09/10/2026
A lot of people probably won’t recognize me in this video.
This was me in the weight room when I was pitching for UIW. I was about 50 pounds heavier than I am now.
Looking back, there’s something I wish I understood better as a pitcher.
When it comes to lifting, especially for pitchers, more size in the upper body doesn’t automatically mean a better athlete or a better arm.
I’m not saying don’t lift heavy. I’m saying you have to be smart about where you’re building strength and how that strength affects your movement.
For me, I believe the focus should be on building strong legs, developing the scapular muscles, and creating a body that can produce force while still moving freely.
The shoulders are a different story. If you spend too much time trying to build a bigger upper body, especially with heavy pressing like bench press, you can start sacrificing the flexibility and mobility that matter so much on the mound.
And I know that from experience.
I was 50 pounds heavier than I am now, and I’ve learned that being stronger and being able to move better are not always the same thing.
As a pitcher, you need strength, but you also need your arm to move freely and quickly. If you’re losing mobility, you can end up working against the very thing you’re trying to improve.
So if you’re a young pitcher lifting weights, don’t just ask, “How much can I bench?”
Ask yourself:
“Is this helping me move better, stay healthy, and throw harder?”
Build the legs. Train the scapular muscles. Develop strength that transfers to your delivery. And don’t sacrifice mobility just to look bigger in the weight room.
Get stronger, but don’t lose what makes you a pitcher. 🥎💫
