We’re excited to welcome recently retired MLB pitcher Tom Koehler to this week’s podcast. Tom shares some great stories from his playing career, reflecting on how he developed – and how up-and-coming players and their parents and coaches can learn from his path.

A special thanks to this show’s sponsor, Athletic Greens. Head to https://www.athleticgreens.com/cressey and you’ll receive a free 10-pack of Athletic Greens travel packets with your first order.

Show Outline

• How growing up playing football and being raised in a blue collar family gave Tom an edge early in the game of baseball
• How Tom became an 18th round draft pick out of Stony Brook
• How Tom worked to make such a strong initial impression in pro ball and what adjustments he had to make to ascend through the ranks of minor league baseball
• Why the biggest initial adjustment for Tom in professional baseball was throwing on a 5-day rotation and how finding a routine transformed the direction of his career
• How entering affiliated baseball and throwing to wood bats impacted Tom’s outcomes
• Why Tom reworked his off speed as he developed through pro ball and how he transformed two blending breaking balls into a hard slider and sharp curveball
• How Tom eventually learned to throw a true slider
• What grip and mental cues Tom used to continue to remain consistently nasty with these two different breaking pitches
• How each of Tom’s pitches fit into his game plan on the mound and what specific counts and scenarios he looks to use each pitch
• What level Tom found to be the toughest promotion in the minors and how the game changes as players progress to show ball
• How Tom consistently made his starts every 5 days for nearly 8 years (2008-2017) and how finding a routine and having a bulldog mentality gave him 30+ starts in 3 of those 8 years (2014-2016)
• Why Tom’s greatest attribute was his consistency and durability
• Why the IL was more detrimental to Tom than other professional players and how Tom fought to never miss a start even on days he wasn’t 100%
• How a shoulder capsule issue developed into a career ending injury and how Tom believes currently technology could have impact the derailing of his career
• What TK’s Pitching Policy is and how your sweet spot on the mound is the balance between what your nastiest stuff is and what you can execute consistently
• What value Tom finds in the new analytical side of baseball and how these numbers should be used to support your strengths as opposed to causing confusion in your ability
• What Tom loves and hates about the direction the game of baseball is heading
• How coaches can also learn to be more adaptable in their tactics and interventions and learn to recognize each player’s unique needs

You can follow Tom on Twitter at @TKRefresh22 and Instagram at @TKRefresh22.

Sponsor Reminder

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