Everyone talks about the "no-look" pass. You see it on every highlight reel, that sidearm flick Patrick Mahomes uses to manipulate a defense like he’s playing a video game. But if you want to understand where that actually comes from, you have to look at the dirt of a baseball diamond, not the turf of a football stadium. Before the Super Bowls and the MVP trophies, baseball was the quarterback’s first love, and honestly, it’s the only reason he’s the player he is today.
It wasn’t just a hobby.
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Patrick Mahomes II grew up in MLB clubhouses. His father, Pat Mahomes Sr., was a journeyman pitcher who logged over a decade in the big leagues. While other kids were learning their multiplication tables, Patrick was shagging fly balls in the outfield with Mike Hampton and watching Derek Jeter take infield practice. That environment doesn't just teach you how to throw a ball; it teaches you how to be a professional before you're even old enough to drive.
The Pitcher’s Mound vs. The Pocket
The connection between the mound and the pocket is deeper than most fans realize. When you watch Mahomes drift to his left and fire a strike back across his body to Travis Kelce, that isn’t a "football" play in the traditional sense. It’s a shortstop making a play in the hole. It’s a pitcher changing arm slots to mess with a batter's timing.
He was a high school phenom at Whitehouse High in Texas. In his senior year, he threw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts. Think about that for a second. He was a top-tier MLB prospect, eventually drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He turned down the money to play both sports at Texas Tech, but the diamond stayed in his DNA.
The "quarterback’s first love" wasn't just about the nostalgia of summer games. It provided him with a mechanical advantage. Most quarterbacks are taught to be rigid. They want their feet set, their elbow high, and their delivery consistent. Baseball players don't have that luxury. If a ball is hit to your right, you grab it and throw it from whatever angle you can find.
Mahomes brought that "off-platform" chaos to the NFL.
The Science of the Sidearm
Biomechanical experts often point to the "kinetic chain" when discussing Mahomes. Because of his years as a pitcher, his internal rotation and shoulder mobility are off the charts. He doesn't need his feet to be set to generate power. He uses his torso and hips as a whip, a technique perfected on the mound.
- Arm Angle: He can release the ball from 0 to 90 degrees.
- Torque: His ability to rotate his spine while keeping his lower body stable is a direct carryover from pitching mechanics.
- Vision: Pitchers have to obsess over "tunnels"—making two different pitches look the same until the last second. Mahomes does this with his eyes, "tunneling" his gaze to one receiver while his arm is already tracking another.
Why He Almost Quit Football
It’s kind of wild to think about now, but there was a point where the NFL almost didn't happen. During his sophomore year of high school, Mahomes wasn't even the starting quarterback. He was playing safety. He was frustrated. He told his mom, Randi Mahomes, that he wanted to quit football to focus entirely on baseball.
She was the one who pushed him to stick it out. She told him he’d miss it.
He stayed, eventually won the starting job, and the rest is history. But that pull toward the diamond never really went away. Even after he committed to Texas Tech, he spent his freshman year on the Red Raiders' baseball team. He eventually realized that to be an elite quarterback, he had to give up the glove, but the breakup was messy. He still talks about baseball with a sort of reverence that he doesn't always show for football. It’s the "one that got away" that he still keeps in his back pocket.
The Cross-Sport Influence of Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson
Mahomes isn't the only one. If you look at the guys who have redefined the position over the last decade, they almost all share this specific background. Russell Wilson was a second-baseman in the Rockies system. Kyler Murray was a top-10 pick in the MLB Draft for the Oakland A's.
There is a shift happening in how we scout the position. Coaches used to want the 6'5" statue who stood tall and followed the script. Now? They want the "athlete" who can improvise. They want the guy who treats a 3rd-and-long like a double play turn.
What the "Baseball Background" Actually Teaches:
- Spatial Awareness: Knowing exactly where the runner is without looking at him.
- Grip Strength: The ability to manipulate the ball's rotation even in rain or snow.
- Resilience: In baseball, you fail 70% of the time and you're considered a Hall of Famer. That mental toughness is vital when you throw a pick-six in the first quarter of a playoff game.
Honestly, the term "dual-threat" is usually used to describe guys who can run. But for Mahomes, the real dual-threat is his ability to process a football field through the lens of a baseball diamond. When he’s scrambling, he isn’t just looking for an open man; he’s calculating angles and velocities like he’s trying to catch a runner stealing second.
The Legacy of the Multi-Sport Athlete
We’re seeing a massive push in youth sports toward "specialization." Parents are forcing kids to pick one sport at age nine. They think it’s the only way to get a scholarship.
The story of the quarterback’s first love proves the exact opposite is true.
If Mahomes had stopped playing baseball in middle school, he wouldn't have the arm angles. He wouldn't have the poise. He’d probably just be another strong-armed kid who can’t throw on the run. Specialization creates robots. Multi-sport participation creates superstars.
The Kansas City Chiefs didn't just draft a football player; they drafted a pitcher who happens to throw a pigskin. You can see it in the way he celebrates—that high-leg kick, the way he "points" after a score. It’s all baseball.
Breaking Down the Misconceptions
People think Mahomes is "reckless." They see the sidearm throws and think he's just "winging it." That’s a fundamental misunderstanding of his training. Those throws are calculated. They are practiced. He has spent more hours throwing from weird angles than most quarterbacks have spent throwing from a clean pocket.
It’s not a lack of fundamentals; it’s a different set of fundamentals.
The NFL is currently scrambling to find the "next Mahomes." They’re looking at college kids with big arms. But maybe they should be looking at the guys in the dugout. They should be looking for the kids who are bored during the football off-season and decide to go hit .400 for their high school team.
How to Apply the Mahomes Method to Your Own Training
Whether you're an aspiring athlete or just a fan trying to understand the game, there are genuine takeaways from the way Mahomes transitioned his "first love" into his professional career.
Diversify your skill set. If you only do one thing, you only have one way to solve a problem. Mahomes solves football problems with baseball solutions. If you're a developer, learn design. If you're a writer, learn data.
Embrace the "off-platform" moments. Life doesn't always give you a clean pocket. Most of your biggest wins will happen when things go wrong and you have to improvise. Learning to be comfortable in the chaos is a skill that can be trained.
Don't bury your past. Mahomes didn't try to "fix" his throwing motion to look like Tom Brady. He leaned into what made him different. He took his "baseball habits"—the things many coaches tried to train out of him—and made them his greatest strengths.
Your Next Steps
- Watch the footwork: Next time you watch a Chiefs game, don't look at the ball. Watch Mahomes' feet. Notice how they often mimic a middle infielder's "crow hop" during long completions.
- Research the 2014 MLB Draft: Look at the names Mahomes was listed alongside. It puts into perspective just how elite he was at his first love.
- Re-evaluate specialization: If you have kids in sports, encourage the "off-season" sport. The skills they learn on the court or the field will eventually bleed into their primary focus in ways you can't predict.
Baseball gave Patrick Mahomes the tools. Football gave him the stage. But even now, with three rings and a billionaire's contract, you can tell that deep down, he’s still that kid in the dugout, waiting for his turn at bat.