Rob Walton isn’t sure how the extra motivation will affect Ben Leeper.
Leeper might step on the mound with pure adrenaline rushing through him and focus on throwing the fastest ball he can, distracting himself from concentrating on his command. Or he might use this season as an opportunity to carefully think about every pitch he delivers and present himself as a formidable foe for each batter he faces.
Walton, the Oklahoma State baseball team’s pitching coach, said it depends on how Leeper approaches his fifth year with the Cowboys.
“I think if he puts a mindset, ‘I’m going to prove to everybody I can really pitch,’ then you’re going to see somebody really special,” Walton said.