The PBSCCS Podcast

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion with coaches who were named Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year at various Minor League affiliates. This is Part One of the interview.Speakers:-Alexa Garcia (Houston Astros)-Phil Hartt (Detroit Tigers)-Max Miller (Seattle Mariners)Topics covered in this episode:-Finding success and being named a Strength and Conditioning Coach of the YearQuotes:-"Keep adapting your coaching and your communication style" (2:18) - Alexa Garcia-"It's fun. Every guy's a puzzle, and how can you finish the puzzle in the quickest and the safest route" (10:49) - Phil Hartt-"I want everything to be perfect the first time I do it, and it's just not going to work out that way, especially at the affiliate" (20:56) - Max MillerIf you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:Instagram:@alexaa_garciaa - Alexa Garcia@harttsandc - Phil Hartt@maxmiller_6 - Max Miller

Gabe started his career in professional baseball in 2015 and has since worked across strength & conditioning and player development in a variety of roles with the Nationals organization. His experience includes six seasons as an affiliate strength coach, time overseeing S&C in Latin America, and now serving as the MiLB Strength & Conditioning Coordinator.Before getting into pro baseball, Gabe played at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and also spent a season playing in Puerto Rico.Topics covered in this episode:-Being a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator-Advice for others and how to find success-Continuing education resourcesQuotes:-"Don't be so concrete in your ways that you can't adapt" (9:03)-"You can read books, you can learn about different methodologies and this and that, but sometimes you just have to figure it out" (13:37)-"Yes read, get as much information as you can, but at some point you have to apply that information. Don't just consume, consume" (17:51)If you would like to learn more from Gabe, you can connect with him on social media:Instagram:@gabetorres_7

Gabe started his career in professional baseball in 2015 and has since worked across strength & conditioning and player development in a variety of roles with the Nationals organization. His experience includes six seasons as an affiliate strength coach, time overseeing S&C in Latin America, and now serving as the MiLB Strength & Conditioning Coordinator.Before getting into pro baseball, Gabe played at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and also spent a season playing in Puerto Rico.Topics covered in this episode:-His playing career and journey to professional baseball-Sticking to first principles-Being a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator-Programming, Data Collection and Testing, Bucketing AthletesQuotes:-"I think I'm crazy in that I don't have something that's super crazy" (9:50)-"I truly believe that if you just stick to the first principles almost anything can work" (10:09)-"It's just up to us to be responsible, right? And it's up to us to have their best interest in mind and do what we can to just account for as much as we possibly can" (24:13)If you would like to learn more from Gabe, you can connect with him on social media:Instagram:@gabetorres_7

Shane joined the Washington Nationals in December 2016, beginning his career with the Auburn Doubledays before progressing through multiple affiliates and the FCL. He was promoted to Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator in 2023. Shane played in the Milwaukee Brewers organization and earned a master's degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida.Topics covered in this episode:-Skateboarding-Routines and preparation-Finding success and advice for others-Continuing education resourcesQuotes:-"When guys come in it seems like they try to do everything. And then as they progress throughout their careers they realize that they don't have to do as much and then their warm-ups and their routines are much more calculated" (6:47)-"Building relationships with the players is probably what's gonna make an S&C coach successful" (18:15)-"I'm big on if I'm gonna give guys certain things to train then I wanna try them on myself first so I know what they feel like" (24:30)If you would like to learn more from Shane, you can connect with him on social media:Instagram:@shaner25_32

Shane joined the Washington Nationals in December 2016, beginning his career with the Auburn Doubledays before progressing through multiple affiliates and the FCL. He was promoted to Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator in 2023. Shane played in the Milwaukee Brewers organization and earned a master's degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida.Topics covered in this episode:-His journey and being in one organization for a decade-Mastering the basics-His professional playing career-Skateboarding Quotes:-"It's been a blessing, honestly. We've been pretty consistent with our staff as far as S&C goes" (1:25)-"I think people get far away from just training general qualities too quickly" (11:52)-"Getting guys stronger through just the basic movements and progressively overloading them, it can do wonders before you go down any specific rabbit hole" (14:31)If you would like to learn more from Shane, you can connect with him on social media:Instagram:@shaner25_32

This is a celebration of the 9-Year Anniversary for The PBSCCS Podcast. The episode is a "Year in Review" episode discussing all of the interviews over the past year:-Joe Hudson - Gratitude / Working Big Leagues vs. Minor Leagues / In-Season Programming Adjustments-Grace Cullen - Working College vs. Pro Ball / Navigating the field as a younger coach-Jake Kistaitis - Entering Pro Ball during COVID / Being Texas League SCOTY-Luis Cervantes - Winning the ACL multiple times / Working in different organizations / Arizona Fall League-Campbell Quirk - Being Midwest League SCOTY / Keys to finding success-Steven Thayer - Current trends in the field / Being in the Pacific Coast League / Breaking up the monotony of a long season-Alexa Garcia - Valuable lessons in leadership / Collaboration & Autonomy in Programming-Spring Training Group Discussion - All things Spring Training with Logan Jones and Grace Cullen-Blaine Taylor - Firefighting, Martial Arts, Gymnastics, Climbing / Life outside of baseball / Ikigai-Megan Pierro - The "Spanish Immersion Program" / Her professional softball career-World Baseball Classic Group Discussion - All things WBC with Alexa Garcia and Jose Salas-Meagan Vota - Mastering the basics / Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, Long-Term Athletic Development / Coaching at the IMG Academy

Meagan Vota is a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Wichita Wind Surge, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. She is currently in her second season in this role which happens to be her first experience in professional baseball. Previously, she spent 2.5 years at IMG Academy, specializing in long-term athletic development for their 11 baseball teams from middle school through post-graduate levels. Meagan holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Louisville (2016 - 2022) and is certified through the NSCA (CSCS) and USA Weightlifting (L1). With experience ranging from youth and private sector to collegiate and professional sports, she is passionate about helping athletes maximize their performance while developing confidence, discipline, and leadership skills that extend into everyday life.Topics covered in this episode:-Coaching at IMG Academy-Finding success and advice for others-Continuing education resourcesQuotes:-"That's why I love Spring Training so much and having everyone around you for a few months, you just get that social aspect a little bit more" (8:03)-"I think at the end of the day I'm probably meant for youth athletics a little bit more than I am pro ball, but I am, again, loving where I'm at right now" (13:29)-"I think you can be great at your job and still leave it at the field" (26:25)If you would like to learn more from Meagan, you can connect with her on social media:Instagram:@meagan_vota

Meagan Vota is a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Wichita Wind Surge, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. She is currently in her second season in this role which happens to be her first experience in professional baseball. Previously, she spent 2.5 years at IMG Academy, specializing in long-term athletic development for their 11 baseball teams from middle school through post-graduate levels. Meagan holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Louisville (2016 - 2022) and is certified through the NSCA (CSCS) and USA Weightlifting (L1). With experience ranging from youth and private sector to collegiate and professional sports, she is passionate about helping athletes maximize their performance while developing confidence, discipline, and leadership skills that extend into everyday life.Topics covered in this episode:-Her journey to professional baseball-Mastering the basics with athletes-Bodybuilding, powerlifting, and long-term athletic developmentQuotes:-"I am someone that loves experiences" (5:47)-"I absolutely love long-term athletic development, I love youth sports. But I wanted to find a version of myself that I didn't know, and that was working with professional athletes" (6:37)-"I think that there is a difference between modifying to personalize for performance and modifying to just make your programming seem snazzy and appealing" (15:38)If you would like to learn more from Meagan, you can connect with her on social media:Instagram:@meagan_vota

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on the 2026 World Baseball Classic. This is Part Two of the interview.Speakers:-Alexa Garcia (Houston Astros)-Jose Salas (Milwaukee Brewers)Topics covered in this episode:-All things related to working the World Baseball ClassicQuotes:-"It's kind of like a balance of having that feel and understanding where to push and pull" (1:27) - Alexa Garcia-"The best part was winning" (6:04) - Jose Salas-"It really, really put into perspective to me that this game is more than just a game, and it's more than just something that gives me a paycheck and health insurance" (11:02) - Alexa Garcia-"Everything is a learning experience" (14:22) - Jose SalasIf you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:Instagram:@alexaa_garciaa - Alexa [email protected] - Jose Salas

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on the 2026 World Baseball Classic. This is Part One of the interview.Speakers:-Alexa Garcia (Houston Astros)-Jose Salas (Milwaukee Brewers)Topics covered in this episode:-All things related to working the World Baseball ClassicQuotes:-"I think they did a great job of supplying the players with what they needed" (26:02) - Jose Salas-"Sometimes when you go to a new organization you might have maybe, depends on the kind of person you are, maybe a week or two weeks to adapt. There, you probably had a day or two days to do all of that" (31:55) - Jose Salas-"We've all been in this game a long time, we know how variable it can be" (34:45) - Alexa Garcia-"Just knowing you can always get something done and being in that optimistic mindset the whole time helped a lot" (35:12) - Alexa GarciaIf you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:Instagram:@alexaa_garciaa - Alexa [email protected] - Jose Salas