Podcast: Winning Pitchers Academy trainers share how to add velo

The Base Path Podcast host Dan Guttenplan, from left, with Winning Pitchers Academy trainers John Miller and Jamie Aldoupolis.

The most recent guests on The Base Path Podcast can help prospects add 4-12 mph to their respective fastball velocity. For hitters, they can help add 10-20 mph to their swing velocity. The guests — John Miller and Jamie Aldoupolis — are from The Winning Pitchers Academy in Framingham, Mass.

By using video technology to help pitchers make mechanical adjustments, they can help prospects achieve their goals in terms of increasing velocity and harnessing command of multiple pitches.

“The main thing we see with most pitchers is that they’re out of sequence in their landing,” Miller said. “We say that 80 percent or more are not timing it correctly when their foot first hits the ground. Their arm is not in the right position, or their hips or torso are not delivering in the most efficient way. When you do that, you’re putting a ton of pressure on your arm. The thing that starts the delivery that we find sets up a lot of people for failure is not leading with your hips.

“As you come down the mountain, you want to lead with your hips by 15 to 28 degrees. That’s setting you up for success and good weight transfer on the mound.”

Eight Northeastern pitchers and three position players trained at Winning Pitchers Academy this winter break. They’ve also trained 2021 MLB Draft pick Mike Vasil – a former BC High and University of Virginia ace. Much of the focus during offseason training revolves around strength training and injury prevention.

“We call it pre-hab,” Aldoupolis said. “We tell our guys, ‘You’re either going to do this before you get hurt or after you get hurt.’ We’re huge on crossover symmetry. All of our guys do it. They do the full program. Most of them have bands. They do them before the games, after the games; they’re doing it religiously. It increases flexibility and mobility in the lower half. You’ve got to build up your shoulder, forearms and shoulder with all of the muscles around it that protect it.”

The video technology at Winning Pitchers Academy has evolved in the last 15 years. At the start, Miller and Aldoupolis used golf video technology to study swing mechanics.

“We’re going to video from multiple angles before we even have them throw a pitch,” Miller said. “We’re going to have them warm up like they normally would. We’re going to have them throw five pitches, see how they locate, and check the movement on their pitches. That’s when we go in the video room and break down the mechanics. We take them through a flexibility and strength analysis. Can their body do this? Some guys find out where they’re weak. Other guys find out they need to increase flexibility.”

Listen to the entire podcast.

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