Brandon Burton

Believer | Assistant ⚾️ Coach @WestsideBSB | Part Time Umpire | Former Area Scout | #BetterEveryday

[𝐉𝐞𝐟𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐳𝐞𝐧 @utahscout1219]

The Scouting Classroom #8

Velocity Gets Attention.

∙ Pitchability Gets Remembered.

The radar gun matters, trust me… scouts notice velocity immediately.

When a pitcher lights up the gun, heads turn.

But here’s what many fans, parents, and young players miss:

Velocity gets you noticed,
Pitch-ability determines whether scouts keep coming back.

Because after the first "wow" moment from the radar gun wears off…the evaluation actually begins.

Scouts start asking questions:
Does the fastball have life?
Can he command it?
Can he throw strikes when he needs to?
Can he pitch inside?
Can he change speeds?
Can he repeat his delivery?
Does the arm action work?
Can he create deception?
How does the body move?
Can he control tempo?
How does he respond after giving up a double?
Can he make adjustments?
Can he get hitters out multiple ways?

Those things matter, a lot!

Over 20 years in professional baseball, I saw plenty of pitchers light up a radar gun.

95-96 or even higher!

And some of them couldn't actually pitch, their velocity covered up flaws at younger levels.

But as hitters got better, the separation happened.

Meanwhile…
I saw pitchers with less velocity — or simply pitchers with more ingredients — continue climbing.

One of the best examples for me was and is now, current Washington Nationals reliever Paxton Schultz.

When I signed Paxton out of Utah Valley U as a 14th Rd pick, he had stuff.

He was generally 91–95.
The velocity was there. But what stood out wasn't just the radar gun.

There were ingredients. You could see flashes of pitch-ability. And he did it against WAC, MWC and SEC schools!

You could see body control.
You could see feel.
You could see a pitcher that wasn't simply throwing.

He was learning how to get hitters out.

And here's the interesting part:

Paxton wasn't the prospect headline guy.

He never landed on any Org Top 10 prospect lists. He never received the attention that some others got, and he wasn't handed a fast track.

He wasn't sitting on a 40-man roster spot early, his first 40 man was getting called up!

He simply kept pitching, and climbed each and every level through professional baseball, quietly and steadily.

And along the way, he evolved.

Today he's still around 93–95. But he added a cutter he didn't have in college.

He continued building a toolbox, and continued making adjustments, while continuing to become more complete.

And now he's in the Major Leagues having success and it wasn't by accident.

Because stuff gets attention, but learning how to pitch keeps opening doors.

That's today’s lesson.

Pitchability isn't static.
It's developed.
It's learned.
It's refined.

And sometimes the pitchers that keep evolving are the ones still standing years later.

Young pitchers:

Don't chase only mph, learn sequencing, command, disruption.

Learn how hitters think.
Learn how to evolve.
Because radar guns create attention.

Pitch-ability creates careers.

(𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤...)

#BehindTheRadarGun 🔎

[Armored Heat @ArmoredHeat]

The best Pitchers have intent behind EVERYTHING they do!

Big Leaguer Pitchers will get pissed just playing light catch if they miss their spot or the ball didn’t have the shape they wanted!

ATTENTION TO DETAIL 🎯

[3 Lefts Baseball | Coach Big Mike Fuchs @3leftsbaseball]

The Sound of a Losing Culture.

I hear it in the dugout during games. A player strikes out looking on a borderline pitch. He walks back to the bench tosses his bat and starts the script:

"Blue has a flight to catch," or "The sun was right in my eyes."

The coach nods just to stop the noise. The teammates shrug because they do it too.
But the standard of the program just dropped another inch.

You think you’re just "venting." Everyone else sees a player who is too soft to own his failure.

The 3 Lefts Mental Audit:

• The Excuse Subsidy: Every time you blame the umpire, the sun, or the mound you are paying a tax on your own development. If it’s someone else’s fault you don't have to fix anything. And if you don't fix anything you stay exactly where you are Average.
• The "Main Character" Delusion: The sun is hitting the pitcher’s eyes too. The umpire is missing calls for both sides. The game isn't out to get you it just doesn't care about you. Stop acting like the world is conspiring against your batting average.
• The Respect Gap: You want your teammates to trust you in the 7th inning. Then stop acting like a victim in the 2nd. Real leaders don't look for someone to blame they look for a way to adjust.

The game doesn't reward the player with the best reason It rewards the player who makes the most adjustments.

If you want to be treated like an elite ballplayer, start acting like one when things go wrong. High-level players don't have bad luck they have short memories and a plan for the next pitch.
Average players want the world to be fair.
Ballplayers realize the dirt is dirty and they keep digging anyway.
Stop auditioning for the victim role. Nobody is buying tickets to that show.
#3LeftsBaseball #BaseballIQ

[3 Lefts Baseball | Coach Big Mike Fuchs @3leftsbaseball]

Mental toughness isn't "yelling." It's "flushing."

I see kids all the time who think being tough means wearing eye black, screaming after a strikeout, or throwing their helmet.

That’s not toughness. That’s a tantrum.
True mental toughness is invisible.

It’s the shortstop who boots a routine grounder in the 1st, then dives into the hole to save the game in the 9th.
It’s the hitter who gets blown away by a 95mph fastball on pitch one but has the presence of mind to stay on the plane for the pitch two slider.

The "3 Lefts" Mental Audit
• The 5-Second Rule: You have 5 seconds to be pissed. After that the error is dead. If you’re still thinking about the 2nd inning while you’re standing in the box in the 5th you’ve already lost.
• Neutral Thinking: Stop labeling things "good" or "bad." It’s just the next pitch. The scoreboard doesn't care about your feelings.
• The Tuesday Standard: You don't build grit under the Friday night lights. You build it on a Tuesday when you’re tired, your hands are sore, and the coach isn't looking.

The game of baseball is designed to break you. Mental toughness is the refusal to cooperate with that design.
The scouts can measure your arm. They can measure your bat speed. But they can’t measure your "bounce back”until they see you fail.

Don't show them your highlight reel. Show them how you handle the lowlight.

[Next Level Baseball @nextlevelbb]

A team can win a game and the program can lose at the same time.
If the team acts like fools.
If the parents act like fools.
If players are ejected.
If coaches are ejected.
If parents scream obscenities at umpires or the opponent.
If players run their mouths and act like morons.
The team may win the game but the program loses.
Great sustainable programs are built with respect for the game and class.

[Matt Lisle @CoachLisle]

Athletes: You will never regret giving your best effort or being a great teammate.

[JJ @jjnixon2030]

First high school💣

[Frankie Gilchrist @FGilchrist10]

I am blessed to announce that I am committed to Catawba Valley! I want to thank my parents for providing me with never ending love and support. Thank you Coach McDonald for this opportunity. Let’s work!
#AGTG
@DiamondFalcons
@CoachDudley13
@CVCCBaseball

[Adam Stenson @AdamStensonACS]

There is a difference between “showcase” players and baseball players..

[JAKE ROBBINS 🇺🇸 @jakerobbins49]

High School Baseball Recruits

Read Below:

Hot Take: Winning Matters‼️

Development happens & it starts with you! Not your coach or team!
If someone screams development over winning, then they probably aren’t winning very much…
Winning is a part of development‼️

[Next Level Baseball @nextlevelbb]

Yelling at players-nope.
Cussing at players-nope.
Being a passive aggressive smart ass to players-nope.
Being a lazy check collecting coach that expects his players to run through the wall-nope.
Clearly explaining expectations and standards-yep.
Sitting players on the bench when they don't meet expectations and standards-yep.
Playing time is the reward and lack of playing time is the punishment.
For it to work.
Every player must be held to the same standards.
Your least talented player will advertise the strengths of your culture.
Your most talented player will advertise the weaknesses of your culture.
Real players want structure and discipline.

[Brendan Dougherty @Brendougherty]

Elite infielders know and understand the internal clock!! Who is running on the bases and in the box!!

DP #1- Catcher running 4.56 Line Time

1.40 SS exchange to 1B

DP #2- CF running 4.09 Line time

1.31 exchange to 1B

Only way they both get turned is 2B with perfect feeds!

[Atlanta Braves @Braves]

WELCOME TO ATLANTA, DOMINIC SMITH!

#BravesCountry

[Coach Aaron Graves, Sr. @Coach_GravesSr]

one of my favorite parts of the game I love...BUNTING!!!! The art of it..the willingness to want to work on it daily and then execute it in game. #CoachGravesGuys

[World Baseball Classic @WBCBaseball]

Expect everything.

17-year-old high school senior Joseph Contreras gets Aaron Judge to hit into a bases-loaded double play to end the ending 😮

[Prep Baseball South Carolina @PrepBaseball_SC]

‘28 @WestsideBSB RHP Colter Crosby

FB: 81-83 T84
CB: 66
SL: 73
CH: 76

Crosby has a lean frame with room to fill out. He has a quick arm and a good high/low plane on the mound. He’s commanded his 4 pitch arsenal very well today across 5 innings.

[⚾️ Westside Rams Baseball ⚾️ @WestsideBSB]

OPENING DAY 2026!!!!

@WestsideBSB @WHSAthleticsSC

#WEnotME #ThatsWESTSIDE #MUDITA

[eric sondheimer @latsondheimer]

People in high school baseball still don't get it. They celebrate a pitcher throwing 90 mph and giving up runs vs. a pitcher throwing 84 mph and giving up no runs. I'll take the no runs guy every time.

[Diamond Prospects @diamondprospect]

Another promising arm we are getting a quick glance at in today’s scrimmage. Physically gifted for a 2031, Henry Perry.

FB: 79-81
BB: 62

@WestsideBSB

#DPScrimmages

[Diamond Prospects @diamondprospect]

Clean first frame from Uncommitted Caleb Christian. Showing the ability to land multiple pitches over the plate.

FB: 85-86
BB: 71-72

@WestsideBSB

#DPScrimmages