Today's podcast is with Brian Bannister, Director of Pitching for the San Francisco Giants. Join us as we discuss a variety of topics including: Developing pitchers in the minor leagues Group think and baseball Short Strengthening Cycle (SSC) and training pitchers Muscle guys vs. tendon guys What’s on the horizon for pitcher development and training Brian played college baseball as a walk-on for USC, where he helped the Trojans to 2 College World Series in 2000 and 2001. He was selected by the M...
Dec 02, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 27
I’ll be flying solo this holiday weekend, covering some of the questions I receive from the audience on the off-season “to-do” list. Off-season is a great time to address a variety of topics that you should deal with to improve in-season performance. Topics will include: Strength training Periodization Cuff work Active recovery vs. a complete shutdown Sequencing What not to do! What you should do! Re-Mapping for efficient mechanics Hope you enjoy this week’s podcast and have a great holiday week...
Nov 25, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 26
In today’s podcast we are sitting down and talking pitching mechanics with Lantz Wheeler. Lantz is the Founder and CEO of the Baseball Think Tank, the inventor of the Core Velocity Belt, and owner and operator of the nationally renowned annual Pitch-a-Palooza conference. And he is definitely no stranger to coaching pitchers. I have known Lantz for many years, and I have been really looking forward to this Podcast. I can tell you listening to Lantz is always highly educational and definitely ente...
Nov 19, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Today’s podcast is with Red Sox pitching coach Brett Merritt. Brett has coached college baseball for over a decade at pretty much all levels of the game, from JUCO to Division 1, prior to joining the professional ranks with the Red Sox in 2020 as the Salem Red Sox pitching coach. Today, Brett talks about all of the “knowledge bombs” that have dropped on him since working his way up the ranks from college to his job with the Red Sox organization, as well as integrating different systems in pro ba...
Nov 11, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Today, we’re discussing the recruiting process with Patrick Jones of Patrick Jones Baseball. Patrick is a graduate of Xavier University where he played baseball. He is also a former hitting coach with the Baltimore Orioles. If you've ever listened to one of his podcasts, you'd know that his passion for the game is bar none and today's discussion on recruiting is no different. Today’s topics include the trends in college recruiting, how to find the right fit, what the portal means for young athle...
Nov 04, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Today's podcast is with RPP Director of Hitting Andrew Pezzuto. Andrew's coaching career goes back to the 2014-2015 when he became a graduate assistant coach at Franklin Pierce University. He has also coached at Shippensburg, Northern Illinois University, Iona College and most recently at Marist college where he was the Hitting Coach / Recruiting Coordinator from 2020-2021. He is a Hastings-on-Hudson, New York native, and a graduate from SUNY Cortland in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in business...
Oct 21, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Today’s podcast is with RPP Pitching Coordinator Alex Kubera on the topic of developing command. In the age of velocity, command sometimes takes a back seat. However, the reality is velocity may get you the look, but command gets you time on the mound. If you can’t “control” the pitch, you won’t be throwing strikes or seeing much playing time. And if you can’t “command” it, then it will be harder to the wins against high level players. Join us as we discuss a variety of great topics related to c...
Oct 12, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Alan Jaeger is the founding partner of Los Angeles-based Jaeger Sports, where some of the most talented baseball players in America go to improve their game. He is most famous for his trademark J-bands, used for conditioning the arm. But his influence on the game far transcends the bands that bear his name. He has been a steady voice in promoting many topics, including extended long-toss, throwing programs and proper recovery and conditioning for the arm. He also has a Zen-like approach to the m...
Oct 07, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Today’s podcast is with the Toronto Blue Jays Pitching and Development Coordinator Cory Popham. Cory has been with the Blue Jays since January 2019 in various capacities as a pitching coach. Previously he was the pitching coach at Post University from 2017–2019 as well as serving as a business analyst at Driveline Baseball in 2016. I have known Cory for several years and I have to say he's always been at the cutting edge. He is a great friend and today we’ll be tackling issues such as breaking t...
Sep 30, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 19
My guest today is Brendan Monaghan, Pitching Coach / Recruiting Coordinator at Rutgers University. He recently completed his 4th and historic season with the Scarlet Knights. This past spring, Rutgers pitchers played a crucial role in setting a program record with 44 wins in 2022. Overall team ERA went from 5.00 in 2021 to 4.22, which was the second-best mark in the Big Ten and 35th in the country. Previously, Monaghan spent three seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Bryan...
Sep 23, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 18
My guest today is Dr. Kristen Nicholson from Wake Forest University, where she has been the Director of the renowned Wake Forest Pitching Lab since October 2018 as the head of biomechanics research. Dr. Nicholson is also currently an Assistant Professor in Orthopedic Surgery at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as well as the President of the Baseball Biomechanics Association. In today's podcast, we’ll talk about the value of motion capture in not only uncovering...
Sep 16, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Today, we're sitting down with Dr. Tyler White. Tyler is a consultant in professional baseball working with organizations and private clients alike. He frequently lectures across the country on ways to improve performance and reduce injury in baseball pitching. His private clients range from high-end prospects to World Series MVP’s and everyone in between. He is the founder of the World Pitching Congress which is a baseball conference that brings some of the top talent in baseball rehab and perf...
Sep 09, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Today, I’m flying solo and answering some questions sent in by our listeners. Topics range from programming with velocity-based training throughout the off-season, training to maintain velo in the later innings as well as tight hamstrings and long term athletic development. A lot here to chew on this week so enjoy and enjoy the long weekend! Ready to take your game to the next level? With our holistic and data-driven approach, experienced coaches, and cutting-edge technology, RPP Baseball takes ...
Sep 03, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 15
My guest today is Dr. Casey Pierce, MD. He is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon, fellowship-trained in sports medicine and arthroscopy. He completed a specialized fellowship at the prestigious American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) in Birmingham, Alabama. At ASMI he polished his surgical techniques learning under world renowned mentors: Dr. James Andrews, Dr. E. Lyle Cain, Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, and Dr. Benton Emblom. Dr. Pierce graduated from St. George's University Of Medicine in 2011. He co...
Aug 26, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 14
My guest today is Sam Sharf. Sam is a Co-Founder of College Sports Advisors (CSA) and serves as the Director of Baseball Operations. He brings with him nearly 10 years of experience guiding families and athletes through the baseball recruiting process. Previously, he was Vice President, and Director of Player Development at Time to Sign Sports for 7 years. He is a graduate of Penn State University, where he was Student Assistant for the Penn State Baseball program (2009-2013). If you’re look for...
Aug 20, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 13
My guest today is Robin Lund, pitching coach at the University of Iowa. Lund is in his fifth season as an assistant coach at Iowa, including having previously worked with the hitters and outfielders during his first season. Lund earned his Bachelor’s Degree in education from Whitworth College and his Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from Eastern Washington. He earned his PhD in Exercise Physiology at the University of Idaho. This past spring, Coach Lund oversaw an Iowa pitching staff that was...
Aug 12, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 12
My guest today is John Wagle, Associate Athletics Director of Sports Performance at Notre Dame University. Today, we’ll be talking about maximizing the relationship within sports performance areas to impact baseball players through enhancing the collaborative efforts between strength and conditioning, nutrition, athletic training and sports psychology. John earned his PhD in Sport Physiology at East Tennessee State. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from Western Illinois Univer...
Aug 05, 2022•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 11
Today we’re going to sit down with Coach "Bomber" from powerhouse JUCO, Sacramento City Community College on the West Coast. We are going to explore what it means to enroll in a junior college program instead of heading straight into a 4-year college, among other topics. This is a great option for many high school athletes for a variety of reasons and this podcast is a great listen on the topic. This past year, Coach "Bomber" began his 18th season as the pitching coach / recruiting coordinator a...
Jul 30, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Today we’re sitting down and talking with Rutgers catcher Nick Cimillo. He was twice named Player of the Year and MAAC Preseason Player of the Year (in his first 2 years of college ball). He also earned Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American, MAAC Rookie of The Year and All-MAAC First Team in 2019. He most recently transferred to Rutgers this past year, where, as a red-shirt Junior he has blown the roof off, holding a .385 batting average and a slugging pct of over 700. Nick was recently name...
Jul 23, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 9
My guest today is Josh Epstein, Pitching Coach at the University of Richmond (Spiders) in Virginia. Josh has over 14 years of collegiate coaching experience with previous stops at Lincoln Memorial, Bloomsburg, Ramapo College and Monmouth. In his three seasons at Monmouth, the Hawks finished second in ERA in the MAAC conference, including an overall 3.21 team ERA after the 2021 campaign. I have known Josh for several years and I have tremendous respect for him. Today we’re going to sit down and t...
Jul 16, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 8
My guest today is Walter Beede, a very interesting guy, with a baseball career that spans over 40 years, as a player, a coach and a father. He attended Fitchburg high school in Massachusetts, where he was All-New England 1st Team as a high school player. He received a scholarship from Arizona State University and was selected by the Chicago Cubs as a 13th round draft pick in 1981. His coaching background is lengthy and extensive. He has been a head coach at the high school, national travel and N...
Jul 09, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Super excited about my guest today, Jerry Weinstein. If there is a guy whose done it all on the coaching / player development side, it's Jerry. He has coached at the High School and collegiate level, including 23 years at Sacramento City College, one of the pre-eminent JUCO baseball programs in the country. He has coached or helped coach in the Pan Am Games, as well as the ’92, ’96 and 2000 Olympics, where he received a Silver and Bronze medal with Team USA. In professional baseball, Jerry has b...
Jul 02, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 6
My guest today is Phillies minor league pitching coach Vic Diaz. He is currently the pitching coach for the Clearwater Threshers, the Single A minor league team for the Philadelphia Phillies. The world of training and coaching pitchers has been turned upside down during the past few years, and no other job has had more thrown at it during this time, as the position of the pitching coach in pro ball. It's fair to say that Vic has been living it. So, tune in as we discuss how all these variables a...
Jun 25, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 5
It gives me great pleasure to introduce today’s guest, right handed pitcher, Josh Loeschorn. I have watched Josh grow-up here at RPP for the past 6-7 years since he was a junior at Butler High School in New Jersey. Josh is 6'3", 215 lbs. and he plays for the Division 1 LIU baseball program. He was recently named the NEC Pitcher of Year, First-Team All-NEC and Collegiate Baseball Second-Team All-American. This spring he was also 2nd in Wins nationwide across the collegiate baseball landscape. Tod...
Jun 17, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Today we’re sitting down with TCU's (Texas Christian University) Zach Dechant and discussing some of the challenges that athletes and coaches face day-in and day-out during the college baseball season, as well as what’s to be expected from the young athletes entering a Division 1 Program. Zach has been at TCU since 2008 and is currently the Assistant Athletic Director of Human Performance and oversees baseball player development. He also handles the development and implementation of the TCU Spor...
Jun 12, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Today’s guest is Randy Sullivan, owner of the Florida Baseball Armory in Lakeland, Florida and author of the books Start with the Pain , Armory Savage Revolution and Engineering the Superhuman Pitching Machine . Randy brings to the table his physical therapy background, blended with strength and conditioning, as well as being one of the foremost authorities that I know of on applying dynamic systems theory and motor learning strategies with OH athletes. In this episode, we’ll be talking about wh...
Jun 01, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Today's interview is with none other than Rob Friedman (aka the Pitching Ninja). I met Rob several years back, while speaking at one of Lantz Wheeler's pitch-a-palooza events. I am very excited about this discussion, as it is my first episode and podcast. Rob is one of the most popular guys in the world of pitching. His video clips and overlays on social media help bring complex pitching concepts to the masses, in simple terms. Rather than explain how "depth" or "tilt" or "spin" made certain pit...
May 24, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 1
