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From 80-81 to 86-87 T88: How We Helped Connor Buckley Elevate His Performance

From 80-81 to 86-87 T88: How We Helped Connor Buckley Elevate His Performance

From 80-81 to 86-87 T88: How We Helped Connor Buckley Elevate His Performance

When it comes to athletic development, improvement is often measured by numbers, but true progress goes far beyond the raw data. For Connor Buckley, we took him from consistently throwing in the 80-81 mph range to 86-87 topping 88. This transformation was a well-rounded approach that focused on both physical and mechanical adjustments. Here’s a look at the key strategies that contributed to his success.

The Physical Foundation: Strength and Size Development

One of the first areas we focused on was Connor’s physical build. Connor was undersized at 6'0" 160lbs. Over the past few months Connor’s weight increased to 170 pounds. The importance, however, was to ensure that the added weight was translating towards his power and strength output. As he gained muscle mass, we tested him every two weeks on our force plates to make sure that the strength and power were increasing and trending in the right direction. This made his body more capable of producing the force necessary for increasing his velocity.

Mechanical Adjustments: Adding Rotation and Speed

From a mechanical standpoint, Connor already had a solid foundation. He had a very good delivery, but was too linear, which limited his ability to maximize his strength and power. We added rotational elements into his delivery by adding a coil in his initial drive phase. This added rotation helped him feel and create more tension in his lower half. Another adjustment was focusing on his speed and acceleration down the mound. Connor responded well to drills that allowed him to accelerate, allowing him to have more tempo in his delivery.

2024 PG Event Top 81

Topping 81 Early 2024

March '25 Bullpen

Looking Ahead: A Strong Spring and Summer

With the spring and summer season ahead, we’re excited to see how these changes will impact Connor’s performance. He’s made incredible strides in his development, and we’re confident that his hard work will continue to pay off.The journey from 80-81 to 86-88 mph was just the beginning. We can’t wait to see where his hard work will take him next.

Spring 2025 Strikeout