game. Be ready after every pitch to help your own cause and make a quality play. Also, anytime a ball is hit to the outfield consider where you might be needed to back up a base or a throw coming in from the outfield.
Baseball positions ranked in order of importance!
A key for many pitchers is covering first base on a ground ball hit to the first baseman. Get used to moving that way and make it part of your routine in between starts to work on this basic.
Tip #6: Be a student of the game
Study the game and watch great pitchers. Watch for some of the following:
- What is their approach when they get to an 0-2 count?
- How do they get ahead in a count?
- What is their approach when the count is 3-1 or 2-0?
- Do they hit the 4 corners?
- Do they adjust from one at bat to the next with certain hitters?
Be a student of the game and study the best to ever pitch. The great news for pitchers today is that you can watch youtube videos on some of the best and watch their approach to getting hitters out and keeping their pitch count low.
Baseball is a game for the astute player, the player willing to study the best and dive into the strategy they use. The strategy in baseball is a big part of the game and there is a great deal that one can learn by watching others.
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Tip #7: Proper Mechanics
Find a quality pitching coach and work on improving your mechanics. The proper mechanics not only help you improve your velocity and overall accuracy, but can help keep you from injuring your arm.
You want to stay healthy throughout a season and having the proper mechanics plays an important role in this part of the game.
Next Steps: How To Be A Good Pitcher in Baseball
The first step is to self assess your game. Some things to consider:
- Out of 10 pitches, how often can you locate your fastball?
- Is velocity a strength of yours or do you need improvement?
- Do you have a quality change up or off speed pitch? How often can you located it out of 10 pitches thrown?
- Do you stay mentally tough during difficult times on the mound?
- What can you do to improve your fielding as a pitcher?
- Do you spend time studying great pitchers and their approach?
- How would a pitching coach rate your mechanics on a scale of 1-10
After completing this assessment, pick 1-3 areas that you can really dive into to improve your overall pitching skill and become a good to great pitcher!
Don’t forget to enjoy the journey! Baseball and pitching are supposed to be fun. Keep the pressure low, commit to the process and live with the outcome. Remember, baseball is a game, keep it fun!
Love it and look forward to playing!