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!

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, Rawlings. We've got an awesome new partnership in place 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

• What the high-low model is and how can pitchers optimize their training on a 7-day rotation
• What the specific considerations are when looking to implement blood flow restriction techniques into training and rehabilitating throwing athletes
• What different demands sidearm and submarine pitchers impose on their body compared to more traditional, over-the-top pitchers, and how should these unique throwers adjust their training strategies to address these specific differences

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!

Registration is now open for the 2020 Cressey Sports Performance Collegiate Elite Baseball Development Program. This event takes place at our Hudson, MA facility, and runs from 6/1/20 through 8/8/20.

This will be the fourth year we've run the program, and each year, we've had pitchers move to Massachusetts from all around the country. This summer, we anticipate another awesome collection of motivated athletes who'll push each other to get better in conjunction with the same training opportunities and expertise we provide to our professional athletes.

This program is a good fit for pitchers who need to prioritize development over just getting innings or exposure. In other words, it's a suitable replacement for those who still need to throw, but also need to gain 20 pounds, learn a new pitch, sort out old aches and pains, or improve their mobility.

Each athlete will begin with a thorough initial movement and pitching assessment that will set the stage for individualized strength and conditioning and throwing programs, respectively. These programs correspond to six days a week of training. Generally, four of the six training days per week are double sessions, with throwing in the morning and strength and conditioning in the afternoons. A typical training week would look like the following:

Monday: AM throwing, PM Strength and Conditioning
Tuesday: AM throwing, PM Strength and Conditioning
Wednesday: Late AM throwing and movement training (at field)
Thursday: AM throwing, PM Strength and Conditioning
Friday: AM throwing, PM Strength and Conditioning
Saturday: Optional AM Mobility Work and Recovery Session, AM Throwing and movement training
Sunday: Off

In our throwing programs, we integrate weighted ball work, long toss, and bullpens (including video analysis). We'll utilize detailed pitching analytics breakdowns (spin rates/efficienciencies/axes) and high-speed camera work in these bullpens as well. Pitchers also have opportunities to throw live to hitters, and we even placed a few arms in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League late in the summer in light of the improvements they'd made.

All the athletes will receive manual therapy with our licensed massage therapist or physical therapist, as well as nutritional guidance throughout the program. Also to help with recovery, athletes have access to MarcPro, Normatec, and red light therapy.

Last, but not least, we'll incorporate a regular educational components to educate the athletes on the "why" behind their training. Last year, this consisted of not only staff presentations, but also conference calls and meetings with Major League players and established coaches from around the country.

The best part is that it'll take place in a motivating environment where athletes can push each other to be the best they can be. By optimizing the situation, you can help change the person.

Interested in learning more? Email cspmass@gmail.com - but don't delay, as spaces are limited; this offering sold out last year, and we'll be capping the group size.

In the coming weeks, we'll be highlighting some case studies from last year's group that should give you a better feel for how the programs work. You might also like to hear a bit about the experience from our pitching coordinator, Kyle Driscoll, who spoke in depth about the ten-week training initiative at the conclusion of last year's event. He was a guest on the CSP Elite Baseball Development podcast:

Again, if you're interested in learning more, email cspmass@gmail.com today.

We're excited to welcome Cleveland Indians pitcher Brad Hand to this week's podcast. A special thanks to this show's sponsor, Rawlings. We've got an awesome new partnership in place 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 Brad grew up as a multi-sport athlete in Minnesota and why he chose to prioritize baseball despite being from a hockey state
• How Brad navigated the challenges of the long Minnesota winters as he prepared for the season and gaining exposure as a young ball player
• How Brad was surprisingly unaware of how coveted a prospect he was
• What differentiated Brad as a pitcher and made him such a high draft pick in 2008
• How Brad’s skills evolved as he progressed through MiLB and into the big leaguer he is today
• How finding a simple approach to his mechanics on the mound allowed him to find a more repeatable delivery and develop more consistency as professional
• Why Brad moved away from throwing curveballs as his secondary pitch and transitioned to throwing a slider
• How Brad learned to throw his slider, and what his mindset is when throwing this pitch to make it consistently effective
• Why Brad’s seemingly apathetic delivery makes him so hard to hit
• How Brad specifically exploits tempo to facilitate late arm speed and create a delivery that hitters dread to face
• How Brad transitioned from a starter to a reliever in 2015 and what adjustments he had to make to his throwing protocols to properly manage this new workload
• How Brad approaches attacking hitters as a reliever
• How Brad plans and performs his in season training to account for the fact he needs to be ready to throw on any given day
• What Brad’s game day routine is
• How Brad deals with the pressure of being a big league closer

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 Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks 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

• Why Kyle chose to move across the country out of high school and attend Dartmouth College
• How Kyle has developed his ability to manipulate the baseball to create movement
• How Kyle worked diligently to develop his changeup and how players can better develop this feel pitch
• How throwing a quality changeup actually helped Kyle learn to throw a two seam fastball
• How grip, specifically pinky position on the baseball, impacted the effectiveness of his changeup
• What Kyle’s thought process is when throwing his changeup and how late hand speed out front trumps early, forced pronation with the pitch
• How Kyle developed a cut changeup, which is differentiated from his “regular” changeup
• How Kyle approaches attacking hitters and why he emphasizes throwing first pitch strikes and controlling counts against hitters
• Why Kyle’s four seam fastball usage increased in 2016 and why this change allowed him to have more margin for error and improve the effectiveness with his fastball
• How Kyle learned to read swings and bat paths in pro ball and how this has influenced how he competes against hitters
• How Kyle prepares by utilizing coaches’ scouting reports along with video to develop a plan for success against the opposition
• Why Kyle has always been intrigued by the mental side of baseball and how he has used it to develop an edge in the game
• How simplification has revolutionized Kyle’s ability to master his mentality, control the game, and play to his highest ability
• Why Kyle works to find a balance between using analytics and relying on his intuition
• What pitch clicks in the bullpen when Kyle is set to have a great game and how Kyle knows when he is locked in
• How Kyle attacks throwing his various pitches in his daily throwing progression
• How individuals who lack elite velocity can identify their strengths and learn to separate themselves from the competition

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 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!

We're excited to welcome Sam Fuld, Major League Player Information Coordinator for the Philadelphia Phillies, to this week's podcast. Sam discusses his current role in disseminating analytics to players, as well as how this knowledge would have impacted his MLB career.

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 Sam was recruited to play at Stanford University as a position player from the Northeast
• How was Sam able to hit the ground running at Stanford and find success at the plate as a freshman despite not having as many ABs against legit arms as his teammates from warmer climates
• Why Sam was drafted late largely due to his lack of height and why baseball is moving away from height bias as athletes like Jose Altuve and Dustin Pedroia thrive
• What recommendations Sam would make to individuals looking to maximize their defensive abilities as an outfielder
• How aware Sam was of the front-office, analytical approach in baseball as a player, specifically when playing for the Rays and A’s
• How Sam become the Player Information Coordinator for the Philadelphia Phillies, and what this role entails
• How baseball analytics has evolved from a tool used strictly for player evaluation and game preparation into one utilized more for player development
• How this player development approach to analytics and would have impacted Sam’s career
• What Sam’s weaknesses were as a hitter, and what information would have helped him overcome these challenges
• Why coaches need to be mindful of overwhelming or underwhelming players with information, and how coaches can individualize the information they are sharing
• How organizational culture impacts the sharing of player information and how baseball as a whole is shifting away from the stubbornness towards analytics
• How the accessibility to information in baseball is shortening the learning curve for managers and allowing younger hires to thrive on information instead of years of experience
• What key competencies ball players should aim to learn to set themselves up for a career in analytics or managing after their baseball career
• Where Sam sees the player information age headed next
• How being a type-one diabetic impacted Sam growing up, and how he used it to fuel his game and live a disciplined nutritional lifestyle

You can follow Sam on Twitter at @SamFuld5, and learn more about his sports camp for kids with Type 1 Diabetes HERE.

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 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

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 retired MLB pitcher and outfielder Rick Ankiel to this week's podcast. Rick's incredible story has been the feature of multiple documentaries, and he has some awesome insights to share for players, coaches, and parents. 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 Rick’s experience was like as he battled command issues as a young pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals
• What the initial stages of Rick’s mental struggles as a pitcher were
• How Rick made his comeback from the yips as a pitcher in 2005, and what strategies and routines he implemented that were most impactful for his consistency on the mound
• How identifying what variables he could and couldn’t control and keeping baseball simple helped Rick find mental stability as a player
• How organizations are evolving in how they prepare their young draft picks to be successful baseball stars of the future
• What the mental concerns are for young stars as they ascend to the big league stage
• Why players need to establish their circle of trust to be successful in professional baseball, and what strategies young players can implement to find security in their early career
• What Rick’s advice is for the young draft picks and prospects
• How the obsessive pursuit of excellence in baseball leads players to being consumed by their shortcomings and defined by their career on the field
• How a player’s reluctance to care can be a defining factor of their likelihood to succumb to the mental dilemmas like the yips
• What the biggest misconception about the yips is
• How coaches and teammates of a struggling athlete can work to better identify those who need help and implement steps to make a real difference
• How being genuine with ballplayers and asking “What can I do to help you?” can start a powerful conversation towards aiding in someone’s mental state
• What was the difference for Rick was in preparing for games as a pitcher and a hitter
• How Rick approached his throwing program as he transitioned from being pitcher to an outfielder
• What the biggest adjustment Rick had to make as he has transitioned to a career in broadcasting

You can follow Rick on Twitter at @TheeRickAnkiel and on Instagram at @TheeRickAnkiel. And, be sure to check out his awesome book, The Phenomenon.

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 Cressey Sports Performance - Massachusetts strength and conditioning coach and associated pitching coordinator Kyle Driscoll 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 the CSP staff onboarded and assessed each college athlete for the Elite College Development Program
• What specific strategies Kyle used to assess the pitchers in the program, including subjective evaluations and the use of technology like Rapsodo and high-speed camera
• Why evaluating each pitcher’s routine is key component of an initial assessment
• How understanding exactly where a pitcher is on day one allowed Kyle to structure realistic, obtainable goals for each player to achieve over the 10 week program
• What the most surprising lessons Kyle took away from initial evaluations of the college summer program were
• What goes into matching up throwing partners
• What Kyle’s approach was for designing each athlete’s throwing program and why he made sure to teach them how to effectively program for themselves following their experience at CSP
• How the synergy of CSP works to consolidate stress in the college summer program and how Kyle specifically programs throwing alongside the strength and conditioning component
• What specific positions Kyle looks for pitchers to hit in their throwing delivery – and how they can reinforce these positions in the weight room
• Why Kyle emphasizes certain positions early in the delivery so quality movement is persevered as the throwing motion becomes faster down the chain
• What specific pitch design and velocity changes individuals made over the summer
• What the most influential takeaways for the pitchers that attended the Elite College Development Program and how these takeaways stretch far beyond mechanical adjustments

You can follow Kyle on Twitter at @kdrisc35  and on Instagram at @bigdriskk.

Sponsor Reminder

This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. It’s a NSF certified 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!