🚀 Jack Owen: From 86 to 90+ MPH — A Year of Growth on the Mound

🚀 Jack Owen: From 86 to 90+ MPH — A Year of Growth on the Mound

🔥 Velocity Gains Backed by Performance Metrics

Jack Owen, a right-handed pitcher for the Viewmont Vikings located here in Utah, made one of the most impressive leaps of the 2025 season: increasing his fastball velocity from 86 MPH as a sophomore to over 90 MPH as a junior, with a few reports telling me he was as high as 93 MPH. But this wasn’t just a radar gun story — the results showed up everywhere.

His transformation wasn’t a fluke. With increased workload, sharper command, and more efficient mechanics, Jack elevated his entire game.

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📊 Year-to-Year Comparison: Sophomore (2024) vs. Junior (2025)

Metric	2024 (Soph)	2025 (Jr)	% Change
Appearances	9	14	+55.6%
Innings Pitched	31.2	60.2	+92.9%
Strikeouts	21	69	+228.6% 🔥
Walks	7	21	From Increased Innings Pitched
Opponent BA	.262	.240	–8.4%
K/9	5.96	10.24	+71.7%
BB/9	1.99	3.12	Minimal Changes

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🧠 What Changed?

Jack dedicated his offseason to:

• Pitch Development Plans for improved movement and tunneling of pitches.  Allowing for beating hitters in the strike zone with his full mix of pitches
  
  

• ArmCare.com monitoring for sustainable gains and durability over the season.  Adjustments of throwing programs day to day to ensure he was at a full gas tank every game he pitched.
  
  

• Pitching mechanics refinement to increase efficiency and reduce wasted movement.  Increased command and better energy transfer from feet to finger tips.
  
  

• Mental game development to stay composed and aggressive in higher-leverage innings.  See It, Feel It, Do It.
  
  

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🎯 Why It Matters

Velocity is a separator — especially at the high school level. But Jack’s growth was holistic: more innings, more strikeouts, decreased opponent batting average, and a presence on the mound that screamed D1 potential. He’s gone from a projectable arm to a guy you game-plan around.

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🧢 Want to Train Like Jack?

We build pitchers. Whether you’re just hitting 70 MPH or trying to break 90+, our custom pitching plans are built to transform performance year over year — just like Jack.

📍 Salt Lake City, UT or Remote Training Options
🔗 Train with us at URATBB.com

🎯 Command vs. Control: What Pitchers (and Parents) Need to Know

🎯 Command vs. Control: What Pitchers (and Parents) Need to Know

Ask most pitchers if they have good “command,” and you’ll get a confident yes.
Ask them to explain what that means? That’s where things get fuzzy.

In pitching development, command and control are not the same thing.
And knowing the difference could be the key to unlocking your next jump on the mound.

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⚾ So… What Is Control?

Control is the ability to throw strikes.
It’s about getting the ball over the plate — not necessarily hitting a specific spot.

The stat we use to track this is BB/9 (walks per 9 innings).

• Low BB/9 = good control.
  
  

• High BB/9 = lack of control — you’re giving away free bases.
  
  

Control = "Can you get it in the zone and avoid free passes?"
It's the baseline. It’s NOT about precision.
It’s about making sure you can throw the ball in the strike zone.

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🎯 Then What Is Command?

Command is the ability to throw the ball where you are intending / where your catcher sets up.

Command is:

• Elevating a fastball when you’re trying to get a swing-and-miss.
  
  

• Dotting a slider just off the outside edge with 2 strikes.
  
  

• Throwing a changeup below the zone and not leaving it up.
  
  

• Hitting a catcher’s glove with intent — not just “hoping” for a strike.
  
  

Control says “I didn’t walk him.”
Command says “I throw to the side of the plate I intend.”

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💡 The Best Way to Understand It

Think of it like this:

Skill	What it Means	How it Looks
Control	Can throw strikes	BB/9, 1st pitch strike %
Command	Can throw good strikes on purpose	Execution in leverage counts, location when it matters

A pitcher can have control (throw strikes), but without command, they're still throwing “middle-middle” and getting hit.
A pitcher with command might not be perfect, but they miss in the right places.

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📈 Why This Matters for Development

Control gets you in the zone.
Command keeps you in the game.

If you’re only tracking BB/9, you might miss the bigger picture. We’ve seen pitchers lower their walks but still struggle with hard contact, big innings, and missed execution. That’s where command training comes in.

At URATBB, we train command through:

• Targeted sequencing reps
  
  

• Biomechanical efficiency work
  
  

• Effective velocity strategy
  
  

• Pattern disruption drills that mirror game situations
  
  

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🧠 Final Thought:

A pitcher with control might avoid the walk.
But a pitcher with command wins the at-bat.

Want to develop both? Let’s build your plan.

📩 jordan@utahrotationalathletetraining.com

BB/9: Why Walks Kill Pitchers (and How to Fix It)

When pitchers are being evaluated, two numbers show up at the top of the report almost every time:

• K/9: Strikeouts per 9 innings
  
  

• BB/9: Walks per 9 innings
  
  

We’ve already covered why strikeouts matter. Now it’s time to talk about the other side — walks, and why BB/9 might be the biggest red flag in a pitcher’s stat line.

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What is BB/9 and Why Is It So Important?

BB/9 = Walks per 9 innings pitched.
It tells coaches and scouts one thing: Can you stay in the strike zone consistently?

• Low BB/9 = trust. You’re a pitcher a coach can keep in the game, call upon in a tight spot, and build a rotation around.
  
  

• High BB/9 = chaos. Walks extend innings, increase pitch count, and flip momentum. They frustrate defenses and lose games at every level.
  
  

You can throw 95 mph, but if your BB/9 is high, evaluators will question whether you can survive as a starter — or contribute at all.

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A Real-World Example from a College Report

Recently, I was asked to evaluate a local athlete for a collegiate program. In that report, one of the primary concerns I noted was his command and control. Despite flashes of velocity and athleticism, it was clear that his inability to consistently locate led to extended innings and extra pitches.

This wasn't just about walks — it was about what those walks created:

• More hitters faced
  
  

• More high-stress pitches
  
  

• More opportunities for damage
  
  

At the collegiate level, that kind of inefficiency becomes a problem fast. Coaches aren’t just looking for stuff — they’re looking for pitchers they can rely on to stay in the game.

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BB/9 Benchmarks by Level

• Elite: 1.2 – 1.7 BB/9
  Consistently fills up the zone with intent. Rarely gives away free bases and keeps pitch counts low.
  
  

• Average: 2.0 – 2.6 BB/9
  Generally solid command, but may miss spots under pressure or in deep counts.
  
  

• Poor: 3.5+ BB/9
  Walks become part of the game plan for the hitter. Leads to big innings, short outings, and lost trust from coaches.
  
  

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Why High Walk Rates Happen

• Inconsistent mechanics = inconsistent release points
  
  

• Lack of intent or conviction in secondary pitches
  
  

• Lack of understanding pitch progressions and selection
  
  

• Fear of contact
  
  

• No plan or rhythm with pitch sequences
  
  

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How to Lower Your BB/9

1. Improve your mechanics.
Tighten up your movement patterns through biomechanical training. The more stable and repeatable you are, the easier it is to command the zone.

2. Train with pressure.
Use game-like reps with consequences. Simulated innings, 3-ball counts, and command circuits help translate practice into performance.

3. Have a plan.
Know your best pitch in any count. Trust your stuff. Command doesn’t just mean throwing strikes — it means throwing the right strikes.

4. Track your progress.
Just like K/9, BB/9 should be monitored over time. See how it changes between outings and over a season — and match that against how your body feels.

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Why BB/9 + K/9 = Your True Pitching Identity

• High K/9 + Low BB/9 = Dominant starter or closer potential
  
  

• High K/9 + High BB/9 = Wild card — risk/reward arm
  
  

• Low K/9 + Low BB/9 = Pitchability guy — makes hitters earn it
  
  

• Low K/9 + High BB/9 = Major concern
  
  

BB/9 tells evaluators how reliable you are.
K/9 tells them how unhittable you are.

When you can do both — miss bats and limit walks — your name stays on every coach’s list.

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Final Thoughts

Anyone can miss the strike zone. Great pitchers learn how to attack it.

Strikeouts end innings. Walks extend them.
And if you're not controlling the zone, you're not controlling the game.

Want to improve your BB/9, tighten your command, and start getting real innings?
Let’s get to work. Schedule your private evaluation today.

jordan@utahrotationalathletetraining.com

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