We're excited to welcome Nick Winkelman, Head of Athletic Performance & Science for Irish Rugby, to this week's podcast. Nick is extremely well versed in motor learning and how to best get through to athletes, and you'll see why in this interview. It's timely, as his new book, The Language of Coaching, was just released.

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

Show Outline

• Where Nick’s original interest in improving the way coaches coach movement began
• What observations Nick made while watching his athletes compete on NFL Combine Day – and how they transformed his perspective on coaching
• What the lowest hanging fruit is in terms of how coaches can improve their communication with athletes
• Why coaches need to add a column for cues in their program and how coaches plan their language to maximize their influence on athletes
• How motivation influences motor learning and how language can be leveraged to create engagement, investment, and motivation
• What simple tactics coaches can employ to increase buy-in and give individuals an active role in their training experience
• Why coaches need to focus their time and attention on coaching the athlete and not the program
• How understanding purpose – specifically more purposeful coaching – transformed Nick’s coaching philosophy, strategy, and interventions
• Why Nick has learned to watch more reps and talk less, and how coaches can create a safe environment for athletes to explore movement and “fail forward”
• How each word spoken and action communicated to an athlete either builds or erodes the coach-athlete relationship and how professionals can avoid the detriments of overcoaching
• When the right time to communicate with an athlete is and how Nick models the timing of his coaching communication
• What the difference is between short loop and long loop coaching communication
• How understanding the coaching communication loop can give us a better understanding of how to teach, challenge, and progress athletes
• What research states about the impact of cue frequency and cue type on performance and long-term athletic development
• What simple, actionable strategies coaches can use to help concepts stick with athletes, such as recalling clients’ names and celebrating small wins
• How coaches can use analogy, an athlete’s language, and emotional hashtags in the learning process to enhance memory
• How emotions influence our memory and how coaches can tap into emotion to allow their interactions with athletes to be memorable
• How analogy can be specifically leveraged to tie previous learned knowledge into the learning of new abilities
• Why internal cueing isn’t inherently bad and where external and internal cueing fit into an athlete’s learning

You can follow Nick on Twitter at @NickWinkelman - and be sure to check out his awesome new book, The Language of Coaching.

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 quality control coach and catching coordinator Tanner Swanson 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 10-pack of Athletic Greens travel packets with your first order.

Show Outline

• How Tanner evaluates a catcher’s ability and what key competencies he analyzes to draw conclusions on players behind the plate
• How Tanner’s methods for analyzing players and principles for building elite catchers have evolved as he has progressed through his coaching career
• Why the focus with youth catchers should be on developing a general scope of catching-specific abilities and how this general foundation of skills allows for premium skills to be leveraged later on in development
• What new age data says about the importance of receiving skills
• How new metrics on receiving are changing how we define high-level catchers
• How the player evaluation and scouting of catchers is evolving as more information is available on catchers beyond pop times
• Why catchers’ performance is significantly impacted with runners on base and what this insight says about how we currently coach catchers
• Why coaches should consider whether we are teaching catchers to receive out of their best blocking and throwing position, or to block and throw from their best receiving position
• How catchers can find their optimal stance and balance functionality with comfort behind the dish
• How factors stance and pre-pitch glove rhythm influence a player’s ability to receive
• Why new age catching is more than a lazy set-up behind the dish on one knee and how catchers can find their best position to both block and receive
• Why the toughest challenge in catching is getting caught in between pitches and how finding the most effective stance and approaching blocking as an extension of receiving mitigates this challenge
• How the sheer volume and frequency of work for catchers offers a unique opportunity to watch adjustments organically play out and fine tune strategies that are meaningful for individuals
• How coaches can preserve a player’s uniqueness behind the dish while still instilling the nonnegotiable characteristics of being a catcher, such as starting in a good position, mastering timing, working below the ball, and dominating the bottom third of the strike zone
• Why present-day catching demands players have authority over the bottom third of the strike zone and what the increase use of high fastballs and secondary pitchers means for catchers
• How catchers can best prepare to handle the physical and mental demands of their position, arguably one of the most demanding roles in sports
• Why the game of baseball is moving away from catchers with weak bats and how catchers can develop a true edge at their position

You can follow Tanner on Twitter at @TannerSwanson and learn more about him at www.D1Catching.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 Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger 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 10-pack of Athletic Greens travel packets with your first order.

Show Outline

• How being a multi-sport athlete helped Mitch develop into the outfielder he is today
• Why Mitch chose to attend Cal Poly and how his experience there shaped him into a big leaguer
• How Mitch worked through the ups and downs of his college career and what key competencies he has focused on to take his game to the next level
• Why smart guys often struggle with being analytical at the plate and how Mitch is working to simplify his process and focus on competing in the box above all else
• How stumbling upon hitting coach Bobby Tewksbary’s work inspired Mitch to revamp his swing and what “aha” moment propelled Mitch into a breakout 2016 season
• How being sent down to High A, transforming his swing to hit the ball in the air, and incorporating a leg kick ignited his career and gave him the success necessary to advance through the professional ranks
• What the commonalities between the elite hitting coaches Mitch has worked with
• What inspired Mitch to become such a student of the game, and how his studies influenced his preparation and daily routine for nutrition, rehab, training, and game prep
• Why and how Mitch prioritizes "controlling the controllables"
• Despite the nationwide shut down, why Mitch has been setting aside more time to attune his attention, focus, and mindfulness and what ways he practices mental skills on a daily basis
• How players can leverage the resources they have within their organization to develop their mental skills
• What Mitch’s game day routine is
• How Mitch is often overlooked defensively and what skills are important in order to play great defense
• How Mitch works to hone his defensive capability and what motivates him to want to be a complete player
• What hitters Mitch likes to study and why

You can follow Mitch on Twitter at @M_Hanny17 and on Instagram at @M_Hanny17.

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 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 Cressey Sports Performance - Florida associate pitching coordinator and strength and conditioning coach Mark Lowy to this week’s podcast for an in-depth discussion on how we create comprehensive development programs for our professional pitchers. Mark flies under the radar, but he's a tremendous asset to our offerings at CSP-FL and has built a loyal following of elite arms.

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

Show Outline

• How Mark Lowy and Brian Kaplan have expanded analytics in the off-season preparation of pitchers at CSP-FL
• What work the CSP-FL pitching staff is doing to create individualized pitching reports for their pitchers
• How Mark approaches collecting and compiling each pitcher’s pitching report and what makes CSP’s model and application of evaluating pitchers unique
• How Mark’s role at CSP involves the translation of data and biomechanics into simple, understandable recommendations
• Why Mark aims to be subjective before objective and apply a human element to his coaching and analysis of pitchers
• Why you can’t make pitch design or pitch usage recommendations based purely off data
• How understanding a pitcher and their approach influences how data is applied to their game
• What is Mark’s primary focus when developing pitching skills with younger athletes and why building pitchability should evolve from what an athlete’s body allows them to do and what their delivery does for them
• Why coaches need to appreciate pitchers’ unique attributes and avoid coaching towards average
• How a player’s movement capabilities influence their mechanics and why appreciating how a player moves can explain the authenticity of their throwing motion
• What aspects of the delivery impact horizontal and vertical release points in pitchers and how identifying and understanding specific release point trends can lead to the proper mechanical fixes
• What vertical approach angle is and how it impacts how a hitter perceives a pitcher
• When diving into player analytics, what are some numbers that blew Mark’s mind and caught his attention to look into further
• How coaches need to appreciate how a pitcher’s arsenal plays uniquely to hitters
• Why synergy between skill development coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, and sports medicine professionals is differentiated at CSP and how Mark uses his resources to create the best experience for his pitchers
• What high school and college pitchers can do to best prepare themselves for success in baseball

You can follow Mark on Twitter at @Mark_Lowy and on Instagram at @CSPFL_Pitching.

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 - 10 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 renowned hitting instructor Doug Latta to this week's podcast for an awesome discussion on hitting set-up, mechanics, and approach. Doug's one of the best in the business and he shared some tremendous insights in this discussion.

In lieu of a sponsor for this episode, we've got an exciting announcement. With this being our 50th episode, we're running a $50 off sale on my popular resource, Sturdy Shoulder Solutions. You can get the discount through this Sunday at midnight by heading to www.SturdyShoulders.com and entering the coupon code podcast50.

Show Outline

• Why Doug was one of the pioneers for hitting the ball in the air and what resistance he faced as he advocated for this approach
• What the misconceptions are about hitting the ball in the air in the hitting community
• How coaches should reevaluate their methodologies and practices to ensure athletes are practicing swings that “play” in game scenarios
• How the use of data in hitting instruction has brought a more outcome focused training approach
• What hitters can do to stay on top of the revolutionary work in pitch design
• Where the world of hitting is headed and where the industry is falling short for hitters
• How Doug defines the concepts of getting to 50/50 and having balance in a swing, and why these concepts are so important
• Why telling hitters to stay back is terrible advice and how players can create a backside-driven swing without compromising their balance
• What coaching cues and interventions Doug utilizes to change old habits that are hindering a hitter’s ability to swing the stick
• What key characteristics are non-negotiable for having an elite swing
• Why the solution for movement patterns is often in the set-up, and how this principle relates to creating dominant hitters
• What are some of the physical roadblocks Doug encounters in players’ movement profiles that limit their ability to get into the proper positions in the batter’s box
• How a good swing looks consistent from younger levels all the way up to the big leagues
• Why age 13-14 is a critical time to receive good coaching
• Why young hitters should spend less time buying tokens and practicing their swing in a cage and more time mastering their set-up and move into their swing
• What parents of young hitters can do to put their kids in the best position to be successful as a hitter
• How 90% of what you do to become a good hitter doesn’t involve swinging a bat
• What resources and professionals Doug recommends checking out for those interested in taking their knowledge of hitting to the next level

You can follow Doug on Twitter at @LattaDoug and learn more about him at www.BallYard.net.

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 pitcher Aaron Civale to the latest podcast. He shares some awesome insights related to pitch design/execution, competitive mentality, and the benefits of strength and conditioning.

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 type of pitcher was Aaron in high school and how earned a spot at Northeastern University
• What the biggest adjustment Aaron had to make as he transitioned into a college pitcher was
• Why Aaron chose to embrace the natural cut of his fastball instead of fixing this unique trait that allowed him to put away hitters
• How Aaron stumbled upon the feel for a slider mid-game
• What adjustments Aaron had to make as he transitioned to pro ball after three years at Northeastern
• How Aaron’s approach of pounding the zone and eliminating walks is contradictory to today’s baseball world
• How Aaron arrived at his 6-pitch arsenal and how he has worked to differentiate each pitch
• Why Aaron has always felt more comfortable throwing his two seam fastball and what work he has been doing this offseason at CSP to improve his four seam for 2020
• How Aaron ended up finding a more comfortable slider grip while playing around with his two seam grip
• How Aaron has developed a natural feel for spinning the ball from a young age and what he has done to ensure the differentiation of his two breaking balls
• What traits Aaron thinks helped to give him immediate success at the Major League level
• How possessing a process-oriented mindset and unwavering demeanor has inspired confidence in Aaron and provided the trust in his ability necessary to be dominant at any level
• What made working with CSP-FL physical therapist Eric Schoenberg so impactful while rehabbing from a lat strain in 2018
• What Aaron’s 5-day throwing and training routine looks like between starts
• How Aaron’s game day routine is structured

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 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!

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 10-pack of Athletic Greens travel packets with your first order.

Show Outline

• Why pitch counts are important, and how that importance relates to the SAID (specific adaptation to imposed demand) principle
  ● What coaches should consider when incorporating vertical pulling exercises with athletes who have a history of lat injury
  ● What the best exercises are for strengthening the deceleration muscles of the throwing motion
  ● What professionals should assess in an athlete when personalizing an arm care program

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 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 10-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!