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Podcast #98: Summer Training Considerations for College Athletes

Today I’m flying solo, answering questions regarding playing summer ball (or not). And if so, how to train properly during the hot summer months in order to maintain athleticism. Much of what you will hear is the premise behind our Elite Summer College Programs which begin shortly. Topics will include:

    • Pros and cons
    • To play or not to play… that is the question
    • Finding the right organization and fit
    • Maintaining athleticism throughout the short season

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Podcast #97: Building the Total Athlete, Long Term Athletic Development in Travel Baseball

Today we’re sitting down with Pitching Coordinator Matt Hartshorn and Director of Hitting Andrew Pezzuto, both coaches on the new RPP Revolution 14U travel team. Topics include:

    • Importance of starting LTAD (long-term athletic development) at a young age
    • What to look for in a good travel program
    • Getting baseline numbers and re-assessing

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Podcast #96: Working with Young Athletes and Training Athleticism into Rotation with Eugene Bleecker

This week we’re sitting down with 108 Performance owner and operator Eugene Bleecker to discuss some issues when training young athletes as well as getting more athletic going INTO rotation. Topics Include:

    • Coaching out a “fear of the ball”
    • Hand-eye at the plate
    • Water bag training for DNS

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Athlete Highlight: St. Peter’s Prep’s Chasen Kirk Opens Up Spring with a Bang!

Photo Creds: @r.c.picturesss

Senior Shortstop Chasen Kirk joined us last November in our 4-month off-season program to improve his performance at the plate. Five months later, he’s making his mark in the spring season, currently batting .382 vs .208 the prior year with exit velos 92+ mph.

What’s changed and how did he do it?

Continue reading “Athlete Highlight: St. Peter’s Prep’s Chasen Kirk Opens Up Spring with a Bang!”

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Athlete Highlight: Hunter College HS Junior Justin Lin up from T84 mph to T91 mph

Justin Lin (Class of 2025) is a veteran of the RPP Fam, having joined us in 2021. Needless to say, the gains have been significant. Last fall, Justin came back at 6’1”, 187 lbs. topping out at 84 mph (6/23 PG). After a couple of unfortunate injuries last year, he got after it this off-season and the results are showing. He is now T91 mph and sitting upper 88-90 mph. His fastball velo is up 6-7 mph.  In addition, he has developed one of the best pitching arsenals we have seen at RPP from a high school level player (Trackman results available).

How did he do it?

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How to Build Your Pitching Arsenal w/ Trackman

As many in the baseball world know, Trackman is arguably the best piece of technology when analyzing a pitcher and their pitch metrics. Trackman is a military grade radar that captures metrics such as velocity, spin rate, spin axis, tilt, release angles, approach angles, release height, extension, movement profiles, and more.

How to build your pitching arsenal with Trackman?

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Athlete Highlight: Pascack Hills Junior Anthony Blackford UP 11 mph, T89 mph

RHP Anthony Blackford joined us last September. This is about 8 weeks earlier than most athlete begin their off-season training, but as you will see, Anthony’s gains far exceeded the average gains we generally see. The 6’0” righty topped out at 78 mph when he first came in this past fall. At the finale of the of the off-season he was now touching 88 mph, and recently he touched 89+.

How did he do it?

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Athlete Highlight: North Hunterdon Junior and Rutgers Commit Chris Sand up to 87-89, T90

Rutgers Commit Chris Sand (Class 2025) joined us in September of last year looking to get a head start on the offseason and improve his mechanics, all with the intent of also bringing up his velocity ceiling. The 6’0” right hander came in weighing at  156 lbs. with a FB sitting 85-86, T87 mph in our initial evaluation. Now we sit here in the early part of the high school season and Chris has gained 3-4 mph, sitting 87-89 and T90 mph consistently, with more gains coming this spring and summer.

How did he do it?

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