Mississippi State Freshman Pitcher Adjusts Approach After Early Struggles

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Jack Bauer, a highly touted freshman pitcher for the Mississippi State baseball team, has had an up-and-down start to his college career. After being unable to record an out against Virginia Tech, Bauer was shut down for nearly a month as the coaching staff worked with him to develop a new plan focused on improving his overall pitching approach rather than just relying on his 103-mph fastball.

Why it matters

Bauer came to Mississippi State with a lot of hype around his elite velocity, but the coaching staff recognized the need to help him become a more well-rounded pitcher to succeed at the college level. This adjustment period is common for hard-throwing young pitchers as they transition to facing more advanced hitters.

The details

After the disastrous outing against Virginia Tech, Mississippi State's coaching staff worked closely with Bauer to shift his focus away from just trying to overpower hitters with his fastball. Instead, they are having him concentrate on improving his command, developing his secondary pitches, and learning how to set up hitters more effectively.

• Bauer was unable to record an out against Virginia Tech in early March.
• Bauer was then shut down for nearly a month to work on his overall pitching approach.

What’s next

Bauer is expected to gradually work his way back into the Mississippi State pitching rotation as he continues to refine his overall pitching approach and command.