We're excited to welcome Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Soroka to the podcast. A special thanks to this show's sponsor, Lumberlend. Head to www.Lumberlend.com and enter the coupon code CRESSEY to get 10% off on your order as you customize a bat mug today.   

Show Outline

• How growing up playing baseball in Canada influenced Mike’s early career
• How playing for the Canadian national team as a teenager allowed Mike to compete against the best and learn to fail forward at a young age
• How Mike transformed from a lanky 6-2, 140-pound high school ball player to one of the youngest players in the big leagues
• What has led Mike to his unique pitching delivery and what positions he prioritizes feeling throughout his throwing motion to remain consistent while still preserving his deception on the mound
• How Mike differentiates his two-seam and four-seam fastball
• How Mike learned to spin and manipulate the movement of a baseball by playing with a Wiffle Ball as a kid
• What key skills and major adjustments helped Mike progress through the minors quickly
• How learning to command the zone, specifically in different counts, has given Mike an edge in pro ball
• How having a true grasp of reality and embracing a growth mindset have allowed Mike to shape his mentality to be a mature and successful young pitcher
• Why making mental adjustments are just as influential as making mechanical adjustments when working to be consistently successful, and how learning to make adjustments on the fly have given Mike an advantage
• How Mike’s curiosity for answers and appreciation for details have allowed him to master the intricacies of the game of baseball
• How Mike structures his throwing and training programs on a 5-day rotation, and how he takes advantage of the high-low model to manage stress throughout the season
• What Mike’s schedule is on game day

You can follow Mike on Instagram at @mikesoroka_ and on Twitter at @mike_soroka28.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Lumberlend Co. If you're looking for a unique gift for a baseball fan in your life, you'll definitely want to check this out: they've hollowed out the bat barrel and created a cool drinking mug. You can customize these with colors, names, logos, and photographs. They're also an officially licensed MLBPA product, so you can get your favorite teams and players incorporated into the designs. I've used these as gifts with great feedback, so I'm confident you'd experience the same. Just head to Lumberlend.com and enter the coupon code CRESSEY to get 10% off as you design yours today.

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 Chicago Cubs reliever Brandon Kintzler 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 Brandon progressed from being a two-time 40th round draft pick out of Dixie State University to an MLB All-Star (while being released and going to Independent ball along the way)
• How training to be healthy and durable allowed him to become a student of the game, recover from his injuries, and find success in pro ball
• How Brandon has learned to effectively throw a sinker
• Why having good direction in your delivery and mastering your lower half mechanics is essential to be able to stay behind the baseball, create late arm speed, and power through a two-seam fastball
• Why Brandon chooses to stick to his strengths and hold firm in his belief in the effectiveness of his two-seam even while so many MLB pitchers shift toward 4-seamers
• How Brandon’s velocity has steadily increased since coming back from injury and why he chooses to live in his sweet spot for velocity rather than throwing as hard as he possibly can
• Why Brandon is throwing more off-speed pitches in recent years and how simplifying his mechanics have allowed him to have more consistent, repeatable stuff
• Why Brandon struggled in the 2018 season and how straying from his game plan to chase more strikeouts turned out to be detrimental to his game
• Where Brandon is most misunderstood by the public and why he has chosen to spend his energy being his genuine self rather than worrying about his image portrayed by the media
• How beating Steve Cishek in a round of golf has led to a hilarious prank war between the two teammates
• How Brandon has developed a relationship with Cy Young Award winner, Max Scherzer, and how the two challenge each other to be better pitchers year in and year out

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 A's reliever Blake Treinen 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 Blake began his baseball career at a small NAIA college in Kansas and why he chose to leave to attempt to walk on at a Division 1 program
• Why Blake was forced to take a year off from baseball and what lessons he learned from taking the time to step away from the game to train and
• How Blake’s time away from organized baseball allowed him to add much needed size, prioritize learning to throw with intent, and understand his optimal mechanics on a trial and error basis
• What lead Blake to walk on at South Dakota State University and how he progressed to MLB draft prospect throwing a mid-90s fastball
• How Blake’s faith in God has propelled him to the success he has had in baseball and been a vital key to his success through the tribulations of his career
• How being passed up by the Miami Marlins turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Blake and how he ended being drafted by the Oakland A’s the following year
• What cues Blake has adopted to reinforce his consistent, effortless mechanics and how has learned to master creating late arm speed
• How training at CSP helped and training functional exercise/core exercise helped Treinen become a more effortless, compact pitcher
• How Blake approaches pitch design and developing various pitches
• How Blake developed a cutter and the work that went in to trusting to us it in game
• How Blake developed a one seam and how future sinker ballers can find success
• How the evolution of the cutter has transformed the way current pitchers are attacking the launch angle evolution and attacking hitters inside
• What the hardest adjustments were for Blake as he transitioned from starter to reliever
• How Blake structures his daily throwing routine
• How Blake mentally prepares for each outing

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 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 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 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!

We're excited to welcome Cleveland Indians utility player Ryan Flaherty to the podcast. A special thanks to this show's sponsor, Lumberlend. Head to www.Lumberlend.com and enter the coupon code CSP to get free shipping on your order of two or more bat mugs.   

Show Outline

• How being a multi-sport athlete from Maine had a profound impact on Ryan’s early athletic development.
• How Ryan’s recruiting process led him to Vanderbilt to play for Tim Corbin
• How he transformed from a gangly, undrafted high school senior into a SEC standout as a freshman.
• How Ryan’s early struggles in college led him to became a utility player
• Why the versatility a utility player adds to a MLB lineup is so crucial - and how Ryan prepares for these demands
• Why third base was the most challenging position for Ryan to learn as a utility man.
• What Ryan’s routine is when he does not start, but needs to be ready to strategically enter in later innings.
• Why Ryan could be a managerial candidate after his playing days due to his appreciation for the behind the scenes influence of coaching in the game of baseball.

You can follow Ryan on Twitter at @RFlaherty3, and on Instagram at @RFlaherty27.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Lumberlend Co. If you're looking for a unique gift for a baseball fan in your life, you'll definitely want to check this out: they've hollowed out the bat barrel and created a cool drinking mug. You can customize these with colors, names, logos, and photographs. They're also an officially licensed MLBPA product, so you can get your favorite teams and players incorporated into the designs. I've used these as gifts with great feedback, so I'm confident you'd experience the same. The crew at Lumberlend is offering free shipping on two or more bat mugs with the coupon code CSP at checkout. Just head to Lumberlend.com to design yours today.

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 San Francisco Giants infielder Joe Panik 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

• Joe’s journey to MLB and the developmental years he spent in college and minor league baseball to grow into the player he is today.
• Joe discusses the challenges of being scouted as a hitter from the Northeast and how this impacted the direction of his early career.
• The reason he chose to attend St. John’s and honor that commitment despite enticing offers from bigger schools.
• Joe’s response to high school scouting reports on him
• How criticism and speculation in Joe’s early career propelled him to be meticulous in mastering his craft.
• The fundamental focused mindset that has led Joe to become the consistent Major League player he is today.
• How Joe has modeled his game to play to his strengths, allow him to be himself on the field, and find success at the highest level.
• The culture of the San Francisco Giants and how coaches and veteran players can make the transition to the next level easier for young players.
• Joe’s hitting approach and why he continues to have a low strikeout percentage when the game of baseball is trending in the opposite direction.
• The adjustments he has made to his swing and training in preparation for the 2019 season.
• Joe’s thoughts on characteristics of the most impactful coaches he’s had

You can follow Joe on Twitter at @JoePanik, and on Instagram at @JoePanik.

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 two-time American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber 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

• Corey’s journey to MLB and the developmental years he spent in college and minor league baseball to grow into the player he is today.
• The establishment and refinement of Corey’s process.
• Corey’s creation of routines to inspire comfort on game day.
• The pre-pitch routine and mental approach Corey implements when he toes the rubber.
• Having a feel for pitches, reading hitters, and building a relationship with the catcher to have the ability to make adjustments on the fly and compete at the highest level.
• The design of Corey’s pitching arsenal, including: developing his slider, learning to throw a 2-seam fastball, and having confidence in the changeup.
• A discussion of the throwing and training programs Corey relies on to remain durable.
• The entertaining story of CSP-MA pitching coordinator Christian Wonders' first day throwing with Corey.
• What advise current Corey would give to the teenage, college, and minor league Corey Kluber

You can follow Corey on Instagram at @ckluber28, and on Twitter at @CKluber. To learn more about The Kluber Foundation's charitable initiatives, be sure to check out www.CoreyKluber.org.

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!