im 14 and going into my freshman year of high school. im 5'9 142 lbs with 72 mph fastball, good curve ball and good change up. i live in south florida where baeball is very competitive and the high school team is very good. i was just wondering if i need much improvement or im good enough to make the team.

(note:there is a fresh, jv and varsity team)

I've become one of the top area pitchers with an 80mph fastball (believe me there's a lot more to what I do than an 80mph fastball, but as a pitcher, you've got to discover those ways). A prospect not so big... but I win ball games. If you've got the work ethic, the mental make-up, and a little luck, yes, your good enough. Having said that, everyone needs improvement.

how fast did you throw when you were an incoming freshman?

Remember velocity isn't everything, don't get too hung up on what your throwing

yes i know, but i am curious to see what i could be throwing when im a senior if im throwing low 70's now.

A lot of that has to do with growth and how hard you work and other factors

I should add, I have a friend who is 5'9 175lbs HS Senior who throws 89-94 consistently.

So don't let your height scare you.

ok, thanks for the advice, and do you think 5'9 is a good height an incoming freshman?

Nick,

To be honest I couldn't tell you. I can't even remember how tall I was when I was a Freshman

You should be fine man. When I entered HS I was 5'6" and had a fastball that topped at about 65 mph. Now I'm going into my Senior year and I'm 6'1" with a fastball in the mid 80's and hoping to go up as I put on the pounds.

Some varsity pitchers only top out around 72. We had a senior star who never broke 70 in HS.

But 72 now should translate to about 80 at age 18.

quote:

Originally posted by Dtiger:
... and a little luck, yes,

Luck is a huge factor in short HS seasons. Refreshing to hear a successful pitcher mention luck You'll be mentally prepared when the breaks go against you which is inevitable sometimes too.

As a freshman I was mid 70s. I grew early, had lots of arm problems, and wasn't meant to be a power guy. I was about my same height (5ft 7in) and am now an inch or two taller. My quickest advice would be, learn how to spot your fastball, and perfect a change-up. If your change-up looks just like your fastball, and you can throw it 3-2... I don't care how hard you throw, with the brains, you can be leathal (sometimes the job of the "brains" may fall onto a head coach). I knew a kid, freshman, throwing 86 and didn't make the freshman team. They told him to go "figure things out" (he had quite a few, on and off the field) and when he came back, he was 92 and a stud as a junior (soph year he had arm issues which made him too shy to come back quick).

if you can spot you pitches and have decent offspead pitches, within reason, you should be good enough for any freshman team around.