High Heat Baseball

Good looking swing this youngster has. We’ve been working on balance, exploding with our hips and finishing our swing. Makes training these kids easy when they are eager to get better and put in the effort to do so! ⚾️🔥⚾️
Nolan Mulligan

⚾️ 🔥 In my opinion (others too I’m sure), a good change up is one of the best pitches in baseball! Hitting is all about timing... When you’re able to fire a pitch with the same tempo as your fastball but have it be 8-10-15mph slower, you will make batters look silly!!

⚾️ 🔥 There really is no “correct” or “incorrect” way to grip a change up. I’ve played with guys who would throw a palm ball or a “slip pitch” (taking your pressure fingers , index & middle, up off of the ball) and they had some of the nastiest changes I’ve seen! I myself tried and played around with different grips to find which I thought would be most effective.

⚾️ 🔥 The most common one these days, as any Coach/ballplayer/fan knows, is the circle change.... A lot of young pitchers get the idea that you have to make a perfect circle with the index finger and thumb. 👌🏼 Not the case.. The Circle change is definitely a good starting point to gripping a great change up. Adjust your grip to where you are comfortable from there and then stick with and master that grip!

💥 Deception is the key 💥

Here are a few tips that I teach my students to help improve this underrated, great pitch.

• Play with your grips and find one that feels comfortable and controllable for you

• Stick with that grip once you find it and master it

• Throw the ball with the same tempo as your fastball (the grip is the only thing that changes). A very good way to practice this is by throwing your change up beyond the pitcher’s mound. Even and especially during long toss. Really reach and feel the whip

• Remember, this pitch is all about deceiving the batter. If you slow your motion and arm speed, not only the batter, but everyone in the park will know it’s coming

• Be light on your fingertips. Revolution/spin on a fastball is what makes it cut through the air and increase velocity. Light on fingertips decreases the revolution automatically taking velocity off

• Depending on the count and batter you are facing, know where to throw it. In a fastball count, let the hitter see it. Put it right there so their eyes light up thinking they’re gonna smash a fastball! ⚾️👀 Aaaand swing and a miss! Or stuck frozen 🧊 Ahead in the count (0-2,1-2), start it at the lower part of the strike zone and watch them chase it as it dives down out of the zone. Prettty satisfying as a pitcher, whether a lefty throwing to a righty or a righty to a lefty, to watch them swing out of their shoes on a low, outside change piece!

• Like always and with every pitch!! Have confidence and commit to it!!!

Coach Nolan

This kid right here has passion, mechanics, muscle memory, intelligence and composure which is transforming him into a STUD pitcher! His focus during our drills/sessions is incredible and it really shows every time he takes the mound. One of the most humble, kindest kids that I have the privilege to train (and have ever met ,really). Now he has moved on to travel ball! 💪🏼 Keep up the hard work and drive to become better every day! 🔥 ⚾️ 🔥

- Coach Nolan

First year of playing ball for this awesome kid, Skyler!! He has come a long way from not knowing how to hold a bat and never really have thrown a baseball. I have trained with him for 5-6 lessons and he has improved tremendously!! Still have work to do but he loves the game, wants to learn and focuses during our sessions! Combine those 3 and “sky” is the limit for anyone! Truly am grateful for the opportunity to pass on my knowledge and passion to these great kids. Nolan Mulligan ⚾️ 🔥 ⚾️🔥

Very excited to watch this Sophomore perform on the hill this year! Long, loose arm, natural velocity & movement.... The baseball smarts and attitude required to be a great pitcher. Reminds me of myself a bit with his style! We’ve been working on a lil’ somethin’ that he’ll bust out when season begins too 😉 ⚾️ 🔥 ⚾️ Nolan Mulligan