Baseball Opps with TopV

Two pitchers, same height, same weight, one throws a lot harder. Is it his arm, his mechanics, or his body? Dr. Brent Pourciau explains "the line": a simple formula built from 73 TopVelocity athletes that uses bodyweight and a standing broad jump to estimate the fastball a pitcher's body should produce, then tells you whether to train the body or fix the delivery first.

 

The line: expected velocity (mph) = 23.6 + 0.14 x bodyweight (lb) + 0.30 x standing broad jump (in). Use your AVERAGE fastball, not your best ever.

 

Chapters

(00:00) Cold open + intro

(00:57) The line, explained

(02:04) The number almost everyone gets wrong

(02:39) The three zones

(03:46) Above the line: jumps, deadlifts, lateral power

(07:55) Below the line: finding the leak (303 MechanicsDNA analyses)

(11:01) Right on the line: raise it

(12:04) Two common questions

(12:34) Three example pitchers

(13:33) Recap: measure, find your line, find your zone, retest

 

Find your pitcher's biggest limiter: free MechanicsDNA 3D analysis at https://topvelocity.org

Questions: text (985) 400-7054

 

Research mentioned: Lehman, Drinkwater & Behm 2013 (J Strength Cond Res, doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182606c79); Kageyama et al. 2014 (J Sports Sci Med).

 

Data notes: the line was fit on 73 TopVelocity athletes with same-day TrackMan average fastball. MechanicsDNA estimates joint angles and speeds from video; fastest 25% (83+ mph) vs slowest 25% (70 and under), medians; associations, not proof of cause.

 

AI disclosure: the narration in this episode is produced with an AI model of Brent Pourciau's voice. All coaching clips are Brent, recorded on the field.

Rotational med ball throws are one of the best velocity drills a pitcher can do, if you do them in the right order. Dr. Brent Pourciau walks through the 5-level med ball progression with real coaching clips from the field, what 303 MechanicsDNA 3D analyses show about why trunk and pelvis speed (not a bigger stretch) separate hard throwers, the most common mistakes, and how to program it into a training week.

 

AI disclosure: the narration in this episode is produced with an AI model of Brent Pourciau's voice. All coaching clips are Brent, recorded on the field.

 

Chapters

0:00 Cold open

0:21 Welcome back + what you'll learn

0:50 The data: 303 MechanicsDNA analyses + research

2:50 Level 1: Med ball slams

5:13 Level 2: On-knee throws (leverage, hip extension)

7:50 Level 3: Momentum throws + front leg

10:18 Fixing early rotation: linear hops

11:44 Level 4: Drive drills + lateral sled drives

14:47 Level 5: Power step throws (and why they come last)

16:48 Building it into a training week

17:45 The full progression + what to train first

 

Find your pitcher's biggest limiter: free MechanicsDNA 3D analysis at https://topvelocity.org

Questions: text (985) 400-7054

 

Research mentioned: Taniyama et al. 2021 (J Strength Cond Res); Orishimo et al. 2023 (J Strength Cond Res); Kageyama et al. 2014 (J Sports Sci Med); Dowling et al. 2022 (Orthop J Sports Med); Solomito et al. 2018 (Orthop J Sports Med); Reinold et al. 2018 (Sports Health); Fleisig et al. 2011 (J Orthop Sports Phys Ther).

 

Data note: MechanicsDNA estimates joint angles and speeds from video; fastest 25% (83+ mph) vs slowest 25% (70 and under), medians; associations, not proof of cause.

Checkout the latest Podcast with Steven Lacey who went from college baseball to Coastal Plains League to the American Association.

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Crotin, Jordan Oseguera, and Brent Pourciau go over coaching pitchers in the moment. This is based more on an in-season approach to coaching pitchers.

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In this episode, I interview Francisco Gonzalez who is recovering from labrum and rotator cuff surgery while running TopVelocity San Marco. He is also building great Spanish content on TopV Latino. 

In this episode of the Baseball Opps Podcast, you will learn the process to develop healthy pitching velocity from the youth level to the adult level.

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In this episode of the Baseball Opps Podcast with TopV I cover the science behind running poles and how it is detrimental to your power development as a baseball player.

In this episode of the Baseball Opps Podcast with TopVelocity Brent Pourciau goes over the science that finds Olympic Lifting the best training lifts for increasing pitching velocity, throwing health, and command.