This story was excerpted from Aiden Stepansky’s Pirates Beat newsletter. Perla Paredes pinch-hit on this edition. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ST. LOUIS -- Matt Ford was riding on a Minor League bus nearly 25 years ago when future Hall of Famer Roy Halladay introduced him to Harvey Dorfman’s “The Mental ABC’s of Pitching.”
The now-Bradenton pitching coach was struggling alongside Halladay, hoping to find any ways to troubleshoot. This was the solution he needed.
“[Halladay] is like, ‘Fordy, I think this book would really help you,’ and he passed it down to me,” Ford remembers. “He ends up getting out of there not too long after that, and he goes up to Double-A, throws eight innings, one run, Triple-A, complete game, and then the rest was history for him.”
While the book put Halladay’s career back on track, it also helped Ford reach the Majors with the Brewers in 2003. Ford became a pitching coach in the Pirates’ organization in 2014, and has since brought the book into his teachings.
COMPLETE PIRATES PROSPECT COVERAGE
At Single-A Bradenton, a chapter is discussed each Tuesday by the pitching staff to create a book-club-type atmosphere. With Pittsburgh’s youngest arms often finding their way through the Marauders at some point in their career, the community makes the mental art of pitching less of a taboo subject.
“When things aren't good, [the mound] is probably the loneliest place on the face of the earth, and you have no clue what to do,” Ford said. “But if you got that as part of your tools in your toolbox out there, you can overcome some stuff. We're gonna get the foundation down with the physical and the pitch stuff. But you gotta have that mental foundation, too.”
As Ford puts it, pitchers are “whacked out of their brains,” forced to lie to themselves to turn negatives into positives. Dorfman’s book takes on a more serious tone to do so.
Ford worked through his own troubles as a Minor Leaguer, losing confidence and conviction. He allowed bad thoughts to creep in and saw changes to his “edge” and delivery. While reading Dorfman’s work, he was reminded of his talents and surged toward the Majors.
Once he moved into coaching, Ford recommended the book to his pitchers as a guide. In 2023, he implemented it across his staff through a set time each week. Every Tuesday, after the group’s pre-series meetings, they carve out 20 minutes to discuss one chapter from the book. A player is tasked with presenting the chapter before everyone goes around sharing how they relate.
Each player goes about presenting their chapter in their own way. Pirates No. 12 prospect Levi Sterling writes a page in a notebook to summarize the chapter and how it applies to him and his current game. Then he adds how his teammates can apply the idea to their games.
“It's kind of just a way for us all to get together and talk about a certain thing, and really learn how the other pitchers think about their performances and what works for them, what doesn't work for them, and it's getting new perspectives,” said Sterling, who was recently promoted to High-A Greensboro. “But also, it's something that we could come together and do together and make fun of each other; it just keeps us close as a unit.”
For whichever subject the club is on, Ford creates printouts with the help of mental coach Hector Morales. They print the versions in both English and Spanish to aid Latin players, another key that helps young Latin pitchers build confidence in their English public speaking.
Pirates No. 1 prospect Seth Hernandez presented “body language,” following up 2023 Draft pick Zander Mueth’s presentation on “adversity.” Hernandez explained the process as a good idea for team bonding, and recently applied ideas from the chapter into his game.
Sterling waited a little longer in the alphabet for his favorite, seeing “poise” as the most influential. He learned specific keys to never show a hitter he’s not in control, using breath work as a reset. A sixth-rounder in 2025, Jack Anker saw a similar idea from the chapter on “attitude.”
“I'm not like a very emotional guy on the mound, but when you're not exuding confidence, even if you're faking it, a hitter picks up on that,” Anker said. “Hitters are like sharks; they smell blood in the water, and they take advantage. So, I would say that's really helped me, for sure.”
Of course, Ford still will introduce the advanced reports and tools to his young pitchers. He cares most about his pitchers pitching to their strengths and learning adjustments along the way. As Mueth puts it, in a world full of information, the book club is a mind-easer.
“I say to these guys, especially at this level, ‘You guys all have the God-given ability to pitch in the Majors. That's why we draft you. That's why we select you. The only difference is consistency up there,’” Ford said. “… They think they're really good, and that's not being cocky or arrogant. But you’ve got to believe it, and confidence is everything. And that's why we do the book club.”