If you want coal, head to West Virginia. Lobster? Maine. Psychological turmoil? Go to the nearest pitcher’s mound.

The astute character drama “The Phenom” delves into that most complicated of cases, a pro baseball hurler (an excellent Johnny Simmons) who can’t get the ball over the plate. Sent back to the minors after one inexplicably disastrous inning, he takes up therapy with a shrink (Paul Giamatti) who tries to help him throw, and see, straight again. It turns out the pitcher’s hot-headed dad (Ethan Hawke) — who is as ambitious about his son’s future as he is dismissive of his own — holds a lot of answers to the phenom’s problems, but don’t expect any magical “Good Will Hunting” breakthroughs. At one point the dad mentions casually, “All my friends are dead,” and the lack of elaboration is telling.

Written and directed with compassion by Noah Buschel, the film is a low-key chamber piece better suited to television. But don’t let its restraint fool you: As unshowy as it is, “The Phenom” has an impressive collection of tools.