Hey everyone. I just found this website tonight as I was looking for slow motion videos of pitching mechanics and stumbled here. After reading some of the discussions, this looks like a great place to talk pitching and share ideas and theories with others.
A little bit about me: I played D1 ball at UNC-Asheville (Big South Conference) where I pitched. Started out as a walk-on and redshirted my 1st year. Earned the closer role as a RS freshman and made a couple of mid week starts. Got a victory against Florida and save against Tennessee, who both made it to Omaha that year ('05).
I played a pretty significant role my Sophomore year as we won our conference tournament and made the first regional in school history. We went 2 and out losing to Clemson 2-0 and Mississippi State 5-4, but it was an incredible experience and something I will never forget (mostly because I have a sweet championship ring to show for it).
By my Junior year I had earned a weekend starting role and was throwing in the upper 80s, touching low 90s and in great shape. Our pitching coach was pretty terrible so I worked my tail off and reworked my mechanics to improve from a low-to-mid 80s thrower to what I was my Junior year. I ended up throwing over 100 innings and played for the Florence Redwolves of the CPL the following summer and throwing 60 more innings. That was a 100 inning increase from the previous year (threw 60 in the spring and skipped summer ball to focus on the weight room), and I ended up having major surgery on my shoulder.
After the surgery I lost all of my velocity and movement and only threw 30 innings my Senior year. It was definitely a tough way to end my baseball career but I graduated with 2 degrees and got into graduate school.
I just finished my Master’s in Sport Psychology from the University of Denver last June. While I don’t have time to be a full-time coach, I give pitching and hitting lessons part-time (about 10 hours per week) and really enjoy it.
That was a bit long-winded, but I’m really looking forward to contributing my own thoughts on the physical and mental aspects of pitching and learning from the other members here.
Graham Baughn
