Catching up with Lancaster JetHawks RHP Lance McCullers

A couple of months after Lance McCullers was drafted by Houston in the first supplemental round in 2012, I sat down and talked to him in Greeneville, Tennessee. It was hard for me to believe that he was only 18 years old at the time. Now 20 years old, McCullers is a part of the youngest pitching staff in the California League and is about a year and a half younger than the team average.

Lance McCullers - May 2014

Photo by Jayne Hansen

So it's not surprising when Lancaster Manager Rodney Linares spoke of McCullers' need to mature as a pitcher -- to show more poise on the mound and to trust in his stuff more. He notes that McCullers sometimes falls back on what has worked before because he doesn't always trust in his fastball command. "I've never seen guys swing at so many breaking balls in the dirt like they do off of him, but sometimes I think he forgets he throws 96, and it's not easy to hit 96 even when you know it's coming."

Lancaster Pitching Coach Don Alexander noted that McCullers is progressing nicely, but "he's riding the roller coaster a little bit." Alexander expects things to level out a bit for McCullers as they go through the process, "He's a little inexperienced, but he's got tremendous, tremendous talent and tremendous upside. He's going through the learning process ... the command of his fastball, sequences, pitching to what he sees, trusting his eyes, all those things that go into the making of a pitcher."

I talked with McCullers on my recent trip to Lancaster and this is what he had to say ~



I neglected to ask McCullers one last question, but I caught up with him after the fact to ask him what advice he would give to those going through the draft process starting tomorrow. Lance said, "I would just say enjoy it. I would say don't put too much pressure on yourself or build too many unrealistic expectations for yourself. Just enjoy the process. Enjoy it with your family. It's a special moment. That's the one thing that I wish that I had done is maybe just enjoy the whole process just a little more."

>>>>>><<<<<<

Thank you for your time, Lance. I can honestly say that it's always a pleasure talking with you. Best of luck as you continue on your journey.