Athlete Spotlight: Mason Brown’s Path to Success

Mason joined our program almost 6 months ago, and has developed himself into a high- caliber left handed arm. Mason has always had a slightly quirky delivery, which is one of the aspects that makes him so difficult to face as a hitter. When he began, we didn’t want to take that away rather, make some small changes that prepared him to have high level success on the field this spring and summer.

Mason's Pitching Metrics:

Initial Metrics:

• Mound Velocity: 76.9 mph

• Compression Throw Velocity: 78.3 mph

Current Results:

• Mound Velocity: 81.3 mph (+4.4mph)

• Compression Throw Velocity: 83 mph (+4.7mph)

Mason’s outstanding velocity increase can be attributed to his hard work and commitment to his programming. Since beginning the program he has been introduced to proper strength and conditioning principles, and he has committed to doing the work nessessary to transform his body. He also has shown commitment to remapping his mechanics, while keeping the quirky flare that makes him unique.

Addressing Pitching Mechanics:

Following the initial assessment, we identified limitations in Mason’s pitching delivery. Mason was early to triple extension that caused him to jump out of his rear hip, rather than holding tension all the way into front foot strike. This also led to him having early rear leg flexion. Finally, his torso was in a poor position at front foot strike due to the previous two mechaical limitations. To address these issues we prescribed the following drills.

• Step Back

  • The step back drill is a great way for Mason to create negative momentum into his rear hip then learn to generate power the correct way moving down the mound. By overloading the negative move he had to work extremely hard to hold tension in his rear hip into front foot strike.

• Pick Up Rocker

  • The pick up rocker is a great drill for Mason to be able to focus on torso positioning at front foot strike. By adding this drill following the step back, he can keep the feels from the step back drill, holding rear leg tension and also focus on keeping his torso in a nice, stacked position at front foot strike.

• Stretch Delivery

  • Mason is a great athlete, and we felt that with the combination of the previous two drills and his athletic ability. The stretch delivery would give him the freedom to move and feel his mechanics change. This is something that we have had success with in the past with high level athletes, as they are very quick to learn how to move properly if you give him the proper guidance.

Weight Room Training:

Mason's success can also be attributed to his dedication in the weight room. Our focus was on patterning proper movements and building foundational strength, ensuring a solid base for his long-term progression in the weight room. By prioritizing technique and fundamental strength, Mason is not only achieving immediate gains but also laying the groundwork for sustained improvement and longevity in his athletic development.

Hear what Mason’s step- dad, Matt, and Zach himself have to say about his experience training with us:

“Mason has been training with Ashton for close to 6 months now. In that timeframe we have seen many changes. Not only has his velocity increased, but so has his confidence and his commitment to the game. Ashton provides an excellent learning environment and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that has helped Mason grow and develop as a pitcher and as a person. "

-Matt Jacobus

“When I started training with Ashton I threw 75-77 off the mound with no sense of mechanics. Over the course of 3 months i’m now at 80-82 with a feel of what my mechanics should be. The training has also helped me be more of an athlete than a body builder in the weight room.”

-Mason Brown