Can an Average Guy Hit a 95 MPH Fastball? | Above Average Joe | GQ Sports

[@iRaphahell]

Now imagine a 105 mph followed by a 80 mph changeup, baseball is actually way harder than it looks

[@jarryd8167]

Only a few humans have ever actually accomplished throwing 105 that's so rare

[@g.schmitz2367]

@@jarryd8167 yeah but 100 isnt

[@bryancline8893]

When I played baseball my obp was almost 1000, but my batting average was probably just better than .010. I played little league and am a lefty. I got hit more than I hit the ball. I was legit bad but I even got intentionally walked a few times.

[@Kiposlol]

@@g.schmitz2367 well its still uncommon 95+ is usually considered fast in the big leagues

[@rockymountaintrout2689]

If they threw a 105 mph fastball there change up wouldn't be 80 mph

[@flaminninjaシ]

This is a lot more educational than I thought it would be

[@cquick3277]

Jesus Saves Love God✝️

[@ignoranceisbliss27]

Take it with a few grains of salt, though... Right brain, left brain has been debunked for anything beyond right controls left and vice versa, not that nonsense about thinking in one side of the brain or the other 🙄 like, Jesus Christ, indeed, but for allll the wrong reasons

[@paulnorton8483]

Same

[@matts9728]

Agreed, half way through I was like, "this is pretty good for GQ Sports"

[@krispybakon6246]

@@ignoranceisbliss27 what

[@TT-pr9bx]

The batting coach has a phenomenal mentality. His words are applicable to more than just baseball.

[@Bones12x2]

He's also insanely good at providing direct real time feedback that can be immediately applied and understood.

[@notasian7620]

Just imagine how much he charges per hour training though 😂

[@CajunCouillon]

Watch, Jake Paul will hire this guy to train him to hit and then call out all of the worst hitters in the MLB...👏🤣

[@rolandfischer931]

"focus on output, not outcome" is a huge life lesson for anyone who wants to really, actually accomplsh their dreams.

[@leafsfan1122]

It resonated with me as a poker player. The result of the hand isn't what you should be proud or upset about, but rather the thought process, the application of sound fundamentals, and the knowledge that you're making the right plays that will produce net gains in the long run.

[@marissa6425]

This video perfectly demonstrates one of the best parts of baseball/softball: the coaching. This captures why most players fall in love with the game, not just the love of playing but the love of every aspect: statistics, mechanics, strategy, coaching, etc. It is just so much fun to get lost in. Hats off to GQ and NY Empire.

[@Landman1369]

You are absolutely right Marissa! Right as rain. LOVE OF THE GAME. 🇺🇸

[@BlinkyB23]

I'm a woman who's never played baseball in her life. I'm physically active but don't play a sport. These videos are so fascinating to me! I love the determination of the athletes, their discipline...And also seeing what a difference a great coach makes. Makes me want to pick something up where you get instruction - it seems like such a great way to learn so many diff lessons.

[@EEZYEEEE]

Now imagine being a 3rd baseman and trying to catch a line drive coming at you 110mph

[@rienn8559]

just try to avoid the ball if you can... oh my god I can't imagine

[@kylerucinski9171]

@@rienn8559 you have to catch it

[@kylerucinski9171]

Ik scary thought

[@MadebyKourmoulis]

Some of the hardest hits I've seen went down 3rd. The usual reply to those are -i have no idea how I caught that I was just trying not to die.

[@dudenotcool42]

Years of baseball prepare them for it. Its just muscle memory and reaction at that point

[@studlypear05]

When I was a kid, we didn't have the luxury of muscle activation training......dad put you in the batting cage and you just swing hundreds of times until you learned how to hit the ball. This video makes me feel like I learned sports in the stone age.

[@nickthequick2011]

yeah the only instruction i recieved was to not drop my shoulder

[@KtangMC]

“Just keep your eye on the ball!”

[@sneakymilkman4203]

Still how I do it lol

[@ezracox1601]

thats how most peaple learn the place he was using was a state of the art facility

[@StrideX21]

That's why families that make more money tend to have kids that van be a little better at sports. I didn't have the luxury of having parents to take me to muscle activation training and pitching camps that costed 1000s of dollars. I'm right there with ya. I long tossed and kept my eye on the ball lmao

[@mcclurehopkins6149]

This just shows baseball is harder than some people think. In school if you get 3 out of 10 on a test you failed but in baseball 3 out of 10 is a 300 batting average and your in the Hall of Fame. (Thanks for all the likes)

[@l.u.a4501]

Preach brother preach

[@Jake0666]

Ur not in the hall of fame with just a 300 batting average loo

[@kotathechicken154]

@@Jake0666 it’s not just about how often you get a hit because you can get lucky and hit the ball weakly and get a hit here and there. The best of the best are able to not only hit the ball consistently but hard as well.

[@utl_sports4784]

big facts. although not only is it waaaaay harder than most think its probably the hardest part of any sport to do

[@dl2k671]

@@Jake0666 if you play for 15 years and average a 300 average your up there

[@BrianSniatkowski]

I played baseball basically since I could walk. Played baseball through high school and was a decent hitter. I rarely struck out. Against average pitchers, I raked. Against good pitchers I made contact, but my hits were usually "Texas leaguers" and opposite field. My final HS season I had a .363 average. Not bad, but nowhere near greatness. In my 20's I switched to slow pitch softball and became pretty darn good at it. Fast forward to my early 30's and I was in the cages hitting softballs and decided to try the 90 mph baseball machine. 10 pitches and 10 swings and misses, where the ball was basically past me before I was through with my swing. I moved to the 70 mph machine and was raking the ball. Back to the 90 mph machine with new found confidence it was 9 swings and misses and one foul ball. I was overmatched. It ain't easy even with years of experience.

[@jamieslatemusic]

Hey Brian. I remember when my baseball dream ended. HS. Road game. First pitch, when I finished my slide step, the mitt popped. Never saw the ball. Quick strike out. Next time up, just started swinging on the release. Had the timing down but never saw the ball. In total, this was years ago and I still remember. We had one infield pop up, two infield dribblers, the rest strike outs. And our team had some good hitters, too. We had set a state record at the time, most runs in an inning, most batters in an inning, most runs in a game. Same season. But that day? We were no hit, and only three outs were NOT strike outs. I remember the coach saying, when asked how fast the kid was throwing "some where in the 90's" and I remember thinking, I ain't going to make it to college ball. lol. Thanks for sharing mate. Have a good summer.

[@pyrocrabb12]

Same thing happened to me except i stopped playing at age 15, I had a batting cage in my back yard. During little league tryouts for the all star team the coach decided to pitch as fast as he could at the short distance to end the day. One by one the kids swung and missed every pitch, I got up there and had to start my swing before the ball left his hand, and I hit every pitch he threw. The whole park stopped to watch me. Unfortunately I was not aloud to play on Sundays so I didn't make the team. The next couple of years I hit well but quit as I got older. At age 18, I was travelling to a bowling tournament when we stopped off at an amusement park. My buddy on my team played fast pitch and wanted to try the baseball pitching machine, I laughed inside thinking "really? a bowling softball player trying a 90 mile an hour pitch?" He had been to the worlds in bowling and was too young to be a professional. Anyways, he steps up to the plate and rips it up! Hit after hit, he was making some solid connection. My turn comes up and I stroll up to the plate as confidant as a Barry Bonds on all the steroids... I take my first swing, and miss. Second swing, miss. First basket of balls, nothing. I pay for another round and still miss every single pitch. I walk off feeling dejected because I got beat by a bowler and one of the parents there asked if I had played baseball before, I looked at him and said "I thought I had" and walked away. I thought hitting was like riding a bike, apparently not haha.

[@sixtyninelol]

Why didn’t anyone address his footwork? Lol he’s doing an entire dance routine before each swing

[@arthurkalb1817]

Oh yeah.

[@TexanUSMC8089]

It's real bad.

[@scottmunson2917]

That was the thing that leaped (you'll excuse the pun) out at me too. Such "happy feet". You have to be calm and composed up there to have any chance. I've never seen a professional player at any level do that kind of hardball mambo.

[@scottmunson2917]

This isn't to put him down at all. I was impressed by how well he did. It just seems such an obvious coaching point.

[@Mellowyellow8888]

i'm assuming theres some hand eye coordination issues also.. those don't get fixed overnight..

[@BuddyBrownMusic]

Happy Gilmore accomplished that feat not less than an hour ago 🤣🤣🤣

[@thesnozzberries00]

Well moron good for happy Gilloh my god.

[@aperson3364]

R/whoosh

[@ethantinnin4713]

ITS BUDDY BROWN!!!!!

[@danielglatz1643]

A Person who are you whooshing

[@twiggy6591]

Noice

[@editsbybrycet186]

“I’m using a machine so I’ll get all strikes.” Bruh that thing was throwing MLB sliders🤣

[@troubledsole9104]

I never had a machine throw all strikes.

[@JCO]

MLB pitchers can't hit the zone with sliders alla sudden?

[@cliffsheets73]

Does it all depend on where the threads are postitioned when the machine wheels makes contact?

[@mdhj67]

Yep. Those spinning wheels don't do it on purpose but they can grab the laces in any number of ways. The affect on the ball is nothing like a good pitcher but it will still cause the spin on the ball to vary.

[@berzerkbankie1342]

Mmmm sliders

[@jakeboyington]

am i the only one who got an old spice ad with clay in it during the video???

[@davidlara6721]

Bro same

[@heatherpotts8281]

Same I was so confused

[@Josh-go1yf]

Same

[@w.filmer2348]

Lmao yes I’m still confused hahaha

[@sappy_boi]

This video must've been old spice sponsored. The duffle bag had the old spice logo, and he was using old spice deoderant.

[@zacharyduncan6118]

He regressed at the very end to exactly how he was swinging before all the coaching lol

[@kentuckyfriedchildren5385]

hard to break bad habits in a short amount of time even with coaching

[@MrCveedub]

He certainly did, went right back to being a "gate". Focused more on trying to hit the ball and not on the swing.

[@gavinxdesign]

You give a guy 25 pitches at 95 mph he’ll probably eventually catch up to it but to throw 95 then switch it up with a curve, change and slider there is no way an average person squares up a pitch. Good vid though

[@SynysterGoose]

That swing screams "I play golf" lol

[@NomaDL2224]

I was thinking the same thing!! Lol 😂

[@bridgelaurie9490]

Dude his feet and finish swing were so bad in the beginning every time he was off balance after swinging and his feet dancing all over I died a little.

[@pathurd9595]

@@bridgelaurie9490 I don’t play football and watching his little leg motion before the swing made me want to die

[@mikeneuburger3989]

Everything except for that left foot 😬

[@mikeneuburger3989]

@@pathurd9595 same

[@NickPoeschek]

I remember as a teenager being an OK hitter playing within my city leagues, and then going to a bigger tournament where we faced really good pitchers for the first time. First game, I stood in feeling confident ready to crush the ball but just heard the ball sizzle past before I knew what happened. Hitting good pitching is extremely difficult, kudos to this guy for giving it a shot!

[@SirManfly]

When I was younger, stronger and faster, I still couldn’t hit a 95 mile per hour fastball, thrown by the machine, when I was at the batting cages! It was already past me before I could even react!! 🙄🤷🏻‍♂️

[@PizzzaBoy]

When I was 15 I played in a league where age ranged 15-18 year olds and I backed out of a curve ball. Never saw pitching like that lol

[@jaimecruz2972]

I’m so glad he gives tribute to the difficulty of baseball many people never see

[@justusphillips2480]

That’s because the media claims that baseball is so easy that all you have to do to play the game at a high level is take steroids.

[@axe2grind772]

If you didn’t know baseball is the hardest sport to be good at in the world you’re not an athlete. Golf is a distant second. 99% of the population couldn’t even make contact with a high school pitcher let alone a MLB pitcher yet I know many who can shoot low 80’s at a championship golf course.

[@GoIndyGo18]

@@axe2grind772it would be hard to convince me that it’s harder than hockey. They are playing a contact sport while skating. That’s ridiculous

[@axe2grind772]

@@GoIndyGo18 Well I’ve played hockey for 25 years of my life and compared to most levels of baseball it’s a breeze. I scored on Rick DiPietro in a tourney in Chicago and he was the 1st overall pick in the NHL yet I couldn’t make contact with a high school pitcher on my best day.

[@sixtyninelol]

​@@justusphillips2480 my cousin was 5'5 110 pounds then he took 5 steroids and was 6'5 250 meat bag crushing homeruns like nothing

[@timothywilliams5812]

I don't comment on youtube videos ever but I'll comment on this one, and I must say this is the best intentional coaching at it's best. Keep doing what you guys are doing. This is DOPE!!! You guys are awesome and deserve whatever you get out of the success you achieve. I'm glad I watched this video, you guys make me proud! Love yall!

[@poshko41]

I've been watching baseball for over two decades and nothing has helped me better visualize and appreciate the mechanics of hitting like this video has.

[@dronz3r51]

I love how he gave up at age 7. He didn't even make it to kids pitching to him yet. Edit: Thank you so much for the likes

[@tomvolz3760]

I was terrified of facing other kids pitching, because I was kind of scared of getting hit. Still stuck it out, though.

[@roccos9777]

he said the machine pitched after coach pitch. when i was 7 we still had coach pitch for one last year

[@sneakymilkman4203]

I should’ve never dropped baseball. I’m in 9th grade and haven’t played for real in 3 years and now I don’t know what to do

[@Laynemoyes]

@@sneakymilkman4203 bro you gotta go out now because if you dont as a freshman its 10x harder to as a sophomore through senior because you arent in the program

[@sneakymilkman4203]

@@Laynemoyes I know and that’s why I’m screwed. I’m really good at track so I might just stick with it

[@mikiex]

"Clay Skipper" is a baseball players name if ever I heard one.

[@wyffd]

Love how they decided not to change his swing and just let his natural movement run

[@jamessinodinos145]

this is exactly it!!!

[@natef3986]

considering he barely had any time, its probably better to keep his swing something that he's used to doing so he doesn't overcomplicate himself with mechanics

[@kattelubega5840]

Great coaching

[@slicedbread5692]

Probably one of the reasons he never hit the faster pitches.. His feet were dancing too much.. His eye level was moving up and down sporadically.. It was absolutely horrible at the beginning and after the great coaching he was just pretty crappy.. Sooo he improved but it was still garbage.

[@MacLaw3084]

@@natef3986 he hadnt played since 7 years old so he wasnt “used” to any swing. i wish they would’ve tried to correct his dancing feet.

[@602davido]

Great to see Luis Gonzalez; will always be remembered here in Phoenix. I think more than other sports, baseball requires years of practice to acquire the necessary skills to play the game.

[@ryankuehnl8025]

“Hit the top of the ball” is why Callhoun is a .245 career hitter

[@nickbanks1034]

Definitely need more educational videos like these instead of "how did player spend his first million dollars?" This was way more interesting, and it gave me some ESPN sports science vibes. I don't enjoy watching baseball, but I've gained a new respect for the mechanics behind being a great player

[@jeffw1267]

I like Luis as a coach the best: he's not being condescending like the others. He's just trying to help the batter improve based upon his current level of skill.

[@csnide6702]

trading Luis was one of the DUMBEST things Tigers did -- not paying JD Martinez was another....... a child could do a better job than Tigers front office and Manager.

[@darren795]

Willy Adames : when you hit it in the sweet spot you don’t feel it. Also Willy Adames : When you strike out looking and lose a World Series you feel it 🤣

[@ryles1159]

Too soon? Lmao

[@vaporwareproducts]

Nice vid. Gonzo! Loved watching you as a kid in stros uniform.... The “hands up” comment is a killer for youth learning proper path IMHO. I like thinking about “setting bat on shoulder then pick it up a bit”. Allows kids to get on plane and stay on plane easier, they are still learning load, stride - pros know how to time this perfectly. For kids that do that they swing late and wind up chopping or swing outside their shoulders-pulling off so to speak.

[@soapbox187]

Great video. Definitely concrete testament to the difficulty of baseball. The time you make the decision to swing the ball is already above the plate also known as too late. What we fail to notice is that the swing begins even before we process the pitch. This is honed by experience of course but can be taught to a certain extent. Next time you see a phantom cam swing of a major leaguer pay attention to his eyes. His eyes are focused around 20 ft in front of the plate as his bat makes contact with the ball which tells us he is effectively swinging blind but it is the experience and the blazed neural pathways that allow the minds eye to see the ball 🙂 Interesting stuff

[@2cardarsenal310]

Mad props facing machine throwing 95 without a face guard.

[@Michael_Rodrique]

Why would you. Just move if it comes at you

[@2cardarsenal310]

@@Michael_Rodrique You have less than half a second to react to 95 mph, If it was that easy then MLB players would not get hit. Several careers have been ended by getting hit in the face and this is why you see most wear a face guard.

[@Michael_Rodrique]

@@2cardarsenal310 if you look at the mlb though most are on breaking pitches. Plus coming out of a machine in a controlled setting it is easier to see. You just turn you face away. That’s what the helmets for. Still hurts but less than one to the face.

[@Michael_Rodrique]

@@2cardarsenal310 I’ve have high 80s at my head and you do have time to react

[@TripleLayerLemonCake]

@@Michael_Rodrique 88 is not the same as 95.. Trust me, you have to have insane reactions.

[@DC-id5gi]

I met Gonzo when I was a kid and he was great. The security tried to usher us along and he kept talking with us and signed a million things and shook my hand. I told him I wanted to play outfield like him (yeah I never even played HS ball) but he was just an awesome person to 7 yo me.

[@jeffbehringer1262]

Loved Gonzo.

[@Ericliaoo]

20:38 at least Clay smelled like a man who can hit 95mph fastballs and who can also do anything 😂

[@cquick3277]

Jesus Saves Love God✝️

[@reddoyle34]

Who can smell when everyone is wearing masks?

[@sleepyheadz]

@@reddoyle34 you've just caused a stock market crash. lol

[@epicgamesforyou3615]

The faster they come in is the faster they’ll go out. It’s the guys like Maddox I would be most afraid of, those crafty guys with five or six different pitches in their arsenal. Any Neanderthal can throw a ball 100 miles an hour

[@garrytreymendeziii5650]

You had some of the best coaching there is. My son hit in that very cage and played on Empire teams when we lived in NY and Jordan and Chris and the rest of the crew at Empire helped him develop into a great ballplayer. So I’m not surprised they guided you to success.

[@Sporkingsontinburgfield]

That son sounds like a great player 👀👀👀

[@garrytreymendeziii5650]

@@Sporkingsontinburgfield yeah you’re pretty good my boy

[@ezralogan]

"Swing as hard as you can" Got it. Cody Bellenger is coaching

[@Shadow-pk2ur]

Is it me or is it so satisfying when you square the ball up and you don’t even feel the ball hit the bat and you know you just hit it really hard

[@cruzwexler5303]

Any baseball player that ever played knows this feeling. Unless they sucked 🤣.

[@Moonlight-cq6bi]

@@cruzwexler5303 Ive been playing for 5 months now and hope this feeling is comin soon haha

[@dwrink9]

Especially into a gap and out of the box you know it's an xbh

[@jje8058]

I wouldn’t call it satisfying but yes I agree

[@walker9789]

Best feeling ever for a ball player

[@devinwayne89]

I'm jealous of how much technology in baseball has evolved. Wish I had this kind of info on my swing in hs 15 yrs ago.

[@WilliamPitcher]

If you it makes you feel any better, just remember that pitchers have this kind of technology now too. ;-)

[@jamesnunya5833]

The way he keeps moving that back leg... me and all my little league coaches growing up are yelling at him!

[@davidweaver2156]

Never thought that this video would be that informative. Great job

[@sunghwan6031]

I laugh at this guy but I also know I would probably accidentally throw the bat at the pitching machine

[@cquick3277]

Jesus Saves Love God✝️

[@willlynch1271]

@@bsblleon01 bro cmon now you know you can’t hit a 95 mph fastball...

[@Base950Y]

@@willlynch1271 hitting a 95 mph is not that hard after putting in the practice

[@willlynch1271]

@@Base950Y idk man pro players do it everyday of there lives yet they still can’t hit them every time

[@Aquvok]

@@willlynch1271 yeah, cuz they’re moving, at different speeds, at different locations, and different timings. A machine is throwing a fastball every time and it’s almost 100% of the time within inches of the same exact spot

[@Maz2323]

This was a great video! He said something of massive importance to little leaguers. It’s better to swing and miss with a good swing than to have bad contact on a bad swing.

[@SimonFoster23111971]

except on 2 strikes - and then contact forces the defense to make a play.

[@EHMSL1226]

Hitting off of a pitching machine going 95mph is nearly impossible. The reason that major league players are able to hit such fast pitches is due to their ability to start their swing and time it as the pitcher is performing their wind up. This allows them to get their timing of the swing in sync and read the ball a lot easier. With a machine there is no wind up, and thus no timing you can go off of. Its way way harder than hitting a pitcher.

[@trevorgaddy5947]

normally the person on the other side of the machine should give you some sort of way to time it up (with like a simulated arm drop going towards the hole of the machine) still super hard but if you can hit a pitcher throwing 95 you will be able to time up the machine after some time.

[@jackcasse]

Amen to that.

[@jametz66]

^^^^^^^ THIS!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^

[@tylermcgill9768]

Kole Calhoun said in the beginning he thinks its easier to hit it off a pitcher than a machine

[@jmunley22]

100% agree. i remember going into a batting cage a couple years ago and trying to hit it on the fastest speed and it was just impossible to get the timing down. i didnt even swing at half of the pitches because i wasn't ready for how fast it shoots out after it rolls down the little ramp. having a pitcher wind up and throw it at least gives you a chance.

[@billygowhoop]

I remember the one time that I went up against a guy throwing 85+ in high school (my school and most of the schools I played in were tiny and had very little tablet athletically). It was a totally different world. I can only imagine what 95 mph looks like when you're at the plate and trying to hit it.

[@danielmajor258]

It’s scary, I’ll tell you that, but what makes it worse is when the pitchers have a 80 MPH curveball to back it up 😂

[@davewilliams5721]

The 95mph fastball never scared me, I could always pick my speed up, it was when they would keep the same arm angle, and drop a 82mph changeup on me. I looked like I was flailing at bugs up there.

[@RevanPorkins]

I was hitting 85 in the cage at 12 its not that fast when you see it everyday all the time.

[@rutheshelman2483]

That hitting coach is fuckin legit. He knows what he's talking about

[@gamble777888]

Fantastic coaching right there. Shows how these pro players can actually hit some of these balls which logic would dictate are impossible to hit.

[@LordWafflestomp]

Willy Adames: "It's still hard, even if you know what's coming, it's still hard to hit it" Astros fans: yes

[@williamsteenkoppell1504]

wildly underrated comment haha

[@trenauldo]

🗑🗑🗑... 😄😄

[@ACTUALLYRICH]

Probably the coolest baseball video I’ve ever seen! Love how I finally have an idea of what the pros have to be able to do.

[@Gryffon3]

I don't even play baseball, we don't have that in Europe, but I play tennis, and this video has been an eye opener on the importance of the hips on the forehand and 2h backhand. I started shadow swinging in my room and now I can't wait to get on the courts. Those are great coaches that's for sure !

[@erad67]

Oh, yea. The hips are very important in numerous sports.

[@OsvaldoG521]

When he said “I feel like I might throw out my back” it reminded me of when I threw out my back doing BP for first time in a decade...

[@anthonymccomack]

If only the Diamondbacks knew how to hit an MLB fastball

[@kirkerickson22]

HAHAHAH SO TRUE THO

[@mW-yp9gn]

Didn't they beat the Reds 0-7 away

[@sandraugras8095]

Lolllll

[@guelahpapyrus8807]

They got Madison Bumgarner didn't they?!

[@noahelliott6064]

@@mW-yp9gn As a Reds fan let me tell you something. It's the Reds.

[@Gankhisprawn]

“That beep, is that a good sound or a bad sound?” Coach: “Yes” LOL

[@WXVA9]

I love these coaches.

[@cquick3277]

Jesus Saves Love God✝️

[@Skiptheevamp]

@@cquick3277 no body asked

[@gl2519]

@@cquick3277 shutup loser

[@sachinnair1613]

The coaching in this video is incredible, he knew exactly how to understand Clay's strengths and weaknesses and apply them to his lessons

[@rticle15]

Why are they saying he succeeded? He didn't hit any ball fair. He did foul off like 3 pitches. In his defense, that type of pitching machine is much harder to hit off than the kind with a chute where the ball rolls down to the wheels. Hard to time

[@Olliemets]

Well done. I coached a lot of kids in travel and tournament ball specifically on hitting and the coach's observations and challenges are spot on. Modern tech helps, but a trained eye can see a lot too. I grew up in an era where a lot of old shopworn cliches were used that were fairly useless. You need good eye hand coordination to hit, but good coaches can really help. Build the swing first. And practice good swings, not bad ones. Tough to break bad habits. Good Video

[@brandonbaxter7307]

Now imagine Ohtani throwing 101 and you dont know if its a splitty or not😳

[@foenem5291]

its so stupid 😂😂 101, then 93 that disappears...

[@JasonJia909]

He's a figment of our imaginations...to this day still doesn't feel real

[@nolanpatten7586]

Or DeGrom’s 95 slider😬😳

[@williamdawhale701]

Or my 25 mph meatball

[@pedroaguilar2011]

@@williamdawhale701 nobody touches that

[@bakedsalmon5455]

This was actually a very informative video. I'll be using some of these techniques with the team that I coach. Thanks guys!

[@NickkaDUB]

You gotta love the Dr’s picture of the stance. The front arm is on top. (The right handed hitter’s left hand is on top while holding the bat). They’re trying to hurt the kid.

[@Silento-yw4hw]

95 mph is such a blur and it doesn’t look like it until you’re standing at the plate

[@tylerp4130]

This was fascinating. As someone that didn't play baseball beyond a very young age, you kinda think the pros just pump some iron and do some cardio and then show up and swing a bat. There's sooooo much more than that in their swings.

[@Shinobi33]

What a blast he must have had.... If any of us went to Empire they'd probably want $3k to $5k for those sessions. If I had the money I'd pay it.

[@vernievuitton]

and he was getting paid by GQ the whole time!

[@TexanUSMC8089]

He said a player normally comes to them for a month, not one day. That's going to be some big money, but if it's the difference between playing in AA or AAA or the majors...Money well spent.

[@tricktaylor]

Next you should try and play 3rd base and field a grounder coming at you at 100+mph and then throw a runner out at 1st who gets down the line in 2.5 seconds.

[@vernievuitton]

LOL Are you trying to kill the guy?! Cuz you'll definitely rearrange his face and maybe his balls too xD

[@shinigamigaming2941]

To be fair, no grounder keeps above 100 unless a low fly, which is an insanely hard catch. Inpressive to do, but the ball bouncing even just once makes it lose some juice, but a 90mph ball coming at you is still hard to catch. Lol

[@CatsMeowington]

The next MLB game I watch will be a little bit more entertaining than the one I watched yesterday. Very informative. Thank you and thank You Tube for this service.

[@Ryanbmc4]

Teaching how the body works while still thinking that there is such a thing as left and right brain is just amazing to watch.

[@tonyLA24]

Imagine being a catcher, you HAVE to catch every single pitch.

[@drewaldridge5208]

Playing through high school in Wyoming (Babe Ruth League since Wyoming doesn't have high school baseball as a sport), you don't see many pitchers that can top 90; mid to high 80s at best. Went to Vancouver, WA for the Pacific Northwest tournament and faced some dude out of Beaverton, OR (circa 2004) and he was easily mid 90s. I fouled the first pitch straight back, struck out swinging. My next two teammates never even got the bat of their shoulders. Until you face a mid to high 90s fastball, you don't know... TV doesn't do it justice.

[@7akovi]

Why did he ask Willy Adames for advice 😂😂😂😂 He only knows how to watch fastballs down the middle and lose the World Series

[@GWrench9]

This had to be said

[@mlwyouth7521]

To be fair that was probably the most stressful an of his life

[@anthonyraineri5190]

When your coach pulls your pitcher who has given up 1 hit in 6 innings and the reliever he brings in get's bombed.

[@Marz997]

He should ask Jacob Alvarez for advice.

[@joshskowron]

This was so well done!

[@Bandolero456]

When I was young, I used to watch Luis Gonzalez play winter ball in Venezuela for the Magallanes team where he became one of the many heroes that team had produced that later became super stars in the MLB. I remember that once in a while he would pop out his shoulder, pop it back and continue playing. Amazing guy Luis. Nice to see you in this video and remember, there is nothing like a Caracas vs. Magallanes.

[@cubbygig6016]

“Is that a good or bad sound?” “Yes”

[@Khorton014]

Man it would have been cool to have all of this technology and kinematic coaching back in the day. All this hip stuff, my coach just told me throw my junk at the ball.

[@skeezix8156]

Any batting coach can tell you what you’re doing wrong, but if it’s wrong and you’re hitting the ball, don’t change it.

[@fatboyslimz2554]

he needs to plant his back foot and step into the pitch, i think what held him back was the little dance move he did as he was about to swing. it was like road runner starting his feet to run before he hit the ball ;) good video tho

[@andgainingspeed]

Yoda on hitting: "Do or do not. There is no try". 😐

[@LuisSilva-eo3cy]

Al that technical stuff while the Latino coach “hey papi look at the ball and dale duro” 🤣

[@mikedrop4421]

I've never seen anyone lift the back foot during a swing like that. I don't know how he didn't fall over.

[@nickthequick2011]

my 11 y/o kids do it all of the time lol

[@benmckaylol]

@@nickthequick2011 get them to stop

[@nickthequick2011]

@@benmckaylol easier said than done lol. Most of them are just afraid of fast pitchers. That will pass with more repetition leading to comfort.

[@nixx7912]

@@nickthequick2011 As a practice exercise: throw them hard pitches and tell them to stay in the box and not swing. Just follow the ball into the glove. By hard pitches I mean pitches 1 or two levels above their experience.

[@nickthequick2011]

@@nixx7912 We did this towards the end of the season along with getting confortable in a personal routine. Wish I would have thought of it sooner but averages did go up.

[@jensonhartmann3630]

I appreciate you using my AZ Diamondbacks for coaching!

[@ericschneps302]

Why aren’t they telling him the plant his right foot?

[@joedunn7434]

That’s exactly what I was thinking

[@RyisheedWilson]

Right I’m looking at his swing like “why is his right foot moving around like he’s square dancing”.. plus, his feet were almost together..no kind of balance or stability..

[@brianlane9534]

A profound statement: Swinging and missing with a good swing is better than making contact with a poor swing.

[@patdry]

This video is fantastic. Thank you to every single person involved in bringing this to us, and fo’ free!! Top quality.

[@julianreyes8470]

This guy's coaching just made my golf swing better

[@isaaclopez1775]

Who else saw his old spice ad during the middle of the vid

[@barrybonds9558]

Me

[@mikebird5148]

People say golf is harder than baseball, I know old ladies that play golf and shoot in the 80s, let me see an old lady hit a 90 mph fastball. There's a reason you don't usually see people playing baseball on the side of the street like you do people playing football, because the average person can't hit a baseball but the average person can catch a football..... baseball is very hard

[@Greengoblin2345]

They don’t play in the street because a baseball is very hard*

[@jamalcolorado4260]

Baseball is incredibly difficult, but if you have ever played golf you know that it is also very hard

[@thegunshow7635]

Golf is extremely easy to play... it’s not easy to be good at

[@jc3productions362]

@@jamalcolorado4260 baseball is harder.. the ball is moving. It’s not moving in golf.

[@jamalcolorado4260]

@@jc3productions362 I never said baseball wasn’t harder, it is definitely harder than golf, but golf is also incredibly difficult.

[@davecooksfood9320]

We've seen him HIT a 95 mph ball, now let's see him PITCH one.

[@mkbnett]

Looked like he fouled off the "good one" that he stopped on

[@JasonJia909]

The reaction time of major leaguers is truly out of this world

[@jebediahkrimsoncraftleding3012]

There's actually a study (I'd have to find it) and most successful hitters aren't wildly better at reaction or hand-eye than the mean (of course they're still professional athletes), but most have insane eyesight, like 20/15 or better being super common.

[@JasonJia909]

@@jebediahkrimsoncraftleding3012 Oh wow that's really interesting. I could see that being the reason too

[@SolRC]

Coach Baltimore and Dr. James seem awesome. I need a physical therapist with half that ability . Cool stuff. I think I am going to do these workouts before I skate.

[@kencargill7679]

Niiice job! That machine was throwing some 95 sinkers and not all were in strikezone. Give the dude a break! Geez! :)

[@Thatoutdoorsman]

If he says I’m gonna hit a 95mph fast ball one more time I might take a 95 mph fast ball to the nose

[@Steezboy3000]

Props to the players for being cool and not laughing, and genuinely trying to help

[@laurenhulkower9663]

This is so hysterical and so true! Love it!

[@dukeon]

Barry Bonds: “Just do this” …pulls Gagne 101mph fastball into McCovey Cove…

[@teeemm9456]

Barry Bonds Also: "Just do this" ...pulls some steroids out of his bag...

[@mrmacross]

@@teeemm9456 well, in this particular instance, Bonds was going up against a juiced up Gagne, so it sort of evens out...

[@Adtrevino37]

@@mrmacross I was bout to say. When did Gagne ever hit 101? lol

[@chezbloc]

Yep he’s definitely an average Joe, he likes the Yankees

[@neilschlemeel5751]

I hit off the machine in the Reds clubhouse set at 75 (20 pitches) & it was easier than I'd ever have thought - especially with George Foster critiquing us - he was a great host for the ballpark tour

[@vmart054]

This was awesome! Funny, but packed with great information!

[@anthonyfreund129]

I do pretty well in the 90mph cages here. I always thought just the opposite though of pitcher vs machine. I'd rather a machine throw it to me and always felt more confident than facing a human since it's pretty much the same fast ball every time - no worry about the offspeed stuff, curves, sliders, etc. Any good batter will adjust their timing to the same repeated pitch. Great batters can face great humans and know what pitch to sit on and will just fight off the garbage they don't want.

[@Bbender690]

First time watching this series. I wouldn’t think average joe and getting hooked up to machines like Drago and having a personal trainer and a hitting wizard guru? I would have thought random guy at the mall or on the street.

[@shinigamigaming2941]

Yeah, he's defo semi-pro at this point. He literally got pro coaching for his batting.

[@hot1shot80]

That wasn't a hit! That's a foul ball straight to the right, a foot in front of the batters box

[@xonirx]

Around 1970 we had new batting cages where the very fast setting was 100 mph. I got to where I could always hit 7 or 8 out of 10. Ken Harrelson came to the Grand Opening and he fouled off one pitch out of 10. Made my day.

[@intensityintencities9283]

Nice job Clay! Very cool video. I played ball in college and I always hated hitting off the machine, it was harder than an actual pitcher for me.