"The parts are good, but they don't connect." The 178cm Japanese Yamamoto threw at 159km/h... Why can't larger Korean pitchers convert their power into velocity? [How to create a 160km/h pitcher (Part 2)]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Why don't Korean baseball players' good physiques and strong power translate into equally fast pitches? Takahashi Junichi (50), an S&C (Strength & Conditioning) coach with experience in the Japanese and American professional baseball scenes, points to "connectivity" that links the entire body as one.

Coach Takahashi recently told StarNews at a seminar on the dissemination of advanced S&C theory and practice held by the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (KBSA) at Dong-A University in Busan, "Korean players are fundamentally large-boned. However, their ability to control such good physiques appears relatively lacking."

He compared this to a car. Coach Takahashi diagnosed, "Korean players can be seen as having cars that are large and good in themselves. However, they lack a bit of the ability to drive those cars properly."

While a large Korean pitcher often fails to deliver the expected velocity, Japanese pitchers are seen throwing fast balls despite having relatively smaller frames. When asked about the reason, Coach Takahashi immediately pointed to the connectivity of movements. Coach Takahashi emphasized, "Individual elements may be stronger in Korean players, but it seems they lack the parts that connect them. There is a need to improve the connectivity of their movements."

Pitching is not a motion created by the arm alone. Power generated from the lower body must be transmitted through the hips, torso, shoulders, and arms to reach the ball. This is why Coach Takahashi emphasized hip and body control throughout the entire training session. Even if each individual part is strong, it is difficult to fully utilize that power if they do not connect into a single movement at the appropriate moment.

Yamamoto Yoshinobu (28, Los Angeles Dodgers), who stands at 178 cm and weighs 79 kg, is a representative case that raises this question despite his relatively small stature, having thrown pitches reaching a top speed of 159 km/h. During his days in Nippon Professional Baseball, Yamamoto was famous for a unique drill involving throwing a 400g plastic javelin. As he became known for doing almost no weight training, his success once drew attention to the act of "throwing javelins" itself in Korea.

However, the core was not the spear. Yamamoto focused on using his entire body during the process of throwing the spear and refining the sequence and timing of his body's movements. Since each player has different physique, mobility, pain history, and pitching mechanisms, there is no guarantee that drills effective for Yamamoto will apply directly to other pitchers.

The Korean high school prospects who participated in the U.S. IMG Academy development program conducted by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) last January cited various "drills" as the most impressive aspect of their experience, which aligns with this context. Cho Sung-jun (17, Chungam High School) stated, "The IMG coaches taught us a variety of drills and gave us time to try them on our own. Through that process, I was able to find the drills that were necessary for me and suited my body."

Ultimately, what matters is not simply copying others' training routines, but first identifying what one's own body lacks and then choosing a method to address that issue. However, it would be an oversimplification to attribute the inability of Korean pitchers to throw faster balls solely to "lack of coordination." Yoon Hyung-jun (39), a trainer who has coached players in Korea, explained, "A pitcher must first establish stability, and power must then emerge from that foundation. Achieving both simultaneously is extremely difficult."

In particular, pitchers take a stride nearly as long as their height, moving their entire body significantly. They must stably control these large movements while simultaneously generating explosive power within them. This is why Trainer Yoon says that, surprisingly, it takes much longer to develop pitchers than batters.

Ultimately, there is no simple formula such as "just do more weight training" or conversely "just improve flexibility." The same applies to pitch velocity. Coach Takahashi also stated that "accurate measurement of one's own body is absolutely necessary, and accurate interpretation of those measurements is required," while adding, "I believe the goal is not simply to train to increase numbers (velocity). The number should rise as a result of the body moving comfortably and naturally." He emphasized, "Baseball is not a sport about competing to throw fast balls. Even if you throw a 160 km/h fastball, it can be hit; even if you throw a 140 km/h pitch, it can result in an out-of-play ball."

It means that a pitcher with a high-quality fastball cannot be developed by focusing on just one aspect. They must possess the power to throw fast pitches, the movement to deliver that force to the ball, and the stability to remain intact even during large motions.

It may not be enough for Korean pitchers to simply build larger "components (muscles)." The real challenge lies in determining when, in what sequence, and with how much efficiency to connect the quality components they already possess. Before discussing velocity, it is time to revisit how they use their bodies.

How is a 160km/h pitcher made?

① "Korean players have good cars but can't drive them." Why is it that, despite having better bodies than Japanese players? The trainer who created MLB's 34-win Japanese pitcher offers a diagnosis.

② "The parts are good, but they don't connect." The 178cm Japanese Yamamoto throws at 159km/h... Why can't the larger Korean pitchers convert their power into velocity?

3. "Would I get better if I threw and hit more since childhood?" The Japanese elite trainer said the opposite: "Baseball will not improve by playing only baseball."

④ "Must Find Korea's Own Original Style": Korean Baseball, Which Has Used American Baseball as a Textbook for 15 Years, Now Needs Its Own "New Normal"

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original