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 MLB legends Randy Johnson and J.R. Richard.

Plus, Sims isn’t just dominating the batters; he is also putting in the 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.

Washington actually was the one who saw Sims’ real potential. He saw something that would make him MLB-ready.

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 inches tall! So Sims essentially had to start 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, 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—from his unique size and makeup to his mental skills—to make it to MLB.

It’s hard to argue with 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 Sims knows all about the role he is stepping into. With just six of them drafted over the past decade, his success can inspire others. It can open the doors to many more. 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 Sims wants to change. He wants other kids who look like him to believe they can dominate MLB, too. This is a huge statement to make, especially at this age and maturity level. But Sims’ story so far is really one of faith, family, and resilience. His father, Danon, is a former athlete and an FBI agent. He was the one who discovered Savion’s talent, but sadly, the hard way.

One day, Savion Sims mistakenly knocked out his father’s front teeth with a fastball. Since then, Danon has known this might be the path for his son. And the family soon embarked on this journey. Sadly, all the while mourning the loss of their oldest son to brain cancer. For now, though, Sims’ future in MLB is like a beacon 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.