Alright, let’s talk about this whole “75 mph Little League to MLB” thing. It sounds kinda crazy, right? But it was something I actually went through, well, my version of it.
It started way back. I wasn’t some phenom kid. I remember topping out around 75 mph on a good day in Little League, maybe a bit faster later in high school, but nothing earth-shattering. Felt pretty average, honestly. But you see those guys on TV, throwing absolute gas, hitting spots… the MLB dream. It lodges itself in your head.
The Grind Begins
So, I decided, okay, let’s actually try this. Let’s see how far I can push this arm. It wasn’t about getting drafted anymore, not really. It became more about the process, the challenge. Could I do it?
First thing, I just started throwing. A lot. Long toss was my religion. I’d go out to a field, find a partner if I could, or just throw against a backstop. Stretching that arm out, feeling the ball leave my hand. I focused on getting my whole body into it, not just the arm. Legs, core, the whole kinetic chain thing people talk about, though I didn’t use fancy words then. I just tried to feel it work together.
Then came the conditioning. You can’t just throw. I realized pretty quick my body wasn’t ready for the strain. So, I hit the weights. Not bodybuilding stuff, more functional strength. Lots of:
- Band work: Shoulder health became paramount. Rotator cuff exercises until I was blue in the face.
- Leg days: Squats, lunges, deadlifts. You throw with your legs, everyone says it, and it’s true.
- Core work: Planks, medicine ball throws, rotations. Trying to build that stability and power transfer.
Hitting Walls and Small Wins
Progress wasn’t linear. Oh boy, was it not linear. Some days I felt great, the ball felt light. Other days, my arm felt like lead, velocity dipped. It was frustrating. You put in all this work, and sometimes you go backward. That’s the part nobody glamorous talks about.
I started filming myself. Setting up my phone on a tripod. Watching the playback was… humbling. My mechanics were all over the place compared to the pros. Little leaks in energy, arm dragging, inconsistent release point. It gave me things to focus on, though. One small tweak at a time. Try this grip, adjust my stride, focus on keeping my front side closed longer.
I remember hitting 80 mph consistently for the first time. It felt like breaking a sound barrier. Then 85. Each milestone was a huge boost. It wasn’t MLB heat, not even close to the 90s barrier yet, but it was progress. Tangible proof the grind was doing something.
Lessons Learned (Not Quite MLB)
Did I make it to MLB? Ha, no. Not even close. Life happens, priorities shift, and honestly, my arm probably didn’t have true 95+ mph in it anyway without risking serious injury. But the journey from that 75 mph kid to someone throwing consistently in the mid-to-upper 80s, with much better mechanics and understanding? That was the real win.
What I really took away wasn’t just the velocity bump. It was the discipline. Showing up even when I didn’t want to. Learning to listen to my body – knowing the difference between soreness and actual pain. The analytical part of breaking down mechanics. It taught me how to set a ridiculous goal and chip away at it, piece by piece.
So yeah, “75 mph Little League to MLB” was the crazy banner I flew, but the real story was in the daily grind, the setbacks, and the small victories along the way. It’s a process I still apply to other things I try to learn or get better at. You start where you are, you aim high, and you just keep throwing.
