The 3 Most Important Parts of Being an Elite Pitcher
In this post, we’re breaking down the three most important things you need to focus on to become an elite pitcher. These aren’t just mechanical tips. They’re the pillars that separate throwers from pitchers.
Watch the full video above, then use this post as your reference guide.
Before We Begin: Mindset Is Non-Negotiable
Let’s get this out of the way first.
If you don’t have the right mindset, none of what follows will matter. You can have the best mechanics in the world, but if you’re weak between the ears, you’re not going to succeed when it counts.
I learned this the hard way. In 2011, I had a start that shook me to my core. I went two-thirds of an inning and gave up five runs. I didn’t make it out of the first inning.
Before that start, I had a sub-2.00 ERA. After? I was sitting around 4.50. I started questioning everything. Can I even pitch anymore? Am I just not good?
Looking back, it was one bad game. That’s it. But I didn’t have mentors around me to walk me back from the ledge. Don’t make that mistake.
Your mindset is your most important weapon. Watch our previous video on the mindset mechanic — I’ll leave a link below — and prioritize it, especially after a bad outing.
The 3 Pillars of Elite Pitching
With mindset as your foundation, here are the three things you need to focus on next:
1. Throwing Strikes
Sounds simple, right? But it’s deeper than just getting the ball over the plate.
How do you throw strikes consistently?
Play great catch.
Every single throw you make should have intention behind it. If you have 50 throws in a day, all 50 should mean something. No willy-nilly tossing.
Here’s the reality: someone is always watching. Whether it’s a scout, a coach, or just a parent, the way you play catch is a reflection of your approach to the game. If you look checked out during catch play, that’s a red flag. But if you move with purpose, at game speed, with athleticism — that’s what sets you apart.
The “Corner Game”
As a pitcher, you’re constantly trying to keep the ball out of the middle of the zone. So why would you play catch throwing right down the middle?
Tip: Play catch with a target. Don’t just throw to the chest. Work the corners. Tell your catch partner where you’re going and hit that spot. If you miss, miss small. If you called for down, miss down — not up and over the target.
The Golden Rule:
If you hit your spot, there’s a very small chance you’ll have an undesirable result.
Even if the pitch is a tick slower than usual, if it’s on the corner, you’re in good shape. On the flip side, a max-effort fastball that misses over the middle? That’s how balls leave the yard.
2. Be Smooth
This one’s a little more abstract, but it’s critical.
Smoothness looks different for everyone. Some guys — like Paul Skenes or Tork Scubal — have funky, unorthodox mechanics. Others, like Clayton Kershaw, have that classic, repeatable delivery. One size doesn’t fit all.
But the common thread? Efficiency.
The 85% Rule
Most pitchers are better off at 85% effort than 100%.
Look at Justin Verlander. He’ll cruise at 93-94 mph for most of the game, then dial it up to 99 in the ninth inning when he needs it. That’s a pitcher who understands effort management.
I know some guys are max-effort throwers. I was one of them. I was gripping and ripping — fastball, sinker, slider, all max. And you know what happened? I blew out my shoulder.
Max effort isn’t a long-term plan.
That’s not to say you can’t be aggressive. But there’s a difference between controlled aggression and reckless abandon.
The Swan and the Bulldog
The best pitchers find a balance between grace and grit. I like to say it’s like a swan and a bulldog being buddies.
Great pitchers are both. They have the swan’s smoothness and the bulldog’s competitive fire. They just know when to tap into each.
Ninja Mentality:
Everything with a ninja is calculated. They move through the darkness silently. Nobody knows they’re there until it’s too late. That’s how you should pitch. Not like a bull in a china shop — like a ninja.
Quick Story: The Power of Conviction
When I stopped caring about where the ball went — when I stopped worrying about hitting batters — my command actually improved.
A catcher would call fastball inside, and I used to think, “I hope I don’t hit him.” Once I flipped that to, “Here it comes, you better get out of the way,” my conviction increased, and so did my command.
Sometimes you need that bulldog. But you also need the swan.
3. Fall in Love with Your Changeup
Here it is. The third pillar.
And I’m going to say something that might ruffle some feathers:
Stop being in love with your curveball.
Especially if you’re a young pitcher. Nine, ten, twelve, even seventeen years old — stop focusing on the curveball.
Instead, fall in love with your changeup.
Why the Changeup Matters
There is no great starting pitcher in history — and I mean no one — who didn’t have a great changeup. It’s the pitch that separates throwers from pitchers.
Pros prioritize the changeup.
When I was in the Padres organization, they made all minor league starters throw at least 20% changeups. Why? Because they knew it was the pitch that would translate to the big leagues.
And you want to know who was carving up hitters with a 71-73 mph changeup? Greg Maddux. He’d come over to the minor league side during spring training and make our best hitters look foolish — not with 95 mph heat, but with a changeup that moved and hit spots.
Trevor Hoffman? Same thing. One of the best changeups ever.
“Don’t Slow Your Arm Down” — Actually, Try It
We’re always taught to keep arm speed the same on off-speed pitches. And yes, that’s generally good advice.
But I disagree with the absoluteness of it.
If you’re not a heavy changeup guy, try slowing your arm down just a little bit. Just at the end. Play with it.
You’re giving hitters too much credit. Unless you’re facing elite competition, a slight telegraph isn’t going to get crushed. And honestly? A lot of times when you slow your arm down, the pitch moves more.
Manifest the Outcome
Here’s my favorite feeling: first pitch of the at-bat, I’m throwing a changeup for contact. I’m picturing a ground ball, two-hopper to shortstop. I’m manifesting it.
And then it happens.
Boom. Ground out. One pitch. I didn’t have to go full count. I didn’t have to strike him out with a nasty curveball in the dirt. I got the out efficiently, saved my arm, and kept the defense engaged.
That’s pitching. Not throwing.
Curveball as Icing
Don’t get me wrong — the curveball is a great pitch. But it’s the icing on the cake, not the cake itself.
You need:
- A good fastball
- A good changeup
- The curveball comes after
If you can throw a changeup as confidently as you throw your fastball, you’re going to get outs. If you can’t, scrap the curveball until you figure it out.
A Note on Perspectives: Starter vs. Reliever
It’s worth noting that I’m speaking from a relief pitcher perspective here. Isaac is more of a starter. There’s a difference, and it’s worth acknowledging.
As a reliever, you might need that max-effort mentality more often. You’re coming in for one or two innings and letting it eat. As a starter, you have to pace yourself for six or seven.
But the principles remain the same:
Whether you’re a starter or a reliever, these three pillars will make you a better pitcher.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the bottom line:
|
Priority |
What to Focus On |
|---|---|
|
Foundation |
Mindset — watch the previous video |
|
Pillar 1 |
Throwing strikes through intentional catch play |
|
Pillar 2 |
Being smooth — find your balance of swan and bulldog |
|
Pillar 3 |
Fall in love with the changeup — it’s the best pitch in baseball |
What’s Next?
And remember: pitch, don’t throw. Hitting your spot is always more important than throwing harder.
Thanks for reading! If this helped you, drop a comment below or share it with a pitcher who needs to hear it.
See you in the next one.
– Coach Madden & Isaac
