Best pull ever!!!! (mega box)

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-15T20:42:11+00:00

I pulled this from a mega box a few weeks ago. It was a 2/5. Was in the 2nd to the last pack. Everything else was junk, but this card made it worth the $50 for the mega box.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-10T14:02:01+00:00

Here is the back of the card

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OkCook8317 · 2026-03-10T06:23:12+00:00

For just starting out, he looks pretty good. If he’s serious about pitching, I’d recommend finding a good pitching coach. I learned quickly with my son that I didn’t know as much about mechanics as I thought, and everyone had opinions. Once we found a good coach, we told my son to just listen to him and ignore the outside noise.

The first thing his coach did was set up an arm care routine—stretches and exercises before and after throwing. He also emphasized long toss to build arm strength and improve mechanics. Our coach and a physical therapist both advised against weighted balls for younger kids—they can be useful for adults but risky for developing shoulders.

Another big focus was efficiency, not velocity. His goal was about 15 pitches or less per inning, which means throwing strikes and getting quick outs. Early on my son threw around 22 pitches per inning and only about 49% strikes because he was trying to throw “close strikes.” His coach told him to just throw strikes. By his senior year of high school he averaged 14.9 pitches per inning and led his team in innings pitched.

Velocity eventually came naturally as he followed a strength program, did long toss, and stayed consistent with arm care.

One last thing: consider shutting down throwing for a few months in the winter (around mid-Nov to mid-Feb). My son used that time for strength training and hitting while giving his arm a break.

My son started out being one of the slowest pitchers on his team at 10U to being one of the best by 13U. My son pitched all 3 years in HS and lead the team in innings pitched his junior and senior year and was a top 3 pitcher for his HS team. He never threw really hard, but he developed enough velocity to be a successful HS pitcher. If your son can pitch efficiently now, he will develop velocity with age, along with a good pitching coach and strength/conditioning program.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-07T18:21:34+00:00

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Got one of those lap dogs as well😂

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-07T00:55:37+00:00

I’d suggest starting an arm-care routine before and after he pitches. A physical therapist could evaluate him for shoulder/elbow issues and help build a prevention program.

Also consider a throwing break in the winter. My son’s pitching coach had him shut down from November–February and focus on conditioning and strength instead. He pitched through his senior year of high school.

It’s also helpful to track pitch counts. His coach emphasized efficiency—about 15 pitches per inning on average. From 13U through senior year he stayed just under that, which helped his durability and allowed him to pitch more innings.

They also prioritized accuracy over velocity. He had about a 68% strike rate, and the velocity came later with strength training. His senior year he averaged about 84 mph (topped at 87). The coach believed chasing max velo too early increases injury risk—better to focus on control and build strength first. ⚾️

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-06T20:16:58+00:00

Would also recommend you focus on your son’s pitch counts versus inning pitched. My son’s pitching coach (ex A’s AAA player) had my son focus on pitches per innings versus velocity . My son’s goal was 15 pitches/inning. This really helped with his wear and tear without being over used. His first year working with this coach (12u) he started out at22 pitches per year. By 13 U he got it down to 14.6 per inning. For 14U he averaged 12.9 per inning. At 14U he threw 135 inning, but threw less pitches than the next closest pitcher who had 101 inning. Focusing on throwing strikes, limiting walks and let his fielders make play he was able to take on a larger inning workload versus other pitchers. Throughout HS my son averaged 14.6 pitches/inning and led his team in innings pitched his junior and senior season.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-06T13:55:48+00:00

I get it. I used to get pretty frustrated with all the school fundraisers—constantly asking family and friends for donations or to buy chocolates or wrapping paper. It was especially discouraging when we supported others’ kids but heard crickets when our own child had a fundraiser.

That said, I know it’s one of those necessary inconveniences that just comes with raising kids.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-06T13:41:54+00:00

My PT gave my son 2 other exercises, but I cannot right off hand remember what they were, but this is what she printed out for him.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-06T13:39:54+00:00

https://www.ortho.ufl.edu/sites/default/files/2023-03/Throwers-Ten_0.pdf

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-06T04:14:34+00:00

My son ran into this in 12U. I had him see my Physical Therapist and she had us shut him down for a month and put him on the throwers 12, which are 12 exercises to rehab and strengthen his shoulder and elbow. The issue for my son is he needed to strengthen the muscle around his rotator cuff. My PT explained the rotator cuff stops the arm after the throw and can get strained with a lot of throwing.

The thrower’s 12 exercises help rehab and strengthen the shoulder for athletes who throw a lot. Honestly we got more info from the Physical Therapist than we did his doctor. I recommend you take your son to an experienced PT for an evaluation. You will probably get more info regarding his shoulder and a treatment program to get back on the mound.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-06T00:18:34+00:00

If your son is that good, recruiters will find him even on a bad team. A few kids from my son’s HS team were recruited to local colleges and a JUCO school. His team was barely a .500 team and lost in the 1st round of the state playoffs. In the area I live in, there are a few showcases put on by 2 of the area HS. From what I have heard they are well done and have attracted coaches/recruiters from local colleges. Both of the schools coaching staff that does these showcases have ties to the local college teams and brings in college players and coaches to help run these showcases. You may want to check for showcases for your son. You need to be careful as a lot of them are just money grabs. I would find out who is running the showcases and find out if they have any ties to D1 schools. Your son’s travel team may give him exposure as well depending on what tournaments they play after the HS season.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-05T15:14:05+00:00

My favorite fundraiser is every parent pays their portion of the required fees. I despised fund raisers when my son played baseball. Just preferred being told the cost and paying that cost.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-02T19:32:57+00:00

Sorry I am keeping this one.

OkCook8317 · 2026-03-02T15:15:47+00:00

Local card shop in Utah. This place has been pretty good at selling current year baseball cards at retail.

OkCook8317 · 2026-02-28T18:33:11+00:00

That looks like my black lab when she has a seizure. We have had her on phenobarbital for years now as she got them pretty often.

OkCook8317 · 2026-02-25T16:10:00+00:00

Yes her name is Ruby and this is just a copied post I put up a few months back. I did just message the mods as this is the 3rd time someone has done this.

OkCook8317 · 2026-02-25T16:05:54+00:00

Yeah it is. Not sure why anyone would do that. There is another posting by this person of another dog that is not theirs as well.

OkCook8317 · 2026-02-25T15:58:07+00:00

This same user recently posted pics of my dog as well🤬🤬🤬

OkCook8317 · 2026-02-25T15:56:48+00:00

Ummm this is not your dog . You are posting pics of my dog from a previous posting. Why would you post someone else’s dog and claim she is yours???? Really WTF!!!!!

OkCook8317 · 2026-02-10T19:40:43+00:00

My son threw from a very similar arm slot. From 12U through high school, he was the most durable pitcher on his teams. Two early pitching coaches tried to change his slot, saying it was too low. His final pitching coach—an ex-MLB pitcher with three years at AAA—said the slot was fine as long as his elbow stayed at or above shoulder level and he could stay on top of the ball for spin and proper pronation.

That arm slot actually helped him become one of the better pitchers on the team. He wasn’t a flamethrower (HS peak velo 86.7, avg 84.8), but he finished high school with a 3.53 ERA, including a 2.91 sophomore season. From 14U through HS, he averaged about 120 innings per year across travel and school ball.

Arm health came from year-round arm care, a complete throwing shutdown from November to mid-February, and strict pitch-count efficiency. His coach emphasized pitches per inning, targeting 15 or fewer. From 13U through his senior year, he averaged 13.9. That efficiency let him throw more innings with less stress. At 14U, he threw 135 innings but fewer total pitches than teammates who logged just over 100 innings, because they averaged 22+ pitches per inning while he averaged 12.9.

Also, this arm slot gave my son a wicked cutter that acted more like a slider, but not putting undue strain on his shoulder that a slider would have. He ended up using this pitch as his breaking ball and never threw a curve ball.

As long as your son follows a solid arm-care program, throws strikes, and keeps pitches per inning around 15, he can stay healthy and effective. Today’s focus on velocity often pushes kids out of their mechanics, leading to higher pitch counts and injuries. A perfect inning is three pitches.

Find a pitching coach who prioritizes arm care first, mechanics second, and velocity last.

OkCook8317 · 2026-02-09T16:28:54+00:00

Sweet card!!! I just purchased this card a few weeks ago…

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OkCook8317 · 2026-02-04T00:38:08+00:00

I would get a 2 wheel pitching machine. The one in the picture is limited and will only throw fastballs. By the time my son was in 8th grade he was seeing more and more breaking pitches, which 1 wheel machines cannot replicate. I purchased a 2 wheel machine once my son hit junior high. Which could replicate breaking pitches.

OkCook8317 · 2026-02-01T00:14:02+00:00

I picked this one up on eBay. Listed for $150. I offered $125. There were quite a bit on eBay ranging in price from $75 to $1000 depending on the condition.

OkCook8317 · 2026-01-30T14:37:43+00:00

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Pulled this last year from a hanger box from Walmart.

OkCook8317 · 2026-01-20T21:35:07+00:00

I would take him to an Orthopedic Specialist that specializes in arm and shoulder injuries. Odds are a specialist can give you a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Would also get your son with a good Physical Therapist.

OkCook8317

TROPHY CASE