MLB: Long-toss routines gaining traction across MLB

I remember “Sudden “Sam McDowell doing long-tosses (yeah….that kind too) from The Yankee Stadium Monuments toward home plate.

That’s why the baseball world is watching the likes of Bundy and Bauer so closely. For better or worse, these prominent prospects have become the poster boys for a movement that has clear momentum. The list of pitchers selected in the first round of last year’s amateur Draft was littered with long-toss practitioners like Kevin Gausman (Orioles), Kyle Zimmer (Royals), Max Fried (Padres), Lucas Giolito (Nationals), Mark Appel (Pirates, unsigned), Nick Travieso (Reds), Chris Stratton (Giants) and Lucas Sims (Braves).

A pitcher like Zimmer, who joined a Royals organization known to be among the more restrictive in terms of long toss, forces clubs to reshape or rethink their procedures, at least on a case-specific basis.

“Some guys, we give a little more flexibility to,” Royals GM Dayton Moore said. “One size does not fit all. If you try to script it out in a way that it’s the same for everybody, you’re probably making a mistake.”

While there are varying opinions on the value of long toss, Moore’s sentiment seems to be one shared by most clubs.

“One guy’s routine works for him? OK, let us adjust,” said Twins GM Terry Ryan. “We’re trying to make people better, not trying to cookie-cut people. Every guy we’ve got is a different body, different arm action, different stride.”

What’s important, though, is not letting a player’s routine cause adverse mechanical effects. That’s where the value is in the type of analysis advocated by Peterson.

“This is based off Dr. Andrews’ research,” Peterson said. “It’s not like this is Dr. Phil or Dr. Seuss, you know?”