How to Have Successful Tryout

With high school baseball tryouts underway, I wanted to take a second to think about the best way for a young pitcher to impress his JV or Varsity coach. A no, throwing hard is not the only way to do this. There are many things that are important to high school coaches when they look at their young pitchers. The following are the 5 most important things that I feel a high school coach will be looking for.


1. Throw Strikes - It doesn't matter if you throw 64 mphs. It does no one any good, no matter how are you throw, if you cannot locate your pitches. Nothing is more frustrating than a pitcher who continually walks batters. While you are throwing a bullpen in front of your coaches, focus on making pitches in the zone with all of your pitches. Even more impressive would be if you could purposefully throw off-speed pitches for a strike on purpose and then also for a ball on purpose. This would not only show your ability to command the zone, but also your knowledge of pitching.

2. Run Far and Fast - What does running have to do with pitching? Well, it is common knowledge that all pitchers have to run. Whether they are training their leg strength, their endurance, or helping their arm recover from a long outing, running is part of a pitcher's job description. If you are in good shape when you come into tryouts, a high school coach will be even more impressed with your apparent dedication to the finer details of the complete pitcher...or "Intelligent Pitcher."

3. Look the Part - Presentation is everything in the real world. Even for a high school pitcher, it is important that you look like a pitcher. Invest in a good pair of Rawlings, Wilson, or Mizuno baseball pants. A long sleeve dry-fit shirt to go underneath a t-shirt or short sleeve athletic shirt. Always where a proper baseball hat with brim properly formed. (By the way, properly formed is not flat brimmed...that looks terrible and needs to be banned from baseball) Also, please do not forget your cleats, turfs, or glove. You want to be prepared for all situations.

4. Show Respect - Coaches have a very difficult time with young athletes who feel they don't have anything to learn. If you are in a tough competition for the last starter spot on a team, a coach will be much more likely to select a pitcher who is very "coachable" even if his skills are slightly less than a pitcher who doesn't do what a coach says. Whenever you are being instructed by a coach, make sure to look him in the eye and address him with "yes or no coach." Be willing to try just about anything they are telling you to do. Even if you don't feel comfortable with some of the mechanical changes they may be asking you to make, they will respect you more for being willing to try different things.

5. Throw Hard - I know I know, I said it doesn't matter...and it really doesn't, most of the time. However, if you do happen to have an above average arm, that is, in high school, above 85 mphs, a coach may possibly give you a spot on the team with the hopes that they can harness some of your "power" and get you throwing strikes, running fast, looking the part, and showing respect. I put this at the bottom of the list, because it truly is the least important. Plus, its too late to do anything about your velocity now. But, if you got it....use it.

So good luck with all your tryouts guys...Keep me updated.

Until Next Time!!