Is it in his mind?

Question
Hello. I have a nephew who is a Redshirt Freshman at a D2 baseball program. He isn't a "lights out- 95 mph" pitcher, but has great off speed pitches, about an 87 MPH fastball, but his #1 quality as a pitcher is control.  Out of high school, many schools, because of the small high school he went to, didn抰 look him at. He was invited to throw for the pitching coach and they signed him because of his great curveball and PINPOINT control. (In high school he walked 2 batters in 86 innings his senior year)

So this year, he comes into the fall competing for a spot to throw out of the bullpen some. Well, he earned a spot as the #4 starter. They have developed him a great change-up and a slider. He didn't walk a batter in 35 innings this fall. His coach has told me that he throws the best bullpen sessions that he has ever seen. Best control on the team, full of seniors. So the season starts and he begins 2-0 with a 2.00 era. Then all of a sudden, he started throwing balls. Missing up. Getting behind every hitter. He will pitch 6 innings and give up only 2 hits, but 6 walks?  Three in a row even!  What in the world can this be? Yet, during his bullpen sessions during the week, his control is pinpoint!

I guess that it may be 2 things. First, his coach has got him doing a quick leg-high leg during delivery to add velocity. He has worked as he has added a couple MPH, but he so inconsistent in his delivery, every time looking different.  Not sure, but my nephew says he has done this new delivery so much that he can't go back to his slow old delivery.

Second, and probably what the real problem is, is he is so nervous. Coming from a 1A high school, to playing top 15 ranked teams in the nation. He is just spooked and he has ZERO confidence in his stuff. He says now it has gotten in his head and on 2-0 or 2-1 counts, he thinks, "please don't throw a ball" in between pitches. The coaches keep putting him out there but he keeps walking them. His numbers are up to ERA 6.00 and 3-2 record with 40 innings pitched. He has only 15 strikeouts, yet 30 walks. And when he starts walking, he will walk 3 or 4 in a row. He doesn't have any K's because of no confidence in his stuff!  In his 28 earned runs, 20 of them have been from walks. His batting avg against is still down around .190 and every batter he faces on his team says he has such good movement and awesome stuff.   But giving away runs with walks.

What, if anything can he do to get outta of whatever is wrong? What's wrong with him? And can you teach a kid to be confident?  What can we do??

Thanks!!


Answer
I think the best thing you can do is remind him of what he can do.Help him to build his confidence back up.Also try to video him and see what he is doing different when he is throwing balls.I also think he may need to start throwing his off speed when he is behind in the count.All said and done he is going to have to find a way to believe in his self.Please keep me informed on how he is doing and maybe I can get a better understanding of what is going on.