Sun Valley Poly High's Fabian Bravo Shows Flashes Of Koufax Dominance

Watching inferior right-hander Fabian Bravo of Sun Valley Poly High transportation for nan first time, location was thing strangely acquainted astir his windup.

When he turned his backmost to uncover he was wearing No. 32, everything made sense.

He had to beryllium a instrumentality of Sandy Koufax, nan 1960s Hall of Fame left-hander for nan Dodgers.

Two friends sitting adjacent to maine refused to judge it.

“No way,” 1 said.

“Kids coming person ne'er heard of Sandy Koufax,” different piped in.

Only aft Bravo threw a three-hit shutout to hit North Hollywood 3-0 was my belief vindicated.

“I travel into nan backmost pinch my arms and it’s a small spot for illustration a Sandy Koufax benignant of thing,” he said. “I deterioration 32 too. He was nan starting pitcher for nan Dodgers and was bully successful nan World Series.”

Koufax was perfect-game bully connected Sept. 9, 1965, against nan Chicago Cubs astatine Dodger Stadium, striking retired 14.

Bravo started learning astir No. 32 erstwhile his parents would bring him to Dodger Stadium arsenic a young boy.

“I ever saw No. 32 retired connected nan wall,” he said. “Once I sewage to cognize him, I was capable to spot who he really was. I felt I could really transcript him and get myself deeper into history.”

Bravo is nary Koufax successful position of being a powerfulness pitcher. He’s 5 feet 10 and 140 pounds. Since past season, erstwhile he changed his windup to concisely emulate Koufax’s arms going supra his head, he has a 12-3 record. This play he’s 3-1 pinch a 1.50 ERA.

“I saw his windup and he looked for illustration he was calm and composed and I tried it. I felt much of a rhythm. I was capable to calm down and transportation better,” he said.

After Bravo’s arms spell up complete his caput successful his windup, he besides does a little hesitation breathing successful and retired earlier throwing nan shot toward location plate.

“My dada ever taught maine to respire in, respire retired earlier I do anything,” he said.

Nowadays, teenagers seemingly don’t salary overmuch attraction to greats of nan past, from aged ballplayers to Hall of Fame coaches. Ask personification if they cognize John Wooden, kids coming astir apt don’t. He did triumph 10 NCAA hoops titles coaching for UCLA. And who was Don Drysdale? Only a Dodger Hall of Fame pitcher alongside Koufax from Van Nuys High.

Bravo is fortunate he’s seen Dodger broadcasts mentioning Koufax astatine nan stadium and connected TV, motivating him to study more, which led to seeing his windup connected YouTube.

His older relative besides wore No. 32, truthful nary 1 was getting that azygous number different than a Bravo relative astatine Poly.

There is different Bravo group to get successful nan fall. Julian Bravo will beryllium a freshman left-handed pitcher and wants No. 32.

“While I’m location he’s going to person to find a caller number,” Fabian Bravo said.

Julian mightiness besides want to thief his large relative summation a fewer pounds astatine nan meal table.

“My relative takes nutrient from me,” he said.

As for recognizing Bravo’s Koufax connection, it was No. 32 that provided nan clue. How galore pitchers successful nan 1970s were choosing No. 32? A lot. And it’s awesome to spot a 17-year-old successful 2026 paying tribute to 1 of nan top pitchers ever.

Emulating Koufax is hard, but forgetting him is unforgivable.