We're excited to welcome retired MLB pitcher and current Hall-of-Fame candidate Billy Wagner to this week's podcast. We cover a range of topics, including how Billy was overlooked during recruiting/scouting; how he developed elite arm speed; and what training techniques were key for his durability. With him now involved in the coaching realm, Billy comments on the status quo and direction of the game, and reflects on the adjustments he's made to transition from player to coach/mentor.

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.

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 physical therapist Mike Reinold to this week's podcast. Mike has extensive experience working with baseball players. In this episode, we take on two controversial topics in the world of managing throwers: the sleeper stretch and weighted baseballs. Mike and I collaborate to discuss whether they belong in your training and rehabilitation programs, and if so, how?

In lieu of a sponsor for this podcast, we're instead going to highlight our Functional Stability Training sale that's ongoing. Through this Sunday at midnight, you can get 25% off on this popular series with coupon code MLB2020EC at www.FunctionalStability.com.

Show Outline

• Why baseball players lose internal rotation in their throwing shoulder
• Why professionals should care more about total range of motion at the shoulder as opposed to just ER vs. IR
• How Mike teaches professionals to assess shoulder range of motion and what common mistakes are being made when testing for this information
• How clinical research has progressed our understanding of the loss of IR in throwing shoulders and how previous notions (such as a thickening of the posterior capsule) could not be further from the truth
• Why giving baseball players more internal rotation may not be the answer for building healthy arms and why this strategy may cause more harm than good in throwing populations
• What Mike’s thoughts on the sleeper stretch are and how his perspective on the drill have evolved since the beginning of his career
• What is happening mechanically at the shoulder joint during the sleeper stretch
• What the true occurrence of internal rotation deficit cases in Mike’s practice is and how he goes about resolving the issue
• Why there is so much hype about weighted balls and how can we implement them safely in athletes’ throwing programs
• What Mike’s research demonstrated with respect to weighted balls and what insights can we gain from Mike’s breakdown of the study and its execution
• What specific physical adaptations throwing weighted balls creates and how the weight of the balls thrown impacts these outcomes
• What immediate physical changes throwing weighted balls creates and how these changes may increase the risk for injury
• Why athletes need to be well-trained and prepared to withstand the stress of throwing weighted balls before looking to push the limits of their physiology
• How injuries in baseball have evolved from repetitive to traumatic and why the next generation of baseball is in danger
• Why the answer for the abuse of arms across baseball calls for the education of coaches and how we can continue to find the right balance in throwing volume, frequency, and intensity for our athletes

You can follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeReinold and on Instagram at @MikeReinold, and learn more about Functional Stability Training at www.FunctionalStability.com. Again, the coupon code for 25% off is MLB2020EC.

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!

For this week's podcast, in lieu of a guest, I'm going to do a Q&A on a collection of baseball training questions that were submitted by listeners.

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.

Questions Covered

• What are the best kinds of recovery drills for after pitching?
• With the lost 2020 season, how should NCAA pitchers adjust their throwing and training preparation for 2021?
• Do you have any advice for a strength and conditioning coach who is looking to work specifically with baseball players?
• Should the strength and conditioning program for high school baseball focus on sport-specific exercises or compound exercises?

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 Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Josh Lindblom to this week's podcast. Josh speaks about his path to the big leagues, his time pitching in Korea, and how his expansive pitch mix came about.

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

• How Josh developed as a youth athlete from Indiana into a third round draft pick out of high school
• What Josh’s rationale was for attending the University of Tennessee rather than entering professional baseball out of high school
• Why Josh chose to leave Tennessee after his freshman season to attend the University of Purdue
• How Josh managed switching between starting and relieving throughout his career
• Why Josh struggled to remain a mainstay in the show through the 2011-2014 seasons
• How battling comparisons and searching for his identity as a pitcher kept Josh from becoming the best version of himself on the mound
• Why bouncing around in the big leagues wasn’t the stability Josh wanted for his career and why he chose to take an opportunity to play ball overseas in the KBO in 2015
• How Josh managed the increased pressure of being an American, ex-MLB player on a KBO roster and the huge usage spike that went along with that
• What the Korean Baseball experience was like for Josh and how the baseball culture, allotment of talent, and accessibility to resources in the KBO differ from that of the ranks of American pro ball
• How the game of baseball is played differently in Korea compared to the game played in the U.S. and what nuances Josh had to adapt to to thrive in this new style of play
• How Josh’s pitching approach transformed through his experience in Korea, including the development of new pitches and learning to better attack left handed hitters
• What Josh’s thought process is for throwing his splitter consistently and how he has worked to shape the pitch to specifically complement his fastball
• How Josh’s pitch arsenal has evolved through the progression of his career
• How Josh manages his throwing and training regime on a 5-day rotation
• Why Josh chooses not to throw the day following a start and why pitchers shouldn’t lose sleep over taking an off day from throwing
• How better understanding his daily workload and learning to better manage stress has transformed his preparation strategies
• What experience Josh has working with the coaches at IFAST and how they’ve helped him connect the dots between the purpose of his training and performing at the highest level

  You can follow Josh on Twitter at @JoshLindblom52 and on Instagram at @jlboomer25.

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 Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Lou Trivino to this week's podcast. Lou is an awesome story of a minor league breakout player who quickly became an impact player at the MLB level.

A special thanks to this show’s sponsor, Rawlings. We’re ecstatic to announce a new partnership between Rawlings and Cressey Sports Performance, and they’ve set up a 20% off discount code on select products for our listeners. Just head to www.Rawlings.com and enter coupon code CRESSEY20 and you’ll receive 20% off on your order. Certain items are excluded, but there’s still a ton of great baseball training gear to make you a better player and coach.

Show Outline

• How being a three-sport athlete in high school impacted Lou’s early athletic development
• How Lou ended up at Slippery Rock University out of high school
• What transformed Lou from a Division 2 arm into an 11th round draft pick in 2013
• Why Lou was unimpressive initially in pro ball but soon found himself as a transitioned from a starter to a reliever
• How getting more rotational in his sparked a jump from 89 mph to 96 mph overnight
• How Lou’s reason for coiling is rooted in maintaining counter rotation and feeling tension, and what thought helps Lou to coil effectively in his delivery
• How Lou managed the switch from a starter to reliever
• Why Lou has decided to showcase five pitches out of the pen, and what type of flexibility affords him
• Why Lou cut back on throwing his cutter early in his professional career
• How Lou reincorporated the cutter back into his game in 2017, at a higher rate than years prior, and how this pitch has defined his game since
• Why he utilizes his cutter to gauge how in sync his delivery is, and how throwing an effective cutter is impacted by the movements earlier in the chain
• How Lou taught Blake Treinen to throw his cutter and how a quality cutter is less about the perfect grip, and more about the approach behind the pitch and feel for the ball out of the hand
• Why Lou oddly throws his 2-seam faster than his 4-seam fastball and how he has learned to differentiate these pitches
• What Lou’s routine is for getting hot in the pen
• How Lous structure his throwing in-season to remain prepared to throw in-game any day of the week
• What Lou’s recovery process between outings and daily training sessions is
• How Lou attacks strength training in-season without compromising his performance on the field
• Who Lou’s favorite player to watch is

You can follow Lou on Instagram at @LouTrivino.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Rawlings. If you want to develop faster, and train better, you need the best gear. Well, we have some good news for you. The #1 baseball brand in the world, Rawlings, has partnered with Cressey Sports Performance to make getting the best training gear for you more affordable. Simply head to www.Rawlings.com and use the code, CRESSEY20, at checkout and you’ll save 20% off your order! This offer is only valid on select items, but there’s a ton of great gear you’ll save 20% on that will help you become a better player, so shop now!

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 second baseman and 2019 Gold Glove Award Winner Kolten Wong to this week's podcast.

A special thanks to this show’s sponsor, Rawlings. We’re ecstatic to announce a new partnership between Rawlings and Cressey Sports Performance, and they’ve set up a 20% off discount code on select products for our listeners. Just head to www.Rawlings.com and enter coupon code CRESSEY20 and you’ll receive 20% off on your order. Certain items are excluded, but there’s still a ton of great baseball training gear to make you a better player and coach.

Show Outline

• How the culture of Hawaiian baseball played a role in Kolten’s development
• Why Kolten chose to attend the University of Hawaii instead of signing professionally out of high school
• Though known as a second baseman, how Kolten became recognized as a talented catcher in high school, and why he transitioned to play center field his freshman year at Hawaii
• How Kolten seemed to smoothly transition through the ranks of professional baseball and into the big leagues
• How straying away from his strengths and trying to be someone he’s not led to an underwhelming first month as a rookie and a trip back to AAA
• What hitting adjustments Kolten made to bounce back from his initial setbacks and return to major league baseball to earn the NL Rookie of the Month in May 2014
• After being sent down again in 2015, how Kolten’s experience as an outfielder at Hawaii and his willingness to be versatile allowed him to return to MLB as the Cardinals’ center fielder
• Why he returned to the infield as a second baseman in 2016 and how Kolten has progressed to eventually become the outstanding defensive second baseman he is today
• How critical self-evaluation and seeking out advice from knowledgeable veterans helped Kolten turn a corner in his game and develop an edge defensively
• How understanding details of the game defensively has elevated Kolten games to a new level
• What Kolten’s pre-pitch defensive routine is, and how did he come to find this optimal pre-pitch set up
• How defensive training fits into his offseason schedule
• How Kolten has come to be passionate about teaching the game of baseball to the next generation of players
• What foundational skills and fundamental lessons Kolten always tries to pass on when working with a young ball player
• Why getting in front of the baseball is not always the right move defensively, and how having the ability to field with one hand is an overlooked skill in the game if baseball
• What Kolten’s glove care routine is, including: how often he replaces his glove, how he goes about breaking in a new glove, and why the glove is simply an extension of the hand
• How Kolten trains to remain healthy and durable through the daily demands of being a position player
• Why Kolten has shifted to incorporate more yoga into his training recently and how these difficult bodyweight positions are advancing his game physically and mentally
• What Kolten believes is the best defensive play of his entire baseball career

You can follow Kolten on Twitter at @KoltenWong and on Instagram at @thewongone808.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Rawlings. If you want to develop faster, and train better, you need the best gear. Well, we have some good news for you. The #1 baseball brand in the world, Rawlings, has partnered with Cressey Sports Performance to make getting the best training gear for you more affordable. Simply head to www.Rawlings.com and use the code, CRESSEY20, at checkout and you’ll save 20% off your order! This offer is only valid on select items, but there’s a ton of great gear you’ll save 20% on that will help you become a better player, so shop now!

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 Auburn University head coach Butch Thompson to this week’s podcast for a multi-faceted discussion that covers rising through the college coaching ranks; transitioning from a pitching to head coach; managing submarine/sidearm pitchers; analyzing fear; building a winning culture; assisting families through the recruiting process; and reflecting on the unprecedented times in the current baseball world.

This week, in lieu of a sponsor, I just wanted to pass along a friendly reminder that Cressey Sports Performance is now offering online consultations for baseball players who can't make it to our facilities. For more information, click here.

Show Outline

• How Butch transitioned from player to coach and begin his coaching career
• How the idea of range – being a generalist before a specialist – applies to becoming a baseball coach
• What Butch’s biggest mistake was in his early years of coaching
• How Butch managed the transition from pitching coach to head coach
• What non-negotiable characteristics make a great pitcher great
• How spin has always been a noticeable quality in a pitcher’s arsenal, but how advances in science and technology have allowed numerical values to help guide player development
• How Butch defines a coach’s role
• What Butch has done to have success with submarine and sidearm pitchers and how coaches can recruit a different look to add an edge to their team
• How the business of college baseball has changed since Butch first started as a college coach
• What differentiates Butch’s baseball program, Auburn, from other college programs
• What the challenges facing college recruiting coordinators are today
• Where parents and athletes are falling short in their pursuit to get recruited by SEC-caliber schools
• What Butch’s ideal prospect email includes
• How Butch creates unity and manages attitudes in an SEC locker room and why he instills the idea of responsibility over pride
• Why Butch’s work as a head coach now involves more managing than skill development
• Why Butch has been intrigued by fear and what five principles he recommends for minimizing and managing it
• How players can find comfort with the current uncertainty in college baseball currently
• How individuals can look past their fear and find opportunities to advance in tough times

You can follow Butch on Twitter at @3Strikes_AU.

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 Tim Collins to this week's podcast. Tim has a great story of not only getting to pro ball, but ascending to the big leagues at the height of 5-7. He's been a Cressey Sports Performance athlete for 13 years now, so it's a great discussion of long-term athletic development as well. 

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

• How Tim transformed from a 4-7, 82 lb high school freshman into a 5-5, 120 lb MLB high school senior
• How deception, great stuff, and dominance on the field earned Tim a draft spot out of high school with the Toronto Blue Jays despite being undersized
• How impactful strength training and attention to detail in the kitchen were for Tim’s progression from a low 80s high schooler to a mid 90s pro arm
• How Tim navigated minor league baseball as he climbed the ranks of the Jays minor league system
• How being exposed to Alan Jaeger’s throwing philosophies in his time with the Blue Jays allowed him to appreciate the value of long toss, build arm speed, and recover adequately between outings
• What the average person doesn’t understand about the minor league baseball lifestyle and how most players journey to the big leagues is far more difficult than most can comprehend
• How pitching fearlessly and understanding he had nothing to lose propelled Tim through the minors and gave him the consistency he needed to keep advancing through the ranks
• What differentiated Tim as a minor leaguer and what he did to “stick” in Major League Baseball
• How young talent comprising the Kansas City lineup provided a unique chance for Tim to play a major role in 2011
• Why developing a changeup was such an key factor in Tim’s MLB success, and what strategies he implemented to find consistency with this pitch after years of struggles
• What mechanical changes Tim made between ’11 and ’12
• How Tim developed the ability to spin the baseball and throw an elite curveball
• What Tim’s mental cues are when throwing his curveball
• After enduring the longest season of his career, a World Series run with the Royals in 2014, why Tim chose to have a nagging hernia repaired and what the implications were for this decision heading into the 2015 season
• How recovering from hernia surgery into the 2015 season forced him to have a quick ramp up into 2015, resulting in a torn UCL in his first outing of spring training
• After rehabbing for 12 months, why Tim had to undergo a UCL revision surgery
• Why Tim quickly learned to appreciate that every rehab is different and how understanding to listen to his body over the experiences of other athletes turned out to be vital to his rehabilitation process the second time through
• How Tim’s arm responded to the rigors of professional baseball after being completely out of competition for two years
• What struggles Tim faced in 2017 as he climbed through the minor leagues again
• What impact Mark Campbell, director of mental conditioning for the Washington Nationals, had on Tim’s return to the big leagues in 2018
• What the biggest lessons Tim has learned from his injuries are

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Marc Pro, a cutting-edge EMS device that uses patented technology to create non-fatiguing muscle activation. Muscle activation with Marc Pro facilitates each stage of the body’s natural recovery process- similar to active recovery, but without the extra effort and muscle fatigue. Athletes can use it for as long as they need to ensure a more full and quick recovery in between training or games. With its portability and ease of use, players can use Marc Pro while traveling between games or while relaxing at home. Players and trainers from every MLB team - including over 200 pro pitchers - use Marc Pro. Put Marc Pro to the test for yourself with their new "Try Before you Buy" program, and use promo code CRESSEY at checkout at www.MarcPro.com for 10% 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 Seattle Mariners pitcher Justin Dunn to this week's 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

• How Justin transformed from a 5-foot, 100-pound high school freshman into an MLB draft pick by his senior year
• How being a late bloomer affected his college recruiting process
• How developing size and strength took Justin from a 70 mph arm into the mid 90s arm he is today
• How following a structured training program allowed Justin to make the most of his natural athleticism
• Why Justin decided to attend Boston College instead of immediately entering pro ball out of high school
• How Justin made the transition from closer to starter
• Why Justin has always been a big proponent of long toss
• How promoting athleticism in his throwing motion and remaining free and loose with his arm action through long toss has helped Justin
• How Justin has learned to listen to his arm, manage his workload throughout his career, and make adjustments to his throwing routine whether throwing as a reliever or a starter
• How Justin manages soreness and tightness following a day of heavy throwing
• What differentiated Justin as a college junior that led him to be a first round draft pick out of BC
• Why throwing a changeup gave Justin trouble as he progressed into his starting role at BC and how establishing a routine of throwing his change up in catch play allowed him to develop and master this pitch
• How Justin initially learned to throw his slider and what his thought process is when throwing it nowadays to keep it consistent
• How simplifying his process on the mound and mastering his secondary pitches have allowed him to become the big leaguer he is today
• As a young big leaguer, what key competencies is Justin working to develop to ensure his longevity in the show
• How becoming immersed in the daily routine of Major League Baseball and learning from the experienced players around him will help him become a mainstay in a big league rotation
• What Justin’s pre-bullpen routine is and how he structures his bullpens
• Who Justin loved to watch dominate as a pitcher growing up and who he likes to watch now
  
  You can follow Justin on Twitter at @Dunn_Deal19 and on Instagram at @Dunn_Deal35.

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 New York Yankees pitcher Mike King to this week's 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

• How being a multisport athlete from RI impacted Mike’s athletic development and why he is such a big advocate for playing basketball
• How Mike managed his time his time and training in high school in order to always be prepared for the next sport in season
• How learning to long toss properly and stretch out the arm taught Mike to feel intent and progress his ability to throw the ball efficiently
• Why Mike chose to attend Boston College
• What the culture was like at BC during Mike’s tenure there, and how it contributed to making them a competitive ACC team
• How Jim Foster - an impactful pitching coach for Mike - facilitated relationships between his catchers and his pitchers and taught Mike important lessons about reading swings, calling pitches, and communicating
• How Mike builds rapport and a high level of trust between his catchers in pro ball
• How Mike has adopted an analytical approach for preparing to perform, and why he dives deep into data and video prior to games to inspire confidence
• How Mike communicates with catchers in game to refine his approach from inning to inning and sequence his game to be efficient and effective
• How gaining weight upon entering pro ball allowed Mike to experience a velocity jump
• What Mike’s initial experience was like playing professionally for the Miami Marlins
• What changed about Mike’s focus and perspective on development in the minor leagues after being traded to the Yankees that allowed him to feel comfortable and find success in 2018
• How a conversation Mike had with Max Scherzer at CSP helped him figure out his slider
• How Mike has developed his student-of-the-game approach and learned to apply analytics, physics, and biomechanics to improve his game
• How Mike throws his laminar two-seam fastball and what laminar flow means for the movement of his two-seam
• How Mike has learned to manage his hypermobility and what lessons has he learned about being loose jointed
• How Mike exploits his mobility on the mound mechanically to create a unique look for hitters

You can follow Mike on Twitter at @7kinger14 and Instagram at @officialmikeking.

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!