Podcast #67: Assessing and Profiling Pitchers in the SEC with South Carolina’s Bill Anderson

We recently had the pleasure of taking a trip down to the University of South Carolina to assess and evaluate their entire pitching staff. Today we’re sitting down with Bill Anderson, Director of Sports Performance at the University of South Carolina and revisiting the process. Topics Include:

    • What is strong enough
    • Plyometrics, the missing link
    • Mobility and its relationship with mechanics

Continue reading “Podcast #67: Assessing and Profiling Pitchers in the SEC with South Carolina’s Bill Anderson”

Pitt Commit Doganiero (from 83-84 to 87-89, T90)… Power of Assessing and Re-Assessing

Antonio Doganiero

Pitt Baseball commit LHP Antonio Doganiero (Class of 2024) started remote training with us here at RPP in October of 2022. At the time, he was 6’ and 167 lbs., sitting 83-84 mph. Fast forward to this past August, he was weighing in at 177 lbs. (10 lb. gain) and his fastball is now sitting 87-89 and T90. After nearly a year of gains, it was time for a re-assessment.

Continue reading “Pitt Commit Doganiero (from 83-84 to 87-89, T90)… Power of Assessing and Re-Assessing”

Podcast #66: Staying Authentic and True to Yourself with Maryland Head Coach Matt Swope

Matt Swope

Today we’re sitting down with Matt Swope who was recently appointed Head Coach for Maryland Baseball. Coach Swope is no stranger to the “Terps culture”.  Topics include:

    • Using caution when making mechanical adjustments
    • When to use tech and when not to use tech
    • Key points when examining “character” during recruiting

Continue reading “Podcast #66: Staying Authentic and True to Yourself with Maryland Head Coach Matt Swope”

Podcast #65: Best of… Randy Sullivan, Nate Yeskie and Zach Dechant

Today, I’m going to start pulling apart a few gems from some of the best received podcasts to-date. The first of this series includes gems from some of the best in the business:

    • Randy Sullivan – Owner Florida Armory
    • Nate Yeskie – Pitching Coach at LSU
    • Zach Dechant – Strength Coach at TCU

It was great re-listening to these guys spread their knowledge across different areas of player development. Enjoy!

Continue reading “Podcast #65: Best of… Randy Sullivan, Nate Yeskie and Zach Dechant”

Why You Should Begin Your Training in the Fall for the Next Season?

It’s no great secret by now that playing baseball year-round is not such a great idea, mentally (burn out) or physically (velo drops / injury). When we first started training baseball players around 10 years ago, just about everyone who played ball began their training in January. Athletes would show up desperately trying to get their velo up…. IN JUST 8 WEEKS! Back then trying to convince high school athletes to begin lifting weights in November was like pulling a cow through a keyhole. A few pitching coaches we worked with didn’t even believe in strength training for baseball players at all. Times have changed.  Nowadays, more and more athletes begin their training right after “fall ball”, in November.

So, here we are, ready to rock the boat once again.

Continue reading “Why You Should Begin Your Training in the Fall for the Next Season?”

Off-Season Training for High School Ball Players, the How , the Why and the When…

Note: Please note that at the end of this article there are two webpage links with access to exercise videos referred to throughout this article for novice and intermediate / advanced athletes.

Why it is important?

According to Escamilla JSCR ’12 Young athletes participating in a strength program increased velocity in a much safer manner than those who participated in a throwing program only.

Here is why!

Continue reading “Off-Season Training for High School Ball Players, the How , the Why and the When…”

Release Extension… Why It’s Important and How to Maximize It?

Two pitchers both throwing 90 mph… are they both just as fast? Well, it depends. Just because a pitcher is hitting 90 on the gun does not mean that the batter sees 90, which is what matters most in the game. One of the main factors that affects how fast your pitch looks to the batter is your extension at release, more commonly referred to as release extension. How important is it? and what’s stopping you from maximizing the amount of extension you can get?  Let’s dissect it…

Continue reading “Release Extension… Why It’s Important and How to Maximize It?”

Athlete Highlight – Gettysburg’s Jackson Kammen Exit Velo is up 5-6 mph

Rising College Sophomore, Jackson Kammen joined us this summer for the 3-month college hitting development program. Jackson, a catcher at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, had just finished his freshmen year. At 5’9” and 182 lbs. he is strong and physical. His plan for the summer was to increase his bat speed and exit velocity and generally improve his contact at the plate. He began his summer training in May, and needless to say, a lot has already changed since. Jackson’s bat speed has increased 3 mph while his exit velo now at 91-93, has also increased nearly 5-6 mph.

How did he do it?

Continue reading “Athlete Highlight — Gettysburg’s Jackson Kammen Exit Velo is up 5-6 mph”