Recently signed RHP Mark James of the Cincinnati Reds, hits velocity milestone

TURNING AND BURNING: Right-hander Mark James was a 14th round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers

That summer, James was 1-3 with a 10.50 ERA Rookie-Class Arizona League Brewers. In 2006, he was 2-2, with a 6.91 for in the Arizona League.

After the Brewers released him James was 4-1, 3.02, with one save in 31 games for the Quebec Capitales of the independent Can-Am League this summer. It was the second lowest ERA of the 58 Canadians playing indy ball.

James attended a Pitcher's Boot Camp at Mike McCarthy and Rick Johnston's The Baseball Zone in Mississauga in mid November. He enrolled in a month long SST strength and conditioning course and after a month-long session with pitching coach Ryan Armstrong (Mississauga, Ont.) was signed by Cincinnati Reds scout Bill Byckowski (summer home -- Georgetown, Ont. , winter home, Etobicoke, Ont.) last week.

And three days ago he did a turn and burn drill with Armstrong ...

"What we have pitchers do with the turn and burn is back pedal with their back toward the target, pivot, separate and throw, the reading we get on the gun is usually 2-to-3 miles less than what you can expect from pitcher off the mound," Armstrong said.

Armstrong pitched for the Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates and while he was an excellent pitcher talk that they re-named the school after him is untrue. From there he moved on to pitch at Southwest Texas State.

When James was initially measured he was clocked on the radar gun at 92 miles per hour. The other day he went 99, 100, 99, 100.

Wow!

James deserves credit for not giving up and gaining a second chance.

Still, some should go to Armstrong, who know goes by his new nickname: Magic Man.

Source: Canadian Baseball Network