The Top 5 Things I Would Do Differently

Francisco Gracesqui
Sep 23
3 min read

From NYC Powerhouse to Pro Ball

I graduated from George Washington High School, one of New York City’s powerhouse baseball programs. By junior year, I was sitting 86 mph. Everyone around me told me the same thing: “If you hit 91, scouts will draft you.” That became my obsession.

At the time, I weighed only 155 pounds and had no resources or modern training knowledge. The advice was outdated — long-distance poles, 5-pound weights, resistance bands. I worked hard, but my velocity never jumped. By my senior showcase, I topped just 78 mph, then 82 mph by year’s end.

I got no offers until the summer, when I went to Alabama A&M on what I thought was a scholarship. Debt piled up, and I eventually transferred to Sullivan.

The Breakthrough

At Sullivan, I stumbled upon a video analysis of Tim Lincecum throwing 100 mph. My thought was simple: “If he can do it, so can I.”

That was the spark. I dove into mechanics, obsessed over technique, and by the end of that summer, I touched 93 mph. One day before classes started, I signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

I spent four years in pro ball, posting a 2.21 ERA, but I never surpassed 93. Released by Toronto, I went to independent ball, posting a 2.43 ERA as the youngest player on the roster.

That’s when I committed to a full transformation. Following Tread Athletics’ 95 MPH Body, I went from 175 to 207 pounds, added serious strength (405 squat, 245 bench), and by 2018, I hit 98 mph.

Top 5 Things I Would Do Differently

1. Build My Body Earlier

At 155 pounds, I had no chance at 95 mph. Velocity is built on strength and mass. If I could go back, I’d eat to grow, lift consistently, and develop a foundation earlier.

2. Focus on Explosiveness, Not Distance Running

I wasted years running poles and doing drills that didn’t transfer. Instead, I should’ve been sprinting, throwing med balls, and training for power output.

3. Study Mechanics From Day One

Lincecum’s delivery changed my life, but I was already in college. If I had studied movement patterns earlier, my velocity could’ve jumped in high school.

4. Block Out the Noise

Back then, everyone had advice — most of it wrong. I should’ve trusted one proven system instead of trying everything and getting lost in the noise.

5. Respect Recovery

More work isn’t always better. I thought training harder was the answer, but sleep, arm care, and recovery are just as critical as the throwing itself.

From Player to Developer of Players

My journey was filled with ups and downs, but every lesson shaped the EP4 Player Development Blueprint — the system we use today to develop elite athletes.

✅ 15+ arms over 90 mph✅ 1 athlete at 101 mph✅ 20+ college commits in the last two years

We’ve turned my mistakes into a roadmap for success. And now, I get to pass that blueprint on to the next generation.