My dad taught me really early so I could take a lot of pressure off my elbow. Because the way I throw it, it doesn't crank up my elbow like everyone else's curveballs.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I'm the kind of person that if I try to throw it hard, it doesn't come out as good. So my whole thought process is to stay smooth, stay on top of the ball, and just get my hand out in front.
I was 11 years old and have the same curveball I have now. So I was literally striking everybody out. I always threw hard, and I was bigger than all the kids, so I would throw hard and throw that curveball, and no one could hit me.
It took me a few years to realize that throwing harder wasn't always better.
I throw as hard as I can when I think I have to throw as hard as I can.
Something went wrong with my right arm. I no longer could throw hard, and it hurt like the dickens every time I threw.
There is no way to have a strong arm if you don't throw enough.
At 19, I was still figuring out how to throw a fastball.
I hit the ball early and move my wrist a lot, so I get bigger angles.
I'm relatively physically adept and I like throwing myself around. Once, twice, but then you get to nine, ten, eleven and to try and make it look realistic all the time, that's not very pleasant.
There is no doubt that someone who tries to throw a curve or pitch at any early age before he's developed, before his hand is big enough to grip the ball correctly, will damage his arm.