We're excited to welcome an astonishingly accomplished and influential researcher and clinician, Dr. Stuart McGill, to the podcast for Episode #16 for an in-depth discussion on sparing the spine in rotational sport athletes. A special thanks goes out to this show's sponsor, Acumobility. Their products have been absolute game changers for our mobility approaches at Cressey Sports Performance, and they've got a great 10% off offer going for our podcast listeners who enter the coupon code CSP10 at https://csp.acumobility.com/podcast.

Show Outline

• How Dr. McGill has become a prominent figure in the world of spine health
• What the key considerations are for understanding the spine demands in rotational athletes
• How the anatomical structure of the spine drives an individual’s movement capabilities
• What qualities should be prioritized in elastic rotational athletes – and how much strength is enough?
• Why power is plane specific and how this impacts rotational athletes expression of power in the three planes of motion
• What spondylolsis is, how this injury occurs, and whether a back brace should be utilized
• How fascial slings impact athletic performance and spine health
• How effective is manual therapy in changing tissue quality and aiding in transforming movement capabilities
• How clinicians can more effectively interpret scientific research and why they find value in variance rather than averages
• How to differentiate between a “scar” and a “wound” on diagnostic imaging
• How Dr. McGill preserves the human element in patient management
• What has changed over the last 10 years in his understanding of the spine
• Where future spine research is needed

You can follow Dr. McGill on Instagram at @BackFitPro - or visit his website at www.BackFitPro.com.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Acumobility. While their product line is super expansive, the implement I use the most on a daily basis is the Acumobility ball, a patented flat based mobility ball that keeps the ball in contact with a trigger point so you can do active mobility. You can can use it against a wall, rack, or any floor surface and it won't roll away. As a result, it allows you to do incorporate some innovative and advanced active mobility exercises, including on hard to reach areas like the neck and shoulders. Perhaps most importantly, the folks at Acumobility do an awesome job with educational initiatives to accompany their products; this way, you can assess AND correct movement problems to improve performance. Head to https://csp.acumobility.com/podcast and enter coupon code CSP10 to save 10% on your order.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

We're excited to welcome a well-respected and accomplished hitting coach, Bobby Tewksbary, to the podcast for Episode #15 for an in-depth discussion on the evolution of hitting. A special thanks goes out to this show's sponsor, VersaPulley. It's an awesome option for challenging deceleration in multiple planes of motion, and has been an excellent addition to our training at Cressey Sports Performance. They've got a great 10% off offer going for our podcast listeners through June 30 at http://www.VersaPulley.com/Cressey10.

Show Outline

• How Bobby’s experience as a hitter inspired him to become a knowledgeable coach
• What the old school mindset surrounding hitting was and why ballplayers used to be reluctant to discuss their swing
• What concepts of hitting are constant and true regardless of the individual
• How new trends towards the utilization of technology and data are impacting the next generation of batters
• How the collection of data offers measurable and diagnostic feedback to help manage the swing, identify what athletes need, and conceptualize information to allow hitters to make meaningful changes
• How the game of baseball is more openminded than ever and how the private sector is taking advantage of this revolution in baseball
• What qualities players should look for in their hitting coaches and what common mistakes young hitting coaches should avoid
• Why hitters need to be exposed to failure at a young age to avoid developing an ego-centric, highlight-focused mindset
• How executing a swing and learning how to hit are very different things – and why this distinction is vital for hitters
• Why having confidence in the batter’s box is superior to any mechanical factor in a hitter’s swing
• How Bobby expects hitting to change in the years ahead
• How Bobby is working to improve his ability to impact hitters with a new project

You can follow Bobby on Instagram at @TewksHitting and Twitter at @TewksHitting - or visit his website at www.TewksHitting.com.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by VersaPulley. The VersaPulley offers flywheel training and one benefit of training with a flywheel is inertia. The faster the flywheel is moving, the more the user must decelerate the inertia that is created - and we know training deceleration is a huge piece of preventing athletic injuries and enhancing performance. While there are a few flywheel training options on the market, the VersaPulley is the only one that that allows you to train at any point along the force/velocity curve, and in multiple planes of movement. If you want to train at any speed, any load, and any direction, the VersaPulley has got you covered. They've set up a great discount of 10% for our listeners; you can learn more at http://www.VersaPulley.com/Cressey10.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

We're excited to welcome sports scientist Dr. Brandon Marcello to the podcast for Episode #14 for an in-depth discussion on sleep. A special thanks goes out to this show's sponsor, VersaPulley. It's an awesome option for challenging deceleration in multiple planes of motion, and has been an excellent addition to our training at Cressey Sports Performance. They've got a great 10% off offer going for our podcast listeners at http://www.VersaPulley.com/Cressey10.

Show Outline

• What the four major components of recovery are, and how sleep influences these domains
• Why sleep is vital for human performance and what the negative implications are for ignoring its importance
• How individuals are actually born as early birds or night owls, and what strategies people should utilize to maximize their sleep regardless of their tendencies
• Why routine is king when establishing quality sleep habits
• What is sleep debt and why it is significant for people to avoid the accumulation of sleep debt over time
• How impactful are naps for overcoming the accumulation of sleep debt, and how to best incorporate them
• Why not all sleep supplements are everything they claim to be
• What easy adjustments athletes can implement to improve their sleep beyond the well-known strategies already commonly practiced
• How athletes can combat the negative implications of their current sleep situation
• Why coaches should encourage their athletes to value their sleep, and what strategies they can use to aid in their players accumulation of quality sleep

You can follow Brandon on Instagram at @bmarcello13 and Twitter at @bmarcello13.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by VersaPulley. The VersaPulley offers flywheel training and one benefit of training with a flywheel is inertia. The faster the flywheel is moving, the more the user must decelerate the inertia that is created - and we know training deceleration is a huge piece of preventing athletic injuries and enhancing performance. While there are a few flywheel training options on the market, the VersaPulley is the only one that that allows you to train at any point along the force/velocity curve, and in multiple planes of movement. If you want to train at any speed, any load, and any direction, the VersaPulley has got you covered. They've set up a great discount of 10% for our listeners; you can learn more at http://www.VersaPulley.com/Cressey10.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

We're excited to welcome St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas to the podcast for Episode #13. A special thanks goes out to this show's sponsor, Versaclimber. It's my absolute favorite conditioning option, and they've got a great 10% off offer going for our podcast listeners at http://www.Versaclimber.com/Cressey.

Show Outline

• Why Miles decided to stay close to home and attend Division 2 powerhouse Nova Southeastern in FL
• How adding weight, gaining strength in the right places, and improving body awareness while in college allowed Miles to make a velocity jump and become an MLB draft pick
• How Miles quickly ascended through the minor leagues, but realized the consistency needed to be a mainstay in MLB
• How he worked to become a more consistent pitcher in all facets of his game as a result
• How Miles transitioned from a reliever to a starter
• Why Miles added a slider to his pitch arsenal as a starter and how this shorter, harder breaking ball complements his big, loopy curveball to challenge hitters in a different dimension
• Why Miles chose to bet on himself and leave MLB after the 2014 season to play in the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan
• How being exposed to the Japanese style of baseball taught Miles many invaluable lessons
• How Miles refined his arm action in 2015 to 2016 to take unnecessary stress off his arm
• Why Miles values first pitch strikes and works to play the percentages to efficiently get hitters out
• How Miles models his throwing and lifting program in season on a 5-day rotation
• What it is like for Miles to pitch to one of the greatest catchers of all-time, Yadier Molina, and what young catchers can take away from this legend’s unbelievable knowledge and skill set

You can follow Miles on Instagram at @magic_mikolas39 and Twitter at @lastoneformiles.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Versaclimber. In addition to being a phenomenal option for training all across the energy systems continuum, the Versaclimber exposes individuals to important fundamental movement patterns: scapular upward rotation, hip extension, and a synced-up crawling pattern. It's also non-impact, and can therefore be used with a wider variety of clients than other conditioning modalities. They've set up a great discount of 10% for our listeners; you can learn more at http://www.Versaclimber.com/Cressey.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

We're excited to welcome Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder AJ Pollock to the podcast for Episode #12. A special thanks goes out to this show's sponsor, Versaclimber. It's my absolute favorite conditioning option, and they've got a great 10% off offer going for our podcast listeners at http://www.Versaclimber.com/Cressey.

Show Outline

• How AJ’s experience as a multi-sport athlete growing up in Connecticut allowed him to enjoy being a kid and develop into a well-rounded athlete
• How AJ went from an unnoticed player his junior year of high school to a star on the Connecticut baseball scene by the end his senior season
• What the college recruiting process was like for AJ as a standout hitter from the Northeast
• How AJ remained a successful hitter as he seamlessly transitioned from high school baseball to Division 1 competition at Notre Dame
• How the game of baseball has changed since AJ was drafted a decade ago
• How AJ has been able to utilize the influx of data in baseball to shorten the learning curve in his game and make meaningful adjustments to his hitting approach
• How AJ balances trusting his instincts and sticking to what works for him with the data revolution in baseball
• Why self-awareness, attention to detail, and continuous refinement have allowed AJ to remain consistent over the course of his career regardless of the level of competition
• What AJ’s typical batting practice routine is to prepare for a game
• How AJ has become one of most consistent defensive outfielders in the MLB
• How AJ has learned to manage his emotions daily and how he trains mentally to remain positive through the ups and downs of the game of baseball

You can follow AJ on Instagram at @AJPollock_.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Versaclimber. In addition to being a phenomenal option for training all across the energy systems continuum, the Versaclimber exposes individuals to important fundamental movement patterns: scapular upward rotation, hip extension, and a synced-up crawling pattern. It's also non-impact, and can therefore be used with a wider variety of clients than other conditioning modalities. They've set up a great discount of 10% for our listeners; you can learn more at http://www.Versaclimber.com/Cressey.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

We're excited to welcome Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Richard Bleier to the podcast for Episode #11. A special thanks goes out to this show's sponsor, Pedestal Footwear. Head to http://www.PedestalFootwear.com and enter the coupon code EC20 and you'll receive a 20% off on your order.

Show Outline

• How Richard’s complacency in high school limited his growth as a ballplayer and how his experience at Florida Gulf Coast provided the discipline he needed to arrive at purposeful development
• How Richard remained patient and persevered through an extensive minor league career
• What transformed Richard from a career minor leaguer to one of best statistical pitchers to ever toe a big league rubber
• Why Richard moved away from relying so heavily on his fastball and how mixing his pitches to include more changeups allowed him to become a more consistent and effective pitcher
• How commanding the inner half of the plate revolutionized the way Richard attacks hitters and how this led to the development of his cutter
• How Richard extracts value from analytical information on hitters while still playing to his strengths to create a plan that inspires confidence against the best hitters in baseball
• Why Richard considers himself the most unlikely big leaguer of all time
• What characteristics in coaches have helped and hindered Richard’s development throughout his career
• How Richard’s parents have proven to be his most supportive (and embarrassing) fans as he reflects on the best moments of his minor league career
• How Richard strained his lat in 2018 and how he worked diligently and intelligently to rehab from this injury successfully

You can follow Richard on Instagram at @RichardBleier.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Pedestal Footwear. As featured in Men's Health, Women's Health, Hufffington Post, and MSNBC - and trusted by the top strength coaches in the world - Pedestal Footwear is on a mission to get athletes out of traditional sneakers and into Pedestals to help mitigate injury and improve performance. They're durable enough to handle all of your training needs; I LOVE them for deadlifting because they keep me in contact with the ground and have a patented grip design for added traction. They're made in the USA and can fit in your pocket. Pedestal also offers cool customization and wholesale options. If you head to www.PedestalFootwear.com and enter the coupon code EC20 at checkout, you'll get 20% off on your order.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

We're excited to welcome University of Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs as our guest for this tenth episode. A special thanks to this show's sponsor, Pedestal Footwear. Head to http://www.PedestalFootwear.com and enter the coupon code EC20 and you'll receive a 20% off on your order.

Show Outline

• How high school athletes can take ownership of their recruiting process and demonstrate their desire to invest in a college program authentically and effectively
• Why college coaches appreciate accurate, succinct information
• How pitchers and hitters alike can provide information that matters to these coaches
• How players should capitalize on the large quantity of televised collegiate baseball games to study, learn, and identify what they need to do to get to the next level
• Where parents and players should be investing to improve their chances of success
• Who college coaches seek information from when inquiring about a potential recruit
• Why parents should refrain from overselling their child’s abilities and how they can more effectively communicate with college coaches
• What parents and players should be aware of in order to identify and avoid ill-motivated, sketchy college recruiting practices
• Why players need to look beyond the name of a university and identify what their big rocks are for success in college and life thereafter
• What Matt’s most impactful lessons are in his experience as a player and coach

You can follow Matt on Twitter at @Hobbs_38.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Pedestal Footwear. As featured in Men's Health, Women's Health, Hufffington Post, and MSNBC - and trusted by the top strength coaches in the world - Pedestal Footwear is on a mission to get athletes out of traditional sneakers and into Pedestals to help mitigate injury and improve performance. They're durable enough to handle all of your training needs; I LOVE them for deadlifting because they keep me in contact with the ground and have a patented grip design for added traction. They're made in the USA and can fit in your pocket. Pedestal also offers cool customization and wholesale options. If you head to www.PedestalFootwear.com and enter the coupon code EC20 at checkout, you'll get 20% off on your order.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

We're excited to welcome Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Scott Oberg to the podcast. A special thanks to this show's sponsor, Athletic Greens. Head to http://www.athleticgreens.com/cressey and you'll receive a free 20-pack of Athletic Greens travel packets with your first order.

Show Outline

• What Scott’s college recruiting process was like as a late-blooming pitcher from the Northeast and why he chose to attend the University of Connecticut
• How Scott persevered to overcome multiple injuries/conditions over his college baseball career
• How Scott advanced quickly through the ranks of pro ball
• How Scott’s journey through adversity has molded his mindset and what his advice is to young players looking to remain resilient through obstacles in their baseball career
• Why Scott favored a two-seam fastball in college and how reintroducing a four-seam fastball back into his repertoire improved his game in pro ball
• How becoming more self-aware and instilling confidence improved Scott’s command and transformed him from a fringe big leaguer to a mainstay in a big league bullpen
• How controlling the count and competing from 0-0 makes pitching easier and allows pitchers to play the games within the game of baseball
• How Scott developed a relationship with Texas Rangers minor league pitcher Tyler Phillips and what lessons Scott passes on to the aspiring big leaguer in their offseason training.

You can follow Scott on Instagram at @scottoberg45.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. It’s an all-in-one superfood supplement with 75 whole-food sourced ingredients designed to support your body’s nutrition needs across 5 critical areas of health: 1) energy, 2) immunity, 3) gut health, 4) hormonal support, and 5) healthy aging. Head to www.AthleticGreens.com/cressey and claim my special offer today - 20 FREE travel packs (valued at $79) - with your first purchase. I use this product daily myself and highly recommend it to our athletes as well. I'd encourage you to give it a shot, too - especially with this great offer.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

 We're excited to welcome Anaheim Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs to the podcast. A special thanks to this show's sponsor, Jaeger Sports. Head to www.JaegerSports.com and enter the coupon code CSP to get 20% off on your order through May 31.   

Show Outline

• How Tyler’s experience as a multi-sport high school athlete facilitated his development as an athlete
• Why Tyler progressed through minor league baseball and up to the big leagues quickly after being drafted out of high school in 2009
• How Tyler has refined his curveball in pro baseball
• How Tommy John surgery impacted Tyler’s career in 2014 and what his advice is for young pitchers who are going through major setbacks in their career
• How Tyler is working to develop a slider and learning to differentiate this pitch from his curveball
• How Tyler structures his throwing and training in season as a starting pitcher in a 5-day rotation
• What Tyler’s routine is on the day of his start
• How the game of baseball has evolved since Tyler was drafted a decade ago
• How the use of technology in baseball has allowed Tyler to better understand his pitches and develop a plan to more precisely refine his craft
• What characteristics in coaches have benefited Tyler’s development throughout his baseball career
• How the role of the pitching coach is evolving to include a more holistic approach to player management
• What the most common mistakes Tyler sees pitchers making when throwing curveballs

You can follow Tyler on Twitter at @TylerSkaggs37 and Instagram at @tskaggs45.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Jaeger Sports, who specializes in arm health, arm conditioning, and mental training. Best known for their long toss protocols and popular J-Bands, Jaeger Sports has been helping baseball and softball athletes reach their potential on the field since 1991. Alan Jaeger has been a trusted resource to me for close to a decade, and many of our athletes use J-Bands every single day. Through May 31, you can get 20% off on your order at www.JaegerSports.com using the coupon code CSP.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!

We're going to deviate from the normal single-guest model for this episode, and instead rock a collaborative effort between me and Cressey Sports Performance - MA pitching coordinator, Christian Wonders. We're going to discuss the debate on when kids should start throwing curveballs and sliders.

A special thanks to this show's sponsor, Athletic Greens. Head to http://www.athleticgreens.com/cressey and you'll receive a free 20-pack of Athletic Greens travel packets with your first order.

Show Outline

• What research says about youth pitchers throwing breaking balls
• When the right time is to begin integrating a breaking ball into a young pitcher’s development
• How Christian introduces a young pitcher to spinning a curveball for the first time
• What steps Christian takes to progress a young pitchers from simply learning to spin a baseball to consistently throwing breakers in a game
• Why youth pitchers should prioritize commanding fastball and changeup before jumping to learn a big breaking ball
• How the delicacy involved in throwing curveballs takes young pitchers away from working late arm speed and powering through the baseball
• What common mechanical compensations arise as young pitchers try to throw a quality curveball
• How Christian plans to develop a curveball with his 10 year old brother
• Why it is so crucial for pitchers to find a consistent and comfortable curveball grip that works for them
• Why Christian never has any of his pitchers, youth, high school, or college, throw more than two off speed pitches in a row in bullpens
• Why it’s important to replicate fastball arm speed on breaking pitches

You can follow Christian on Twitter at @csp_pitching, and on Instagram at @csp_pitching. Also, for more information about our upcoming CSP Elite Baseball Mentorship, be sure to check out www.EliteBaseballMentorships.com.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. It’s an all-in-one superfood supplement with 75 whole-food sourced ingredients designed to support your body’s nutrition needs across 5 critical areas of health: 1) energy, 2) immunity, 3) gut health, 4) hormonal support, and 5) healthy aging. Head to www.AthleticGreens.com/cressey and claim my special offer today - 20 FREE travel packs (valued at $79) - with your first purchase. I use this product daily myself and highly recommend it to our athletes as well. I'd encourage you to give it a shot, too - especially with this great offer.

Podcast Feedback

If you like what you hear, we'd be thrilled if you'd consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.

And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sign-up Today for our FREE Baseball Newsletter and Receive Instant Access to a 47-minute Presentation from Eric Cressey on Individualizing the Management of Overhead Athletes!