Success on the mound starts with consistency for Augusta’s Braxton Chandler.
The Augusta pitcher entered the season focused on becoming someone his teammates could rely on every time he took the ball. Whether it was throwing strikes, working deep into games or handling pressure situations, Chandler wanted to establish himself as a dependable presence for the Orioles.
“My primary focus this season was being consistent every time I stepped on the mound,” Chandler said. “I wanted to be someone my team could count on to compete, throw strikes, work deep into games and stay composed in any situation.”
Chandler said team success has remained at the center of his goals throughout the year. He hopes to help Augusta compete for a state championship while giving the Orioles a chance to win every outing he pitches.
“I wanted to help my team get to the state championship and keep us in every game and give us a chance to win whenever I pitched,” Chandler said. “Personally, I wanted to improve my command, trust my off-speed pitches more and become more efficient so I could go deeper into games.”
One of Chandler’s biggest strengths is his ability to remain calm under pressure. He believes that mentality helps him attack hitters and keep his team confident behind him defensively.
“I think one of my biggest strengths is staying calm under pressure and competing no matter the situation,” Chandler said. “I also like to think I throw a lot of strikes so it keeps the game moving.”
Beyond his performance on the mound, Chandler takes pride in bringing energy and confidence to the dugout.
“I also try to bring confidence and energy to the team and be a dependable pitcher my team can trust,” he said.
During the offseason, Chandler concentrated on improving both physically and mentally. He spent significant time working on mechanics, conditioning and sharpening his secondary pitches in hopes of becoming a more complete pitcher late in games.
“One thing I really wanted to improve was my overall command and stamina so I could stay strong later in games,” Chandler said. “During the offseason I spent a lot of time throwing, working on mechanics and conditioning.”
He also focused on strengthening the mental side of pitching.
“I also focused on improving my off-speed pitches and being more mentally prepared in pressure situations,” Chandler said.
As the season continues, Chandler said success for Augusta will be determined by how the Orioles perform when the games matter most.
“A successful season would be playing our best baseball at the end of the year, competing for the state championship and knowing we gave everything we had,” Chandler said. “Personally, success means doing whatever the team needs from me, being a good teammate and leader and continuing to improve every time I take the field.”
