CSP Elite Baseball Development Podcast: The Evolution of the MLB Strength Coach with Brandon McDaniel
We’re excited to welcome Brandon McDaniel, the Los Angeles Dodgers Director of Athletic Development and Performance Science, to this week’s podcast. In this episode, we discuss the how the role of the MLB strength and conditioning coach has changed over the past decade, and Brandon offers suggestions to both up-and-coming players and strength and conditioning professionals.
A special thanks to this show’s sponsor, Marc Pro. Head to www.MarcPro.com and enter the coupon code CRESSEY at checkout to receive 10% off on your order.
Show Outline
- What Brandon’s journey was to become an MLB strength coach, and how he
has ascended to his current role with the Dodgers - How Brandon’s versatility in strength training and baseball related skills impacted the progression of his career and why coaches should strive to wear multiple hats as a professional
- Why young coaches should work to be generalists and bring value to the organizations they work for by being open to opportunities and striving to understand multiple facets of their work experience
- What Brandon’s biggest areas for growth were as he progressed to be a big league strength coach
- What the biggest adjustment was that Brandon had to make as he transitioned from working in the private sector into professional baseball
- How has the role of strength and conditioning and the world of professional baseball changed in recent years
- What areas should strength coaches strive to understand outside their field of expertise
- Why coaches need to delineate between sports tech and sports science and how coaches can use information collected by technology to intervene effectively with athletes
- How Brandon integrates the implementation of technology and data alongside quality communication and a solid athlete-coach relationship to monitor workload and formulate a recipe for success with each of his athletes
- Why coaches should avoid being extremist when incorporating sports tech with their players and allow players to explore and find their sweet spot for workload and stress management
- How strength coaches can handle the challenges they face as athletes return from their off-season
- What the Dodgers are doing to make the organization a perennial playoff contender
- How the Dodgers have created consistency and continuity throughout their organization
- How Brandon and the rest of the Dodgers staff manage the demands of travel for the team throughout the year
- What wisdom Brandon always try to impart on his professional ballplayers, specifically in nutrition and strength and conditioning
- What the most impactful lesson Brandon has learned from his athletes is
For more information about the Los Angeles Dodgers Strength and Conditioning Symposium, click here.
Sponsor Reminder
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