Major leaguer Miguel Cairo uses the proper technique to "wear" a pitch.

Tip of the Week: Using the Proper Technique to “Wear” Pitches Can Make You a Safer and More Confident Hitter

By Amherst Mickey Mantle Coach Kevin Graber

June 24, 2005

AMHERST, MA - How many times have you seen a batter jump out of the way of an inside pitch and narrowly avoid - if he’s lucky - getting cracked in the jaw, ribs or kneecap? Unless you employ the proper technique, shunning the inside pitch can be a dangerous proposition, and if you aren’t careful, an incorrect “bail-out” can do more harm than good.

Think about the manner in which many hitters avoid the inside pitch. The natural reaction is to jump back with the hands in the air, much like a Michael Jackson dance move and about as manly. Now freeze this image in your mind and examine how vulnerable the hitter is in this position. His face and neck are almost fully exposed, his rib cage is wide open, and the bony parts of his knees and shins make for inviting targets.

Now think in terms of the maturing pitcher: He’s bigger and stronger, he throws harder and his pitches have more movement. Fastballs that once looked inside now run directly at or behind the right-handed hitter. Breaking pitches you never had to worry about now force you to stay on the ball as long as possible. This can be hazardous territory, and unless you adapt the proper technique for avoiding and “wearing” inside pitches, you may be setting yourself up for disaster.

Here’s the deal - learn the proper technique for “wearing” pitches and make it an everyday part of your offensive arsenal. Dig in, “wear” pitches and take your base with a sense of pride and satisfaction.

This is how it works. Once you recognize a pitch is headed at or behind you, immediately rotate inward on the balls of your feet and turn the upper body (shoulders and head) away from the pitcher. The shoulder nearest the ball should raise slightly to protect the face. The elbows drop in close to the sides to protect the ribs, also keeping the elbow’s bony parts out of harm’s way. At the same time, the bat lowers directly in front of the hitter’s upper body, avoiding the possibility of a foul ball. The entire movement takes place in one simultaneous motion as the player rotates away from the pitch. The batter is now fully protected, and the only places he can be struck are the back, the buttocks, the back of the legs and the rear of the helmet - all fleshy, muscular and/or well-armored areas.

Royce Clayton jumps backward in fear of an inside pitch and nearly wears it right in the kisser.

Aside from the obvious safety benefits, using the proper technique to “wear” a pitch can make you a better, more confident, hitter. First and foremost, “wearing” a pitch puts the batter/runner on first base, which no pitcher wants. In almost every scenario, especially with two strikes, this is a rally-extender and a huge boost to the offense. There’s also the confidence factor. A hitter who no longer has to worry about “bailing out” can now DIG IN and face the pitcher without fear. His confidence soars and his production will too. As a hitter, you’re sending a valuable message. You’re letting the pitcher know that he DOES NOT OWN the inner half of the plate. You’re showing him that if he comes inside, he risks losing the battle between the mound and home plate and is in danger of putting a runner on base. This makes for a huge advantage in the psychological struggle within the game.

Lastly, “wearing” pitches, simply put, is sound, fundamental baseball, like drawing a walk or dropping down a bunt. It should be part of every manager’s offensive gameplan.

Take for instance Florida Marlins second baseman Damion Easley, whose coach at Long Beach City College specialized in teaching the particular science of getting hit by a pitch.

"Coach Gaylord made us stand at the plate," Easley recalled in a 2000 article in the Detroit Free Press, "and he would throw at us. Every position player was required to go through that drill after each practice. He taught us to turn toward the pitch and let the pitches hit us on the meat part of our bodies. Sometimes he wouldn't throw right at us. Instead, he would throw inside and tell us to move into the pitch, allowing it to hit us. We would line up at the batting cage and go through the drill three or four times. And we'd always get hit. I did that drill for both of my two years at City College."

The technique has paid off handsomely. Every season, Easley is one of the major-league leaders in the hit-by-pitch category. In fact, he shares the major-league record for being hit by a pitch three times in a game, and he’s never been on the disabled list with an injury related to “wearing” a pitch.

What’s the best place to "wear" one? "On the rear, without a doubt," Easley says. "The upper arm is good, or the thigh. I was skeptical about that drill when I first heard of it. But I feel now that it really helped me."

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