Pitching

The Pinkman Academy first got its start as Pinkman Pitching in 1992. John, Jeff, and Pat Pinkman were all heavily involved in Reston Youth Baseball. Jeff had just started at South Lakes High School and Pat began at Langston Hughes Middle School. After Jeff and Pat completed their little league days John received calls from little league families asking for help with their sons. We did not have the facilities we currently operate now so John purchased a portable pvc catch net and arrived in families backyards to teach private lessons.

Over the next couple years John began teaching at one of the first baseball schools in Northern Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Complex, where he continued to teach pitching and Jeff first began instructing at 15 years old. During high school Jeff and Pat both played American Legion baseball and John became the pitching coach for the Reston/Herndon Post 184. After high school, Jeff received a scholarship to play baseball at the University of Delaware; John and Pat started one of the first travel teams for 16-18 yr olds in Northern Virginia called the Fairfax County Eagles. Shortly after playing for the Eagles and winning the CABA High School World Series Patrick received a scholarship to play at Virginia Tech.

During college Jeff earned a degree in Exercise and Sport Science, Patrick was named a TPX Freshman All-American, and John was at work teaching pitchers from 30 different high schools in Northern Virginia.

From 1997 to 2000 John began to study more about the throwing motion from Tom House, Bill Thurston, and the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI). John was first introduced to Tom House and Bill Thurston during the annual "Injuries in Baseball" medical conference conducted by ASMI. While attending the conferences John was exposed to the blueprint of the throwing motion, learning how to reduce injuries and keep players on the field longer through developing a proper throwing and strengthening program.

In 2000 John, Jeff, Pat, and Ruth Ann opened Pinkman Pitching in Dulles, Va. This facility was design with the pitcher and catcher in mind. In their new home the Pinkmans developed a one of a kind 4 way video system that would capture one throw from 4 different angles at the same time. This system allowed instructors to analyze the throwing motion in detail to help pitchers maximize their potential and reduce the risk of injury.

In August 2001 Jeff visited Tom House in San Diego to attend a Functional Fitness (FF) certification that would incorporate and redefine the way a pitcher "warms-up". The FF workout allows players to use their bodies from feet to finger tips to loosen and workout the muscles to prepare them to throw a ball. Jeff revisited Tom House in September 2001 (Jeff landed in San Diego on September 10, 2001) to attend the first Advanced Pitching Mechanics Certification. One of Jeff's classmates was Brent Strom. Brent had played and coached in the MLB. Organizations Brent has worked with over the years are the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos, Washington Nationals, and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Pinkmans define and teach the throwing motion in 5 categories.

• Beginning/Core Balance
  • Keeping the body strong and stable at the start of the leg kick to balance point
• Moving Balance
  • Maintaining stability so the head and shoulders stay over the hips and the pitcher's posture remains athletic, strong, and on target
• Equal and Opposite
  • Create a rhythmic and synchronized arm swing; extending the arms at the same time, in the same motion, with the elbows matching up in the exact identical position at foot strike
• Hip and Shoulder Separation
  • The legs and the hips are the driving force behind power and explosiveness to the plate. If the hips cannot separate from the shoulders no toque can be created to rotate the shoulders around to externally rotate the throwing arm providing whip in the throwing motion
• Firm Glove Side
  • The glove hand upon foot strike should be stabilized and strong in front of the chest so that both arms can work together to create a strong and natural arm slot at release. (Do you ever wonder why players drop their elbow when they throw?? A weak glove side or a pulling glove side also pulls the throwing arm down upon release.)

These 5 categories have assisted the Pinkmans develop strong, healthy, and confident throwers ranging in age from 6 to 72 years young since 1992. The Pinkman Baseball family has produced a learning system that will allow all types of throwers to understand how to use their body more efficiently to achieve the desired short and long term goals of making the All-Star Team or Travel ball club, the local high school team, or play at the elite and national level of college or professional baseball.

Let the Pinkman Family turn the dream of playing at the next level a reality. Call or email us to set up your first lesson.

Are you unable to visit the Pinkman Academy becuase you live in different parts of the country? Click Here to view detailed directions on how to send us a video clip of your throwing motion or swing. Email us your video and we will email you back an analysis.

CLICK HERE to see before and after video clips of students on YouTube.com!!!  We will be updating our YouTube channel with video clips to give you a taste of what's new.  As most of you know, at the Pinkman Baseball Academy's we pride ourselves on results, and there is no better way to see those results than video and on-field performance.