S2:EP6 - All Things Hitting: Pro Ball To Player Development - w/ Zach Racusin

Jake sits down with current D1 RHP Conner Griffin from Binghamton University. Conner, a long time remote athlete of Jake's, has transformed himself as a pitcher and person over the past couple of years. From sitting 88 MPH, touching 90 MPH, as a young HS athlete... to now sitting 95 MPH, touching 100 MPH, as a college athlete... Conner has lots of insights on his journey to D1 Baseball. Topics covered in this episode include: how mechanical optimization & gaining strength, size, & power maximized performance, how to process "feel" vs "feedback" when integrating data, how pitch overlaying techniques improved his arsenal, the benefits & differences between in-person vs remote training, advice for the "next Conner Griffin", & much more...Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn all things "Road to 100 MPH" from D1 RHP Conner Griffin!(0:00) Intro(0:48) Development Path: 88-100MPH(2:06) Conner's Thoughts On Remote Training (3:57) Blending "Feel" & "Feedback"(6:15) Overlaying Technique(10:22) Managing Tech "At School"(13:18) Evolving Your Mindset (18:38) Processing Feedback Loops(23:07) Recovery Protocols To Maintain Health(25:39) Advice To The "Next Conner Griffin"(29:22) Conner's Favorite Part Of Remote Training

Jake sits down with former MLB, & current MiLB, strength & conditioning coach Joey Greany! Joey spent 9 seasons at the minor league level with the Kansas City Royals Organization & 8 season at the major league level with the Tampa Bay Rays Organization; before transitioning to his current role as an Arizona Complex League Performance Coordinator with the reigning WS Champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization. Topics covered in this episode include: evolution of technology over the years, if players seeing their data could be a negative?, examples of in-season/pre-season training feedback loops, the reactive strength index, & much more... Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn all things s&c from pro coach Joey Greany!(0:00) Intro(0:39) Joeys Background (2:04) Evolution of Tech(4:16) Negatives of Tech? (5:32) In-Season Training Feedback Loop (8:10) Most Favorable Metrics (9:50) Reactive Strength Index (12:23) Organizational Collaboration(16:42) Biggest Misconceptions (20:31) Looking Ahead 5-10 YRS(22:26) Joey's Speed Accelerator Program

Jake sits down with 8 year pro hitter & Owner of Rax Hax Pro Performance, Zach Racusin, to discuss all things hitting. Zach has been playing professional baseball in the highest independent baseball leagues for 8 years now. He's played against, & along side, tons of current & former MLB players while simultaneously running his player development company. Topics covered in this episode include: how hitting approaches have changed, striking a balance w/ data & feel, most valuable metrics, incorporating data into player development, how hitters can keep evolving, creating the right mindset, & future trends in hitting development. Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn all things hitting from pro hitter & coach Zach Racusin!(0:00) Intro(1:50) How Hitting Approaches Have Changed (5:06) Striking A Balance w/ Data & Feel (11:25) Most Valuable Metrics (17:25) How Hitters Can Keep Evolving (21:26) Creating The Right Mindset (33:23) Future Trends In Hitting Development (37:21) Zach's Advice For Hitters

Jake sits down with St. Louis Cardinals Pitching Analyst Tim Leveque to discuss the evolution of pitching development over the past couple of years. Tim has been a coach within the cardinals organization for over 19 years. Tim has had many roles throughout his years in the organization, some of which include: pitching coach, pitching coordinator, rehab coordinator, & pitching analyst. Topics covered include: shifts in development over the years, utilizing data in pitching development, possible over reliance of data, utilizing data in the draft process, injury prevention, the next frontier of pitching development, & his advice for young coaches. Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn more about the evolution of pitching development from MLB coach Tim Leveque! (0:00) Intro(0:25) Tim's Background (1:19) Pitching Coach vs Coordinator vs Analyst (3:05) Shifts In Development Over The Years (5:34) Utilizing Data In Pitching Development (9:36) Over Reliance Of Data?(11:39) Utilizing Data In The Draft Process (15:20) Injury Prevention (19:34) The Next Frontier Of Pitching Development (23:13) Advice For Young Coaches

Jake sits down with Ohio St. Buckeyes pitcher Ryan Butler to to discuss transitioning to a power 5 program in the Big Ten Conference. After playing at Liberty University, Ryan transferred to Ohio St. looking to build on his success & development he had previously. Topics covered include: the transition & competition level, development & coaching differences, different environment & expectations, & on-field adjustments. Tune in to this exciting & informative episode to learn more about transitioning & adjusting to power 5, Big Ten baseball! (0:00) Intro (0:38) Biggest Initial Differences(1:48) How Do Lineups Compare? (4:11) Personal Development Changes(9:37) Utilization of Data (15:41) Coaching Differences (18:30) Biggest Cultural Differences (27:00) Ryan's Word of Advice

Jake sits down with Texas A&M Baseball ace Ryan Prager to discuss all things Aggies. After a trip to the CWS, falling just short of winning a national championship in 2024, the Aggies are looking to repeat their success in 2025. The Aggies are currently ranked as the #1 team in college baseball & Ryan has been nominated as a Pre-Season All American & Pre-Season SEC Pitcher of the year. After a long off-season, we talk about 2024 vs. 2025 team comparisons, team goals, personal goals, & transition to a new coaching staff. Tune in to this episode of all things Aggies! (0:00) Intro (1:07) 2024 vs 2025 Team Comparison (2:30) Transition To A New Coaching Staff (4:32) Being A Leader To New Players(6:12) Key Metrics Coming Into 2025 (12:23) Be Relentless Strike Throwers (17:55) Ryan's Personal Goals(19:55) Fuel To Get Back To Omaha

Jake sits down with Cam Dietz, Assistant Director of Sports Performance at The University of Cincinnati, to talk transitioning into pre-season training. Primarily working with baseball players & golfers, Cam is getting his athletes ready to compete for their spring sports. Topics include bridging the gap between incorporating sports science & human intuition, key metrics for optimizing player performance, individualization during pre-season programing, & blending into in-season training. Tune in and check out some awesome content from a true professional in the field!(0:00) Intro (0:29) Cam's Background(1:55) Sports Science vs. Human Intuition (12:27) Individualization In Pre-Season Programing (21:46) Blending Into In-Season Training(28:47) Cam's Development Advice

Jake and Mark sit down with Chris Martin, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for SEC powerhouse LSU Baseball. Chris, previously with the Houston Astros organization, shares his experiences with training elite level athletes at both the professional and collegiate levels. Topics include the differences in how data is leveraged at different levels of baseball, fi nding the sweet spot of data utilization in strength & conditioning, and fitting the coaching lens and approach to specific athletes. Tune in and check out some awesome content from a true professional in the field!(0:00) Intro(1:18) Chris’ Baseball Journey (5:55) Leveraging Data at Different Levels (11:16) The Sweet Spot of Data in S&C(18:17) Under the Radar Metrics (21:49) Player Development 🤝 S&C(28:28)Player Readiness & Injury Prevention(39:14)Predictive Success

Jake and Mark reflect on their 2024 preseason breakout and bust picks to see where they went right and where they went wrong (spoiler alert: not a lot went wrong). They take a deep dive into the analytics to evaluate how and why certain players over- or under-performed the way they did, discussing which outcomes were bound to come true and which may have even been too good to be true. Were certain metrics particularly predictive when it came to season-over-season performance? How important is it to evaluate a player's career holistically as opposed to maximizing the emphasis on the most recent results?(0:00) Intro (1:36) Aaron Nola(4:09) Cole Ragans(6:24) Anthony Volpe (12:02) Grayson Rodriguez(15:13) Cody Bellinger(16:20) Jordan Montgomery (20:45) Blake Snell (22:45) Nolan Jones(26:12) 2025 Breakout Preview

Jake sits down with Brian Walker, the Assistant Head of Strength & Conditioning for Baseball at IMG Academy and former Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Cleveland Guardians. Brian has been coaching elite athletes for years, and he shares his insights on how he views the industry, his favorite parts of coaching, and extensive advice for both players and coaches. What role do data and technology play in day-to-day programming? Why is it important to embrace failure as you get better? And how valuable is a good mentor?(0:45) Brian's Career Journey (7:13)Using Tech & Data as Feedback(13:10)Avoiding Paralysis by Analysis(15:35)Athletic Shoulder (ASH) Testing(21:34)Psychological Components of Training(26:37)Embracing Failure & Competition(42:11)Advice to Athletes & S&C Coaches(46:42)Be Yourself & Be Great