FROM UNDRAFTED TO 96MPH:
Andrew Owen's Incredible Story and his Journey to Professional Baseball
Andrew Owen seemingly came out of nowhere to those of you following us on social media – and probably even to his former teammates from last spring. A pitcher at Villanova last year, he was a typical 88-91 righty, and wasn't dominant enough to earn attention from scouts in the 2018 draft. But rather than accept that professional baseball had written him off, he got to work. He began training remotely with us in the fall, and with some added strength, improved body composition, mobility, and some key mechanical adjustments, he took off. We lobbied hard on social media to help him get the exposure he deserved, so it wasn't long before tryouts began presenting themselves to him and he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. Here we sat down with Andrew to find out more about the process through his eyes.
After about 4 months of training, Andrew visited us and we created this highlight reel for scouts. He was signed 2 weeks later.
What's up Andrew? Thanks for doing this. Can you fill people in a little bit on your college background, when you got into pitching, etc?
For college I went to Villanova University and I was a relief pitcher there for my whole career. I have always pitched but it really became a priority my junior year in high school, when I stopped as a position player and just became a pitcher. At that point though I was more of a thrower, I did not have great mechanics and could never really find a consistent secondary offering. So, going into college I was very raw.
Andrew at Villanova
You weren't drafted as a senior – what made you decide to keep trying even with the odds seriously stacked against you?
I knew it was going to be a hard process because I knew the odds were definitely stacked against me, but I also knew that there was a lot more in me and that I wasn’t even close to reaching my full potential. Since I started playing when I was 5 I knew I wanted to play in the Major Leagues and I wasn’t about to give it up when I knew there was so much more in me.
Andrew in the summer of 2018 throwing in the Northwoods League, after going undrafted before he started working with us.
Why did you decide to do remote training? What other options were you considering and what were some of your main hesitations beforehand?
I have been following Tread Athletics for a while and really liked a lot of the free stuff that was made available and saw the success that they had with the guys they worked with so I had a feeling they’d be able to help me as well. I wasn’t really looking at any other options and the main reason I did not start it sooner was because I wasn’t sure if it’d be able to work with my schedule at school. Once I stopped playing for the season though I jumped right in and started immediately.
Andrew's before and after mechanics
Describe your training process – what were the big differences between how you trained in college and before?
Before college I really had no set lifting or throwing program. I basically just lifted when I felt I needed to and threw when I felt good. When I got to college there became a lot more structure. We had a consistent lifting program, but as with all colleges it is hard to individualize those with so many kids. The main difference I notice in training now is that I have a consistent routine that I do every day before I start training. That includes all of my soft tissue work as well as all of my corrective work.
Andrew's before and after metrics
Give us some of your before and after training, body and throwing metrics.
I am 5’11 and right now I weigh anywhere between 196lbs and 198lbs. Before I started training I was 187lbs. In terms of throwing, before I started training I was up to 98 on a 5oz. pulldown and topping out at 91 in bullpens indoors. Now, I have been up to 103 on a 5oz. pulldown as well as topping at 96 in my indoor bullpens this winter.
Andrew began with full pull downs, but we quickly transitioned him to one-step pulldowns according to plan once he eclipsed the 102 MPH checkpoint.
What's the single thing (if any) that seemed to help you the most? Did you have an “aha” moment where things suddenly clicked in?
The main thing I think that helped me the most is when I really felt myself creating angles and feeling that separation between my upper body and lower body. After a couple weeks of throwing with tilting my shoulders I really did have that “aha” moment where it just clicked and it felt amazing. That was probably the turning point and when I started to see some more velo gains after that.
Andrew utilizing our step-back drill to get a better feel, which ultimately translated to 96 mph (below).
The first time Andrew hit 96 mph on flat ground.
Andrew worked hard on creating angles with his lower half, which now catapults him over a firm front side.
Did your training approach or mindset change once you started throwing for tryouts and scouting videos?
The training approach (sets, reps, etc.) did but the mindset did not. As I was approaching tryouts or scouting videos I would have more of a power and explosiveness focus during my lifts than a strength focus. I would load less weight but really focus on being fast. The mindset though stayed the same because my mindset as I went into every training session was to attack everything I did with an intense focus. That is also my mindset on the mound as well before I throw any pitch.
Let's talk about you signing with the Cardinals. Describe when you got that call, as well as where you were at mentally in the month leading up to that.
Leading up to that moment, my mind was all over the place. I had just been trying to get my name out there and get in front of as many scouts as possible. I was a little discouraged because I had thrown at a pro day and sent my bullpen videos out to every team and I hadn’t really heard anything back. So I actually got the call when I was in the air flying back from California where I threw in the PFA pro day the day before. I landed at 9:00PM in Chicago and saw a missed call and a text saying to call back. So as soon as I got off the plane, I called back and they asked me to be a part of the organization. Words can’t even describe that feeling, it is, and will always be, one of the greatest moments of my life.
"Words can’t even describe that feeling, it is, and will always be, one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Andrew signing with the St. Louis Cardinals.
What are you working on now that you're in spring training and heading into the season?
During spring training the main focus is just to get comfortable and consistent in game situations. I wasn’t able to throw outside or on a dirt mound this offseason so getting back outside is amazing but also takes a couple times to get used to the dirt mound. My main focus specifically on the mound has been attacking inside and working my fastball up in the zone. I am a high spin guy so working the fastball up is the most effective thing for me.
Any words of advice to your younger self, or to athletes who find themselves in the same shoes that you were in as an undrafted college senior?
Only advice I really have is if you love the game don’t give up. It is good to put yourself in a situation where if things don’t work out then you have something to fall back on, but don’t have a Plan B. If this is something you really want then there is always a way and you just have to really focus and put in the work. It is a hard game and it is a game of failure. You have to be mentally tough because if you let failures get to you then it is almost impossible to have success in this game.
“If this is something you really want then there is always a way and you just have to really focus and put in the work.”
Closing thoughts from the editor:
While most athletes would give up the chase after going undrafted as a college senior, Andrew's case is a shining exception. But he didn't cross his fingers and just hope for things to turn around – he took action. Aggressively find and attack your limiting factors – which in his case was raw velocity. Several mechanical adjustments that he had never considered before made the difference between this offseason marking the end of his career, versus the beginning of a new and more challenging chapter. For Andrew, now the real work begins.
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