Athlete Spotlight: Eli Martin’s Summer of Success

Eli has been consistently training for nearly two years, focusing on improving his baseball pitching and hitting skills. While his success is not limited to pitching, for the focus of this blog his pitching success will be highlighted. Despite his young age, Eli displays the dedication and passion of a seasoned athlete. An interesting aspect of Eli's training sessions includes his frequent bets with his coach Ashton, where he often loses but enjoys the rare occasions when he wins.

Eli's Pitching Metrics: From Start to End of Summer

Initial Metrics:

- Max Pulldown Velocity: 59.4 mph

- Max Mound Velocity: 54.0 mph

End of Summer Results:

- Max Pulldown Velocity: 64.4 mph (+5.0 mph increase)

- Max Mound Velocity: 59.9 mph (+5.9 mph increase)

Eli's remarkable improvement over the summer can be attributed to his dedicated work and the effective training program he followed. The focus was primarily on velocity development, leveraging the fact that his pitching workload was relatively light during this period.

Addressing Pitching Mechanics:

At the beginning of summer, some deficiencies in Eli's pitching mechanics were identified, particularly in the lower half of his delivery. His hips weren't moving down the mound as early or as far as needed. To improve this, Eli engaged in specific drills:

- Step Behinds

- Drop Steps

- Walking Wind Ups

Velocity Development Training:

Following the drills, Eli's training shifted to velocity development, using 5 ounce baseballs and occasionally weighted balls. This focus was chosen because his mound workload was minimal, allowing for a greater emphasis on increasing flat ground velocity. The main drills included:

- Long Toss with Compression Throws

- Turn and Burns

- Run and Guns

These exercises aimed to improve Eli's mechanical efficiency and prepare his body for higher velocity pitching.

Testimonials:

Ame, Eli’s Mother:

“When I started Eli with Ashton two years ago, I was initially skeptical about the program. But after a few weeks, I could see a significant difference in Eli's ability to perform in baseball. Ashton's detailed work on Eli's pitching movements and the impact on ball velocity was enlightening. I've learned a lot about the sport through Eli's development and have great trust in Ashton's coaching.”

Eli Martin:

“Working with Ashton over the past two years has greatly increased my pitching velocity. He's helped me adjust my pitching mechanics, leading to noticeable progress on the field. I enjoy our bets, even though I mostly lose, but the rare wins are always worth it.”

Eli's journey over these two years demonstrates not just skill improvement but also a growing understanding and love for the sport of baseball. Eli’s succeess is truly something to be proud of, and his progress in the future