THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,410 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,410 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
General  | Blog | 4/10/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 64

What Do Barry Zito, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Dallas Keuchel All Have in Common?

By Ron Wolforth | Texas Baseball Ranch® | PG Arm Care


Take a second and think about the question posed in the title before you read on.



Four Cy Young Award winners. Four of the most decorated pitchers of their generation. What's the common thread?

The first answer is obvious… they all won the most prestigious individual award in pitching.

Most of you probably got there immediately.

The second answer is less obvious… they all trained at the Texas Baseball Ranch® at some point in their development.

Interesting, maybe, but not the point of this article.

The third answer is the one I really want you to sit with, because it has direct relevance to your career right now: they all move completely differently. And they all attack hitters completely differently.

Don't rush past that. Because if you're a pitcher between 14 and 18 years old, that truth… really absorbing it… might be one of the most important things that happens to your development this year.

Four Champions. Zero Copies.

Watch film of Barry Zito and Justin Verlander back-to-back. Then pull up Trevor Bauer and Dallas Keuchel. These are four elite professionals operating at the absolute pinnacle of the sport, and their movement patterns look nothing alike.

Different arm paths. Different sequencing. Different timing. Different body types attacking the same 60 feet, 6 inches in completely their own way.

Now ask yourself this honest question: What would have happened if someone had insisted, when each of them was your age, that they all throw exactly like Justin Verlander?

For Verlander, great. For the other three? Almost certainly a disaster. The movement pattern simply wouldn't have fit who they were as athletes—their structure, mobility, natural timing, and individual anatomy.

Yet right now, today, the overwhelming majority of pitching instruction being delivered to young pitchers works exactly that way: same choreography, same cues, same "do it like this" …  delivered to every pitcher who walks through the door, regardless of body type, athleticism, or individual makeup.

One-size-fits-all.

Zito, Verlander, Bauer, and Keuchel didn't become Cy Young winners by being shaped into someone else's mold. They became champions by becoming the very best versions of themselves.

Why This Matters Right Now… At Your Age

Here's what makes this urgent for you specifically: you are in the window of development where movement habits are being locked in. The patterns you build between 14 and 18 are the ones you'll carry into your late teens and early twenties. That makes this period both your greatest opportunity and your greatest risk.

Instruction that doesn't fit your individual body creates two predictable outcomes. Either you stagnate—same velocity month after month, unable to break through—or your body eventually protests through arm pain, breakdown, and injury. Neither outcome is inevitable, but both become far more likely when you're being trained as a template rather than as a person.

The four pitchers above understood something critical: they were unique athletes who needed a process organized around them, not a process designed for someone else that they were being forced to fit into.

Three Questions Worth Asking About Your Own Development

You may not be able to change your instruction overnight, but you can start asking better questions. Here are three worth sitting with:

Does my instruction start with me? Before prescribing anything, a coach developing you seriously should spend real time assessing you… your structure, your mobility, your current movement pattern, and why it looks the way it does. Instruction that skips assessment and jumps straight to "do it like this" is working on a phantom, not on you.

Am I learning to understand, or just to copy? There's a significant difference between a coach who helps you understand why your body moves the way it does versus one who just points to a video and says,“mirror it.” Understanding creates adaptability and long-term growth. Copying creates fragility. When you understand the principle behind a movement, you can self-correct and keep developing even when no coach is in the room.

Is arm health being treated as a whole picture? Arm care is not just icing your elbow after a bullpen. It is a complete picture of how you move, recover, balance, train, and sleep. If the approach to your arm health begins and ends with pitch counts, there are important conversations still to be had.

What Zito, Verlander, Bauer, and Keuchel Can Teach You Beyond the Trophy

The most important lesson these four pitchers model isn't about winning an award. It's about the mindset that made the award possible.

Each of them, at some point in their development, had the self-awareness and the courage to say: I am not going to accept cookie-cutter. I am going to find out what actually works for me. Each of them committed to understanding themselves as athletes…their strengths, limiters,and unique movement signatures… and pursued development built around who they actually were.

That kind of intellectual engagement with your own development is rare at any age. At 14 to 18, it is almost unheard of, and it is one of the most powerful competitive edges available to you right now, completely free of charge, requiring nothing but curiosity and honest self-assessment.

The pitchers who develop fastest and stay healthiest are rarely the most naturally gifted ones in the gym at 15. They are the ones who asked better questions and refused to accept "just do it like everyone else does."

You have that choice in front of you right now.

Stay curious. Stay honest with yourself. And never let anyone turn you into a cookie.

– Ron Wolforth, Founder & CEO, Texas Baseball Ranch®

Stay Curious and Keep Fighting the Good Fight

General | General | 2/23/2026

PG Salutes Chet Brewer, a Youth Baseball Pillar

Jim Salisbury
Article Image
PG Salutes Chet Brewer, a Youth Baseball Pillar A few weeks ago, Perfect Game and its Believe in Baseball foundation held a fundraising event in Los Angeles. The “In the Spirit of the Game” dinner and auction brought in thousands of dollars, all of which will go toward providing deserving youngsters an opportunity to play and grow in the game. Chet Brewer was not at the event – the former Negro Leagues star died at age 83 in 1990 – but his spirit was. Big time. “That night was all about Chet,” PG commissioner Dennis Gilbert said. “He was all about giving kids chances to play the game, especially kids from underprivileged backgrounds. “When you’re 15, 16, 17 years old – those years are the basis of your life. Chet helped put a lot of kids on the right path through the game of baseball.” Brewer’s impactful life has...
College | Story | 4/16/2026

Coppy's Corner: April 16 POY Deep Dive

John Coppolella
Article Image
Each week I huddle with Vinnie Cervino and Craig Cozart  to discuss Top-25 rankings and Players of the Week. In Coppy’s Corner, I dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level.   Player of the Week: Jaquae Stewart – Texas State University  If you squint a little bit, you can see some Josh Naylor or Dominic Smith in Jaquae Stewart, with a stout build like a more powerful version of the teacup from the children’s song. Lately, the Sun Belt Conference has been child’s play for Stewart as he has been on fire showing an improved hit approach and power that tracks more with his 2024 performance at Northwest Florida State College than with his 2025 experience at the University of Texas. It’s tough for any player to jump from a JUCO in Florida to the big stage...
High School | General | 4/16/2026

High School Notebook: April 16

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Alain Gomez-Gudiño (‘26 AZ) with a pair of backside barrels, including a double. Physical 6-0/215 frame. Switch-hitter with power. Adv. defender with strong C&T behind the dish. @PGAllAmerican alum. #Gamecocks commit #PGHS @PG_Draft @SaguaroBaseball pic.twitter.com/2Vhuu5gYX9 — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) April 11, 2026 C Alain Gomez-Gudino, Saguaro (Ariz.) Since I first saw him as a sophomore, Gomez-Gudiño has long been one of my favorite prospects in the state. The backstop features a super physical frame at 6-foot-0, 215-pounds with a thick lower half and strong forearms. Defensively, Gomez-Gudiño has always stood out. He moves well for his size behind the plate and receives with confident hands. The catch-and-throw ability stands out. Gomez-Gudiño looks to be aggressive and will back pick runners often. The glove alone makes...
Juco | Rankings | 4/15/2026

JUCO Top 25: April 15

Blaine Peterson
Article Image
Another week of undefeated weeks for our top 4 ranked teams. Joining them in the top 5, coming off an undefeated week of their own, is Florence-Darlington, a team we have consistently had as a top 10 team all season long. Cloud County and Midland College continue to put together strong weeks and climb the rankings each week it seems. Jumping into the rankings this week on the strength of a 15-game winning streak is Seminole State (OK). And Linn Benton makes the top 25 for a 2nd consecutive week and looks like the top team in the NWAC this spring. Plenty of high-level matchups at the JUCO level for some of the top teams in the county this next week.  Rk. School Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 42-2 2 Gaston (NC) 43-3 3 McLennan (TX) 34-7 4 Chipola (FL) 37-7 5 Florence-Darlington (SC) 40-8 6 Walters State (TN) 37-10 7 Blinn (TX) 31-11 8 Florida Southwestern (FL) 30-12 9 Southern Nevada...
College | Rankings | 4/15/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: April 15

Nick Herfordt
Article Image
Welcome to this week's small school baseball rankings, covering NCAA Division II, the NAIA, and NCAA Division III. As the calendar turns toward the final weeks of the regular season, the urgency is real across all three levels — teams are running out of weekends to build their cases, and the extended postseason invitations that every program is chasing don't go to programs that peak in March. The next few weeks of results will carry more weight than anything that happened before spring break, and the postseason committees in all three divisions are watching closely. Every series dropped to a team you should beat, every road sweep you let get away — it all matters now in a way it simply didn't two months ago. What you'll also notice as you read through the breakdowns below is that the numbers are doing more of the heavy lifting in how these rankings are constructed. Run...
Press Release | Press Release | 4/15/2026

Perfect Game & Youth Prospects Team Up

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME AND YOUTH PROSPECTS ANNOUNCE   BROADCAST RIGHTS AND CONTENT PARTNERSHIP    Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, April 15, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new partnership with content platform Youth Prospects centered around broadcast rights, content collaboration and expanded visibility for elite youth baseball events.    As part of the agreement, Perfect Game will grant Youth Prospects broadcast rights to select games across its premiere events, including marquee matchups at the WWBA World...
College | Story | 4/14/2026

College Players of the Week: April 14

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
April 14th Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Jaquae Stewart, INF/OF, Texas State  The Texas State Bobcats (24-12) are sitting in second place in the ultra-competitive Sun Belt Conference, and they have one of the most explosive offenses in the country.  They average right at 8-runs per game and can slug with the best of them, averaging almost 2-home runs per game as well.  Sitting in the middle of the order, Jaquae Stewart, is putting together a career year and is becoming the focus of opposing teams.  The 5-10/234 junior from Sinton, Tx is your classic lefthanded power hitter and is thriving in his move from Austin to San Marcos.  While it wasn’t the best week for his club, Stewart was sensational, collecting 8 hits in his 19 at-bats, scoring 5 runs, launching 5 home runs and driving in an insane 17 runs.  For the season, he is now slashing...
Showcase | Story | 4/14/2026

PG Announces Prospect Gateway Schedule

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
PG has announced the dates for Prospect Gateway events across the country - unique opportunities for young players to receive professional feedback and prepare for the next level. The Prospect Gateways are for players ages 13U-14U and serve as a qualifier for the National Showcase. Kevin Schuver, the senior director of showcases at Perfect Game, said these events are chances for players to step out of their comfort zone and show what they’re really made of. “Perfect Game Prospect Gateways aren’t just events. They’re doorways into something bigger. For young athletes, they serve as the first real step beyond their local fields, where raw ability begins to meet visibility and purpose.” At the event, each player is assigned a PG advisor who will watch and advise them individually. There will also be other scouts giving tips on how to enhance and develop a...
Press Release | Press Release | 4/13/2026

PG & MLB Clubs Offer Discount Tickets

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH THREE MLB CLUBS TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE TICKET DISCOUNTS FOR YOUTH TEAMS    Sanford, Florida (Friday, April 10, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new fan engagement initiative in partnership with three Major League Baseball clubs — the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals — to provide exclusive discounted ticket opportunities for teams participating in Perfect Game events.    Through the collaboration, youth baseball and softball teams competing in...
College | Rankings | 4/13/2026

College Top 25: April 13

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
In a season where remaining in the Top 25 has become a war of attrition, the No. 1 UCLA Bruins (33-2) are making the game look much easier than it is in all reality.  Winners of 27-games in a row, this club continues to win games by any means necessary as they continue their historic run.  Beyond the incredible win streak, the Bruins have started off Big Ten play (18-0) by sweeping their first six conference weekend.  Adding to their resume, in Game 1 of their series at Rutgers, they won a 14-inning thriller by a score of 4-1where their pitching staff registered an eye-popping 30-strikeouts while only surrendering 1 walk and 4 hits throughout.  In most any other season, the No. 2 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (30-5) would be sitting atop the poll as they are putting together a historic season of their own.  They swept Florida State (24-11) who was previously ranked...
Draft | Story | 4/10/2026

PG Draft: Favorite Position Group

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Every draft class has its strengths. Some years its a loaded group of prep infielders, some years its a deep collection of college arms. In this year’s class, certain position groups stand out above the rest to us. This week, the draft team dives into their favorite position groups. Groups that we believe are loaded with depth, upside, and big league potential. College Infielders It’s hard not to get excited about the crop of college infielders in this year’s class because of who is at the top. Roch Cholowsky alone makes the group exciting. He’s got gold glove potential at the next level and an offensive profile that should make him one of the Top 15 to 20 prospects in all of baseball the second he gets drafted. Justin Lebron is another player with as much upside in the class. He is a premium athlete that can really pick it at short and has big upside with the...
Loading more articles...