Elite Baseball Development Podcast

Head Baseball Coach at Auburn University Butch Thompson discusses what the nonnegotiable skills are that make up a great pitcher and how he works as a coach to develop the best collegiate talent, how do roles and responsibilities evolve as coaches progress through the ranks of collegiate baseball, what is fear and what are five principle for overcoming fear, and how athletes and parents alike can better relate to coaches and navigate the recruiting process more effectively.

Renowned physical therapist and co-owner of Conte Sport Performance Therapy Stan Conte highlights the rehabilitation process from Tommy John surgery and how players can best manage their return to throwing program, how long it takes a UCL graft to transform from tendon to ligament, and his role in the integration of MLB’s first injury surveillance system (HITS).

Mark Lowy, strength coach and pitching coach at CSP-FL, talks about how the CSP-FL staff went about creating personalized pitching reports for their pitchers this offseason, how he balances using analytics and preserving the human element of coaching, how understanding individuals' specific movement profiles and diverse pitching arsenals sets the stage for providing effective feedback and intervention as a coach, and why synergy amongst staff is vital for creating the best experience for your athletes.

Private Hitting Coach Doug Latta discusses why he has been a pioneer for hitting the ball in the air and what misconceptions have evolved from this belief, why having balance in a swing is crucial for the success of hitters, and where the future of hitting is headed as we progress into the new decade.

Eric Cressey sits down with Dakota Herman to discuss how bullpen arms should be lifting in season to optimize their performance both at the professional and collegiate level, how hitters can mitigate the stressors placed on the lead shoulder of their swing, what recent history and research says about bicep tenodesis and recovery and what baseball players should be aware of when considering this procedure, and what high school coaches can do to best prepare their pitchers for week one of spring season.

Starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians Aaron Civale discusses how he has developed and differentiated a 6 pitch arsenal, how the spike in strikeouts across major league baseball doesn't have to come at the cost of missing the strike zone, and what process-oriented mindset he has adopted to find continued success throughout his baseball career.

Relief Pitcher for the Colorado Rockies Tim Collins discusses how dialing in his strength training and managing the details of his lifestyle allowed him to maximize his undersized 5'7" frame and develop into a mid-90s arm out of high school, how developing a changeup in AA gave him the edge he needed to become an MLB mainstay, and how fixing a nagging hernia injury after the Royals 2014 World Series run evolved into back to back Tommy John surgeries that sat him out of the '15 and '16 season.

Eric answers your submitted Instagram questions including: why pitch counts are important despite their contradiction to the accepted belief of the SAID Principle, what coaches should consider when incorporating vertical pulling with athletes who have a history of lat injury, what're the best exercises for strengthening the deceleration muscles of the throwing motion, and what professionals should assess in an athlete when personalizing an arm care program.

Pitcher for the Seattle Mariners Justin Dunn talks about how he transformed from a runt touching 70 mph as a freshman into the low-90s arm that became drafted out of high school, how the methodology of Alan Jaeger and the implementation of long toss into his routine allowed him to capitalize on his athleticism mechanically and learn how to manage his workload throughout his career, and how simplification of his process and mastery of his secondary pitches have allowed him to develop into a big leaguer.

Mobility expert Dana Santas discusses why she chose to leave her job in corporate real estate to pursue her passion for yoga, how she marketed herself as a young instructor to be able to bring mobility techniques to professional sports organizations, and what individuals should be cognizant of when looking to work with a mobility expert and make strides in their own movement quality.