A man wearing sunglasses, a black hoodie with a C on it, black cap with gold lettering, and gray sweatpants, standing near a baseball net during a game, engaged in conversation with another person wearing a black cap, yellow and black jacket.

Haj Throws

Zaki Haj AKA “COACH ZAKI” a senior pitcher at Dominican University in River Forest (Chicago), IL, a professional pitcher for Team Palestine, as well as a coach for multiple youth travel teams. Baseball is his life and outside of team coaching he is also a personal pitching coach for high school through the professional levels. His main goal is to see you succeed and be the best player possible. On any given day you might see me after warm-ups, working on mechanics, refining my delivery, or prepping for a big game. Some posts catch the strikeouts, the velocity gains, or the full‑ride velocity sessions. Others highlight moments on the field with youth travel teams, or one‑on‑one pitching lessons with high‑schoolers and pros alike. I share not because I have to, but because I believe in transparency — in showing that growth isn’t instant, it's earned. I show and tell: I’m not just a player, I’m a coach. I believe teaching the game deepens your own understanding of it. When I upload a drill breakdown or training tip, it’s my way of giving back — of helping someone else improve. For younger players I hope it’s motivation. For experienced ones, maybe insight. And for those who don’t yet know baseball, maybe a spark.

Zakis Past
Zakis Career
Two baseball players in black jerseys with a yellow star logo, sitting in a locker room. One makes a peace sign while the other holds a phone. Both wear white caps with the same logo.

“Pitch designing with Coach Zaki has been a GAME CHANGER in how I go about my business on the mound.”

— Jackson Tanko RHP

BASEBALL PITCHING LESSONS

A young baseball player wearing a maroon jersey, white pants, and a hat, standing on a baseball field at night, holding a baseball in one hand and a glove in the other.

COACH ZAKI’S ADVICE #1:

As a coach, the biggest thing I tell pitchers who want to get scouted is this: consistency is your greatest teammate. Scouts notice when you show up prepared, focused, and willing to grind through the details. Velocity matters, but your work ethic, your body language, and your ability to repeat your delivery matter even more. If you can command the zone, compete every pitch, and show consistent improvement, scouts will see you. They aren’t just looking for talent—they’re looking for players who know how to work, lead, and handle adversity with maturity and confidence.