There’s No Such Thing as an Ambush Hitter

Let’s get something straight: The idea of an "ambush hitter" is a myth. In fact, it’s a crutch. A convenient excuse we use when things start to spiral out of control. But here’s the cold, hard truth—there’s no such thing as an ambush hitter. What you’re really dealing with is an opportunity you missed, a pitch you weren't prepared to throw, or a count you didn’t control.

Let’s talk counts—because if you don’t understand counts, you’re essentially blindfolding yourself on the mound. It’s not about setting up sequences or trying to out-think the hitter every time. It’s about understanding your position in the battle. If you’re ahead in the count, then guess what? You’re in control. You’re the one calling the shots. The hitter? He’s the one on the defensive. But when you’re behind in the count, that’s when things get hairy. You’re on enemy turf now, and the batter’s the one dictating the rules of engagement.

So, let’s squash this myth of getting “ambushed” right now. I keep hearing about batters jumping all over that first-pitch fastball, catching pitchers off guard with an “ambush” swing. Here’s the deal: No one is ambushing you. If you throw a pitch that catches the batter off guard, then you weren’t prepared to throw that pitch in the first place. Let’s play this out:

You step on the mound. The first two batters swing at the first pitch and foul it off. You’re thinking, “Alright, I’m settling in.” One guy gets on base with one out, and then—boom—the next batter crushes a double into the left-center gap on a first-pitch fastball you thought was a quality pitch. Was that an ambush? No. You just didn’t make a pitch you could defend, and you let the game slip away from you.

How many times have you watched a batter send an opposite-field double flying on the first pitch and you mutter, “I got ambushed”? Yeah, I know you’ve said it. I’ve said it too. But here’s the thing: You didn’t get ambushed—you just threw a pitch that was ready to get hit. And more often than not, the story starts the same way: you didn’t trust the count, you didn’t commit to your location, and next thing you know, things unravel in a hurry. And you’re left telling yourself that the batter “cheated” on you, but let’s be real: that’s just your easy way out. You didn’t get ambushed, you just didn’t execute.

Now let’s talk about this “ambush” theory. An “ambush hitter” isn’t a guy who is waiting for a first-pitch fastball to do damage. That’s just a batter who doesn’t trust himself to see anything else later in the count. He steps in with a pull-heavy mindset, trying to blast one early because he’s not willing to wait for the right pitch. He’s the one looking to pull something—you don’t need to worry about him if you’re executing. He’s going to get himself out.

Now, here’s the kicker: What’s the most common pitch we’re looking to throw on 0-0? A fastball. And not just any fastball—a fastball with conviction. Where do we want it? Outer half, baby. If a batter wants to “ambush” a quality, convicted fastball on the outer half, go ahead—take those bets all day long. That’s going to end up in a rollover grounder or a lazy flare to the opposite side. And don’t tell me you’re worried about the guy pulling a fastball on the outer half—it’s just not happening.

Sure, there are exceptions—maybe a game situation where you’ve got a reliever coming in with a slap hitter at the plate and runners in scoring position, but those are the exceptions, not the rule. Those situations stick out like sore thumbs, and when they happen, you adjust. But in general? You don’t have to overthink it. Stick with the fastball on the outer half and watch that batter’s confidence shrink.

The real danger comes when we fail to execute our off-speed pitches. When those pitches don’t land for strikes, we give the batter too much to look at, and suddenly, all our pitches get eliminated. That’s when big innings happen—when we let the hitter get comfortable and the game slips away from us. And when that happens, you don’t need to blame it on the hitter’s ambush mentality. You just need to own the fact that you didn’t control the count and you didn’t execute your pitches.

So let’s stop with the excuses. There’s no ambush out there. It’s just you, your pitch, and the count. If you’re ahead, you control the rules. If you’re behind, the hitter does. You make the pitch, and you own the outcome. That’s how you win the battle on the mound.