When you hear of a certain 17-year-old who has not even graduated from high school throwing 99 mph, you probably think it’s a typo. Right? Well, in this case, it is not, because Savion Sims is very much doing the unthinkable. Just a junior at Edmond Santa Fe High School, he has earned comparisons to the likes of MLB legends, Randy Johnson and JR Richard.
Plus, Sims isn’t just dominating the batters; he is also putting in miles. No, he literally is. Each weekend, Sims, along with his family, travels nearly 229 miles from Oklahoma to Texas. Not for vacation, but to train at Velocracy Baseball Academy. It’s the place where top minority prospects come to sharpen their skills under the very famous, coach Omar Washington.
And Washington actually was the one who saw Sims’ real potential. He saw something that would make him MLB-ready.
2026 RHP Savion Sims (@SavionSims12 , @OU_Baseball ) strikes out the side in an electric 1st Inning for @SFWolvesBSB .
FB – 95-97, T98.5
SL -86-87@ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/swpHugMoMc
— PBR Oklahoma (@PrepBaseballOK) March 24, 2025
Originally Sims was a shortstop. But Washington was blunt and convinced him and his father that such a tall shortstop could not cut it in MLB. Sims is 6 feet 8! So Sims had to essentially get started in a new role. And for him, it took a year to get serious about pitching. But now, it’s all that he can even think about.
As far as Washington goes, he couldn’t be more proud. He didn’t shy away from praising Sims and not only his game but also his mental stability. Washington told USA Today, “It’s almost like that Kobe Bryant mentality. His competitive edge is uncanny. He’s so laser-focused. He really has all of the attributes of a true professional.” According to him, Savion Sims simply has it all, to make it to MLB from his unique size and makeup to his mental skills.
And it’s hard to argue on that; in fact, Sims is so calm that in his high school, his nickname is “silent killer”. Nevertheless, now under the mentorship of former Reds ace Hunter Greene and former big leaguer Kenny Hill, Sims is developing rather fast. He recently pitched a five-inning perfect game! Hill recently said, “This kid listens, applies, and competes. He’s already special—and he’s only going to get better.” And this growth is exciting not just for Sims but rather for his entire community as well.
Savion Sims’s journey toward MLB will inspire the next-gen
Baseball is a sport where only 16 African American pitchers have competed in the majors. So Savion Sims knows all about the role he is stepping into. With just six before him drafted over the past decade, his success can inspire others. It can open the doors to many more. As a matter of fact, even MLB veterans like Grant Anderson think back on the time they grew up idolizing hitters like Prince Fielder, simply because there were hardly any African American pitchers in the spotlight then.
But this is something that Sims does want to change. He wants other kids who look like him to believe they can dominate MLB too. And this is a huge statement to give, especially at this age and maturity level. But Sims’ story till here is really one of faith, family, and resilience. His father, Danon, is a former athlete and an FBI agent. And he was the one who found this talent that Savion had, but sadly, the hard way.
One day Savion Sims mistakenly knocked out his father’s front teeth with a fastball. Since then, Danon knew this might just be the path for Sims. And the family was on this journey, all the while mourning the loss of their oldest son to brain cancer. For now, though, Sims’ future incoming to MLB is like a coming of hope. He has the tools and the mentality to change the face of pitching.
What do you think of Savion Sims? Let us know in the comments.
The post 17YO College Baseball Phenom’s “Kobe Bryant Mentality” Sparks Buzz as Ex-Red Sox Vet Heaps Incredible Praise appeared first on EssentiallySports.
