Elite Baseball Development Podcast

Elite Baseball Development Podcast

By: Eric Cressey

Language: en

Categories: Sports, Baseball, Health, Fitness

The Elite Baseball Development Podcast is a one-stop-shop for baseball development. Please subscribe to get updates for every new show!

Episodes

Pinch Hit Friday #60 - Mapping Out a Calendar for Athletic Development
Jan 10, 2026

In this podcast, Eric speaks to planning out the yearly calendar, prioritizing certain qualities, and accounting for the differences in warm vs. cold weather climates.

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Duration: 00:08:22
Pinch Hit Friday #59 - Random vs. Blocked Practice, with Ronnie Bernick
Jan 02, 2026

In this podcast, Cressey Sports Performance - FL hitting coach Ronnie Bernick highlights the differences between random and blocked practice, and just as importantly, outlines how each can fit into overall development plans for hitters.

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Duration: 00:12:08
219. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and Peripheral Nerve Entrapment with Dr. Eric Wagner and Dr. Robert Bowers
Nov 11, 2025

In this episode, Eric interviews two Emory Healthcare sports medicine physicians, Dr. Eric Wagner and Dr. Robert Bowers, on the complexities of diagnosing and treating thoracic outlet syndrome and peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes. They discuss relevant functional anatomy, the etiology of these conditions, and conservative and surgical management. 

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Duration: 01:28:06
Pinch Hit Friday #58 - Key Competencies for Developing Youth Hitters with Ronnie Bernick
Nov 07, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida hitting coach Ronnie Bernick discusses the key principles in youth hitting development and addresses the misconceptions within the space. He further emphasizes the need for coaches to focus on helping athletes develop body awareness and feel, not just replicate movements.

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Duration: 00:09:50
218. Kevin Neeld on Hockey Hips, Early Sports Specialization, and Work Capacity
Nov 05, 2025

In this episode, Eric chats with Boston Bruins Director of Performance, Kevin Neeld. They discuss the lengthy competitive hockey season, strategies for managing stiff hips, the skill-specific nature of work capacity, and how teams are evaluating and developing hockey athletes. There are many parallels to the baseball world, so this is a great listen for players, parents, and coaches.

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Duration: 01:02:14
Pinch Hit Friday #57 - Spin Misconceptions with Matt Minnick
Oct 31, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida pitching coach Matt Minnick takes a quick dive into what pitchers should know about spin - and more importantly, how they often overvalue spin rate. Matt shares insights on what really matters for creating pitch shape and, in turn, success.

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Duration: 00:06:58
217. Mark Blackburn on What Baseball Can Borrow from Golf
Oct 28, 2025

Renowned golf instructor and PGA Tour consultant Mark Blackburn shares fascinating insights on how the baseball world can borrow a variety of key competencies from the golfing community. From technology, to individualization, to long-term athletic development, this conversation delivered a lot of value for athletes, coaches, and parents alike.

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Duration: 01:12:42
Pinch Hit Friday #56 - Is it Time to Course-Correct in Youth Baseball?
Oct 25, 2025

In this episode, Eric reflects on the yearly baseball calendar and how we're at a crucial point in time where players, parents, and coaches may need to make tough decisions regarding developmental paths.

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Duration: 00:09:38
216. Brett Price on the Evolution of College Baseball Strength and Conditioning
Oct 21, 2025

In this episode, Eric interviews Alabama Baseball strength and conditioning coach Brett Price. They discuss how strength and conditioning has changed in college baseball over the past decade. From technology, to recruiting, to collaboration among support staff, Brett shares some of the key components of Alabama's success.

Duration: 00:28:47
Pinch Hit Friday #55 - Growth Spurts and Movement Quality
Oct 18, 2025

In this episode, Eric discusses both the challenges and benefits youth athletes experience during adolescent growth spurts.

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Duration: 00:06:46
215. Understanding the Sports Hernia: What's a Core Muscle Surgery?
Oct 14, 2025

In this episode, Eric goes into detail on the sports hernia diagnosis, from symptoms, to functional anatomy, to preventative training and treatments, to surgical interventions. Also known as athletic pubalgia and core muscle surgery, this is a modern sports medicine challenge that all practitioners should seek to understand.

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Duration: 00:20:17
Pinch Hit Friday #54 - When in Doubt, Chase Scapular Posterior Tilt
Oct 11, 2025

In this episode, Eric discusses the findings of a recent study that looked at the injury implications of scapular positioning in a population of baseball pitchers. More importantly, he offers a rationale for how these injuries occur, and what training modifications need to be in place to keep pitchers healthy.

Duration: 00:10:22
214. Retirement Reflections and Coaching Kids with Steve Cishek
Oct 07, 2025

In this episode, retired MLB relief pitcher Steve Cishek returns to the podcast to reflect on his career, share insights for up-and-coming players, and comment on what he's learned as he's transitioned into coaching youth and high school sports.

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Duration: 00:38:58
Pinch Hit Friday #53 - Eric Schoenberg on the Power of Consistency
Oct 04, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida physical therapist Eric Schoenberg emphasizes how realistic it is to achieve outstanding results through small, repeated actions. These lessons are especially important in the world of baseball sports medicine, where health and high performance are predicated on controlling movement in narrow windows.

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Duration: 00:12:44
213. Dr. Tera Giroux on Low Back Pain, Diagnostic Imaging, and Manual Therapy
Sep 30, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida chiropractor Dr. Tera Giroux covers a wide variety of sports medicine topics. We discuss the management of acute vs. chronic low back pain, the role of diagnostic imaging, and the who/what/when/where/why of manual therapy interventions.



Duration: 00:42:14
Pinch Hit Friday #52 - Eric Schoenberg on the Dangers of Rushing Return-to-Play
Sep 26, 2025

In this episode, physical therapist Eric Schoenberg outlines the dangers of returning to play too soon following an injury or surgery. He digs in on the rationale for rushing, research surrounding expedited recovery, and discusses why patience pays off.

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Duration: 00:11:24
212. Spencer Stockton on Hypermobility, Sequencing, and Leveraging Data vs. "Feel"
Sep 23, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida pitching coach Spencer Stockton covers a wide variety of topics. Spencer reflects on the training and mechanical cues that benefited him the most as a hypermobile pitcher. Taking it a step further, he digs in on the power of motion capture technology, and coaching with a combination of data and "feel."

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Duration: 00:47:19
Pinch Hit Friday #51 - 3 Reasons the MLB Amateur Recovery Period Policy Will Curb Injuries
Sep 19, 2025

In this episode, Eric comments on the new MLB Amateur Recovery Period Policy, and outlines the specific reasons it'll help to attenuate the rapid increase in pitching injuries over the past 20 years.

Duration: 00:08:52
211. Understanding NIL, the Transfer Portal, and the New Era of College Recruiting with Walter Beede
Sep 16, 2025

In this episode, two-time guest Walter Beede shares new developments since his 2022 appearance with respect to name-image-likeness deals and the transfer portal. Walter also makes predictions on where college recruiting is headed in the years ahead.

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Duration: 01:03:49
Pinch Hit Friday #50 - Prioritization of the Acute Program Variables
Sep 12, 2025

In this episode, Eric outlines the acute programming variables for any training regimen, and then discusses how coaches should prioritize each of these components for safe, effective programs.

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Duration: 00:07:42
210. High-Performance Speed Testing and Training with 1080 Motion
Sep 09, 2025

In this episode, Eric chats with Adam Rolf and Matt Tometz from 1080 Motion, an innovative technology that assists with both testing and training acceleration and deceleration. From performance enhancement to injury prevention, this conversation offers some tremendous insights on how to individualize training prescriptions for athletes who want to move faster safely. 

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Duration: 00:52:50
Pinch Hit Friday #49 - Does Throwing Weighted Baseballs Increase Pitching Injuries?
Sep 05, 2025

In this episode, Eric discusses the findings from a recent study that looked at weighted baseball usage and pitching injuries in professional baseball players.

This is a hot topic, so it's important to understand all the factors that influence whether a pitcher gets hurt using weighted balls.

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Duration: 00:11:36
Pinch Hit Friday #48 - The Recovery Hierarchy
Aug 29, 2025

In this episode, Eric covers the important inclusions in an athlete's approach to recovery, and more importantly, how each component should be prioritized for comprehensive recovery environment.

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Duration: 00:10:48
Pinch Hit Friday #47 - 5 Common Mistakes with Medicine Ball Exercises
Aug 22, 2025

Medicine ball workouts are essential for any rotational sport athlete, but that's not to say that there aren't a lot of programming and technique mistakes that can interfere with their benefits. In this podcast, Eric covers his top five mistakes with medicine ball exercises. 

Be sure to check out www.CresseyMedBall.com to learn more about his comprehensive Medicine Ball Masterclass, which is on sale for 25% off this week.

Duration: 00:11:04
Pinch Hit Friday #46 - The Biggest Early Off-Season Training Mistake
Aug 15, 2025

In this episode, Eric talks about how an offseason calendar should be structured for baseball players of all ages, with a specific focus on how to make the most of the first month of the offseason.

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Duration: 00:09:01
Pinch Hit Friday #45 - 5 Mistakes That Stall Progress, with Spencer Stockton
Aug 08, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida pitching coach Spencer Stockton highlights five unfavorable practices that prevent athletes from reaching their potential. These are some great lessons for athletes of all ages and levels of competition.

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Duration: 00:10:24
Pinch Hit Friday #44 - When Adaptation Happens Too Quickly
Aug 01, 2025

In this episode, Eric discusses structural maladaptation during youth athletic development, and how early sports specialization is high-risk with unproven long-term payoff.

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Duration: 00:09:38
Pinch Hit Friday #43 - 6 Little League Elbow Considerations
Jul 25, 2025

In this episode, Eric shares his experiences in dealing with little league elbow, and outlines important considerations for parents and coaches when managing an injured player with this diagnosis.

Duration: 00:13:43
Pinch Hit Friday #42 - 6 Strategies for Writing High-Performance Programs
Jul 18, 2025

In this episode, Eric shares six key approaches for efficiently writing effective training programs. Whether you work in the rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, general fitness, or sport-specific realm, these strategies are universally applicable.

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Duration: 00:12:58
Pinch Hit Friday #41 - Return to Play vs. Return to Performance
Jul 11, 2025

In this episode, Eric highlights the three levels of rehab success: return to play, return to same level of play, and return to performance. These are important "levels" to understand as we manage athlete expectations during rehabilitation programs.

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Duration: 00:08:47
Pinch Hit Friday #40 - 6 Sleep Strategies for Athletes
Jul 04, 2025

In this episode, Eric provides suggestions for athletes looking to optimize sleep and, in turn, their performance. Prioritizing sleep is a high-payoff activity not only for athletes, but anyone looking to improve quality of life.

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Duration: 00:12:57
Pinch Hit Friday #39 - Identifying, Preserving, and Developing Rotational Superpowers
Jun 27, 2025

Elite rotational qualities are what make many athletes great, but traditional strength and conditioning approaches sometimes limit the expression of this superpower. In this episode, Eric shares how to identify, preserve, and develop rotational patterns for athletes that leverage these proficiencies for high-level performance.

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Duration: 00:09:54
Pinch Hit Friday #38 - The 7 Characteristics of Durable Baseball Players
Jun 20, 2025

In this episode, Eric highlights traits he sees in players who aren't just successful on-field over the long haul, but also durable in the process.


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Duration: 00:15:34
Pinch Hit Friday #37 - 5 Secrets for Summer Baseball Success
Jun 13, 2025

Summer baseball is here! In this episode, Eric shares insights - from staying healthy to optimizing performance - on how to make the most of this experience.

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Duration: 00:10:23
Pinch Hit Friday #36 - Banning One-Size-Fits-All Arm Care Programs
Jun 06, 2025

In this episode, Eric highlights the shortcomings of one-size-fits-all arm care programs in our quest to keep pitchers healthy. At a time when pitcher injury rates are soaring, we need to avoid excessively reductionist thinking.


Duration: 00:08:27
Pinch Hit Friday #35 - The Most Important Word in Youth Sports
May 30, 2025

In this episode, Eric highlights the challenges facing parents of young athletes today, and offers guidance on how to handle the pressures of being pulled in many directions for youth sports participation.

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Duration: 00:07:08
Pinch hit Friday #34 - The Top 5 Plyo Throw Mistakes with Austin Henrich
May 23, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida pitching coach Austin Henrich digs in on the most common mistakes he sees with baseball players doing plyo throws. From poor technique, to incorrect drill selection, to incorrect intensity, he shares insights that can improve any throwing program.

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Duration: 00:10:14
Pinch Hit Friday #33 - Adaptation Should Be Earned, Not Assumed
May 16, 2025

In this episode, Eric talks about why it's vital to have both objective and subjective measures to evaluate athlete adaptation to training interventions. He also digs in on why individualization becomes even more important as athletes progress in their development.

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Duration: 00:12:47
Pinch Hit Friday #32 - Variability, Random Practice, and Youth Development
May 09, 2025

In this episode, Eric talks about why variability is a bell curve that's particularly challenging to manage in a sport like baseball that, at times, demands so much precision. Learn about random vs. blocked practice and what long-term athletic development strategies parents and coaches can employ with youth baseball players.

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Duration: 00:14:46
Pinch Hit Friday #31 - Stress, Recovery, and Adaptation
May 02, 2025

In this episode, Eric talks about the differences between favorable and unfavorable stressors and how they each drive different adaptations. Before you try to add something that may help, start by removing things that definitely hurt.

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Duration: 00:06:24
Pinch Hit Friday #30 - Oblique Strains: Causes and Prevention
Apr 25, 2025

In this episode, Eric talks about both causes of oblique strains and preventative strategies for rotational athletes looking to avoid them in the first place.

Duration: 00:09:55
Pinch Hit Friday #29 - Neck Care During Arm Care
Apr 18, 2025

In this podcast, Eric discusses the challenges that come with over-recruiting the neck musculature during arm care exercises. He also shares some positioning and coaching strategies to reduce neck tone.

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Duration: 00:10:55
Pinch Hit Friday #28 - Low-Hanging Fruit for High School Athletes with Brandon Holup and Spencer Stockton
Apr 11, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida pitching coach Spencer Stockton and strength and conditioning coach Brandon Holup highlight actionable strategies for high school athletes to quickly make progress. Whether you're a player, coach, or parent, these recommendations can be difference makers!

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Duration: 00:11:40
Pinch Hit Friday #27 - Structure and Function in the Throwing Shoulder
Apr 04, 2025

In this episode, Eric highlights important anatomical considerations in the throwing shoulder. Learn about arthrokinematics and osteokinematics and what they mean for keeping overhead athletes healthy.

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Duration: 00:08:16
209. Chris Martin on College Baseball Strength and Conditioning
Apr 01, 2025

In this episode, Eric is joined by LSU Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coach Chris Martin. He discusses the differences in both job responsibilities and player development between professional and college baseball, reflects on his use of technology in his current role, and offers advice to up-and-coming players who aspire to compete at the Division 1 baseball level.

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Duration: 00:59:42
Pinch Hit Friday #26 - 3 Thoughts on Baseball Speed Development
Mar 28, 2025

In this episode, Eric shares three key considerations for developing baseball speed and agility programs.

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Duration: 00:11:19
208. Understanding the Law of Repetitive Motion
Mar 25, 2025

In this episode, Eric discusses the Law of Repetitive Motion, which helps to explain why traumatic and overuse injuries occur. The I = NF/AR equation can be an invaluable tool for programming and coaching healthy and injured athletes alike.


Duration: 00:14:33
Pinch Hit Friday #25 - Avoiding the Recency Bias Trap
Mar 21, 2025

In this episode, Eric talks about the concept of recency bias and how it can lead athletes to make poor decisions with both their strength and conditioning and baseball preparation routines.

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Duration: 00:06:35
207. Nathan Mirochnick on Making the Most of Motion Capture in Pitchers
Mar 18, 2025

In this episode, Eric interviews Cressey Sports Performance - Florida Director of Pitching Nathan Mirochnick. They talk about the wealth of information pitchers can draw from motion capture assessment of the pitching delivery, highlighting the key concepts of sequencing that underpin every healthy, high-level delivery.

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Duration: 00:39:26
Pinch Hit Friday #24 - Ryan Conroy on Between-Pitch Routines
Mar 14, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance - Florida pitching coach Ryan Conroy speaks to the importance of having a solid between-pitch routine and offers insights on how pitchers can go about establishing this crucial process for themselves.

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Duration: 00:08:11
206. Dr. Keith Baar on Bulletproofing Tendons and Ligaments
Mar 11, 2025

In this episode, Eric interviews world-renowned muscle physiology researcher Dr. Keith Baar to apply his tendon- and ligament-specific research to the world of baseball sports medicine.

Visit our sponsor, Marc Pro, and enter coupon code CRESSEY to receive a special discount.

Duration: 01:25:01
Pinch Hit Friday #23 - Leveraging the Cross-Transfer Effect
Mar 07, 2025

In this episode, Eric discusses the importance of continuing to safely train athletes during post-surgical periods, including those involving immobilization. In particular, he highlights the benefits of the cross-transfer effect.

Head to www.AncoreTraining.com and enter coupon code CRESSEY at checkout to save 10% on your order.

Duration: 00:09:17
205. Spondy What? The Scoop on Stress Fractures in Adolescent Spines
Mar 04, 2025

In this episode, Eric discusses spondylolysis, the clinical term for a stress fracture of the spine. These issues are commonly seen with adolescent athletes involved in extension and rotation sports, and he highlights causes, diagnoses, treatments, and prevention strategies for both spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.

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Duration: 00:33:42
Pinch Hit Friday #22 - Training vs. Competition Maxes
Feb 28, 2025

In this episode, Eric speaks to the differences between training and competition maxes in strength sports like powerlifting, but applies these principles to developing pitchers.

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Duration: 00:07:31
204. Joey Wolfe on Developing Youth Catchers
Feb 25, 2025

Eric is joined by Joey Wolfe, who shared a wealth of knowledge surrounding the development of catchers. From game-calling, to receiving, to blocking, to throwing, to pitcher and umpire relationship, this episode has a lot to offer for players, coaches, and parents.

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Duration: 00:54:40
Pinch Hit Friday #21 - Ryan Conroy on Velocity-Based Throwing Programs
Feb 21, 2025

In this episode, Cressey Sports Performance pitching coach Ryan Conroy discusses the value of tracking velocity in throwing programs rather than just adhering rigidly to distance.

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Duration: 00:11:53
203. Sean Guenther on Count Control, Horizontal Approach Angle, and High-Leverage Situations
Feb 18, 2025

In this episode, Eric welcomes Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Sean Guenther for an in-depth discussion on how he reinvented his career with a new pitching arsenal, a mentality shift, and a new awareness of why his stuff is unique and effective. He shares insights on Tommy John surgery rehab and speaks to key long-term athletic development strategies from his improvements during college baseball.

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Duration: 00:32:48
Pinch Hit Friday #20 - The 7 Pitching Stressors
Feb 14, 2025

In this episode, Eric highlights seven key variables to consider when examining the overall throwing-specific stress a pitcher encounters.

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Duration: 00:09:18
202. Reinventing the Return-to-Throwing Program with Alan Jaeger and Randy Sullivan
Feb 11, 2025

In this episode, Eric chats with Alan Jaeger and Randy Sullivan about their proposed adjustments to classic long-term throwing programs after elbow and shoulder surgeries.

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Duration: 01:14:08
Pinch Hit Friday #19 - Spencer Stockton on Managing Pitcher Workload
Feb 07, 2025

In this episode, guest contributor and Cressey Sports Performance pitching coach Spencer Stockton discusses some of the key considerations for managing pitcher workloads. He digs in on "big rock" principles, the need for auto-regulation, and an awareness of when in the yearly calendar pitchers are most susceptible to injury.

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Duration: 00:10:34
201. Tyler Phillips on High School Draft Pick Success and Owning Your Career
Feb 04, 2025

We welcome Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Tyler Phillips to the latest podcast for an awesome conversation on his path to the big leagues. Tyler speaks to his initial struggles in professional baseball as a high school draft pick, and adjustments he had to make as both a teammate and pitcher. He discusses the importance of mentorship from veteran players, and leaning on mental skills coaches to help with the sports psychology aspect of his preparation. Tyler shares lessons learned from Tommy John surgery rehab, and reflects on both training and pitching adjustments that have favorably shaped his path to the...

Duration: 00:53:57
Pinch Hit Friday #18 - Steps Back Are Okay
Jan 31, 2025

In this episode, Eric - using the example of a CSP MLB pitcher client - highlights the need for peaks and valleys of various athletic qualities over the course of an athlete's long-term development. It's okay to take a step back to take two steps forward!

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Duration: 00:08:18
200. Dr. Keith Meister on How Pitching Injuries Have Evolved - and What to Do About Them
Jan 28, 2025

We welcome Texas Rangers team doctor and renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister for a conversation on baseball's injury epidemic. Dr. Meister shares how injuries have evolved in the overhead throwing athlete over the course of his career; outlines causative factors; and proposes some potential solutions to attenuate the problem.

Visit our sponsor, Marc Pro, at https://www.MarcPro.com/cressey and enter coupon code CRESSEY at checkout for a special discount on your order.


Duration: 00:52:23
Pinch Hit Friday #17 - 5 Inseason Training Tips
Jan 24, 2025

In this episode, Eric shares some thoughts on making the most of inseason training. He digs in on the different approaches needed for beginner vs. advanced athletes, and how his perspectives have changed over the years on a few different inseason training considerations.

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Duration: 00:10:43
Pinch Hit Friday #16 - When and How Should My Kid Start Strength and Conditioning?
Jan 17, 2025

Eric often gets questions from the parents of 9-12 year-old athletes about when and how kids should get started with formal strength and conditioning. In this episode, Eric discusses key considerations and outlines best practices for setting the stage for making progress and cultivating a favorable relationship with exercise for the long haul.

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Duration: 00:15:33
Pinch Hit Friday #15 - Shoulder Order of Operations
Jan 10, 2025

In this episode, Eric discusses how the mathematical concept of order of operations can be applied to assessing, programming, and coaching at the shoulder.

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Duration: 00:08:24
Pinch Hit Friday #14 - The Truth About Scap Loading
Jan 03, 2025

In this episode, Eric digs in on the concept of "scap loading," a portion of the pitching delivery that's been heavily misunderstood and, in turn, coached incorrectly by those evaluating pitching mechanics.

Head to www.AncoreTraining.com and enter coupon code CRESSEY at checkout to save 10% on your order.

Duration: 00:08:21
Pinch Hit Friday #13 - Training Tall Athletes
Dec 27, 2024

In this podcast, Eric outlines the challenges we face with training tall athletes, and highlights important training and nutrition strategies to employ with this population. Finally, he emphasizes the need for patience when training these athletes, as they are typically longer-term projects - but ones with very high (bad pun) upside.

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Duration: 00:13:03
Pinch Hit Friday #12 - Projectability, Injury Risk, and Protecting Young Arms
Dec 20, 2024

In this podcast, Eric discusses some of the findings from MLB's recently released report on pitching injuries, and shares his opinion on the most crucial takeaway and actionable items.

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Duration: 00:13:00
Pinch Hit Friday #11 - 10 More Key Characteristics of Good Assessments
Dec 13, 2024

In part 2 of this podcast series on assessments, Eric shares ten more important strategies for making the most of athlete assessments to set the stage for better programs and coaching interventions.

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Duration: 00:17:27
Pinch Hit Friday #10 - 10 Key Characteristics of Good Assessments
Dec 06, 2024

In this podcast, Eric discusses important strategies for making the most of athlete assessments to set the stage for better programs and coaching interventions.

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Duration: 00:14:20
Pinch Hit Friday #9 - Vacation Training Tips
Nov 29, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're often asked by athletes what they should do for training when they're away from the gym for a bit, whether it's for a holiday, vacation, wedding, honeymoon, bachelor party, or something else. In this podcast, Eric discusses the merits of mixing in some training while you're on the road - and also highlights how to get in the most important work in the most efficient way possible. With the holidays upon us, this episode is timely.

Head to www.MarcPro.com and enter the coupon code...

Duration: 00:12:03
Pinch Hit Friday #8 - The Nutritional Tipping Point Age
Nov 22, 2024

In this podcast, Eric discusses how the impact of poor nutrition isn't often appreciated until it's too late in an athlete's career.

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Duration: 00:07:23
Pinch Hit Friday #7 - Where to Look When Injuries Don't Make Sense
Nov 15, 2024

Ever wondered why an athlete might have pain even though a MRI or x-ray was "clean?" In this podcast, Eric discusses some potential outside-the-box causes of weird sports medicine challenges.

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Duration: 00:09:51
Pinch Hit Friday #6 - Don't Overlook the Thumb
Nov 08, 2024

In this episode, Eric discusses the functional anatomy of the thumb and outlines its importance for both pitching and hitting - and how taking care of it can both improve performance and reduce the risk of injury in a baseball population.

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Duration: 00:08:00
Pinch Hit Friday #5 - The Perils of Cross-Training
Nov 01, 2024

Cross-training is an important inclusion in any long-term athletic development model, but that doesn't mean that every athlete is prepared for every endeavor. Eric shares insights to optimize this key strategy for all strength and conditioning coaches and programs.

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Duration: 00:07:05
Pinch Hit Friday #4 - "Tightness" vs. Cemented Joints
Oct 25, 2024

In this episode, Eric outlines the factors that create the feeling of "tightness;" the difference between stiff and short tissues; and how some joints develop bony overgrowth over time.

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Duration: 00:08:25
Pinch Hit Friday #3 - The Problem with Narrow Exercise Selections
Oct 18, 2024

The weight room isn't just a place to get strong; it's also a realm in which we can build a rich proprioceptive environment and enhance transfer to sport skills - all while reducing the risk of overuse injuries.

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Duration: 00:07:03
Pinch Hit Friday #2 - When Rehab Goes Wrong
Oct 11, 2024

In this installment, Eric talks about some of the "bad outcome categories" you may see when rehabilitation programs aren't approached correctly. This is a follow-up to last week's installment relating to Tommy John Surgery rehabilitation failures.

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Duration: 00:07:29
Pinch Hit Friday #1 - Who Fails with Tommy John Rehab?
Oct 04, 2024

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Duration: 00:12:18
199. 7 Reasons Young Athletes Don't Make Long-Term Progress
Aug 27, 2024

Many folks think that Cressey Sports Performance only works with professional athletes, but the truth is that we have a long history of training kids in the middle, high school, and college ranks, too. In fact, since 2012, we've had 251 Major League Baseball draft picks from this amateur pool, so you could say that we've seen our fair share of "what works" for young athletes. Unfortunately, we've also seen what doesn't work, and that's the focus of today's podcast.

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Duration: 00:34:16
198. Dr. Ryan Hansen on Healthy, High-Performing Feet
Aug 20, 2024

We welcome Cressey Sports Performance chiropractor and manual therapist Dr. Ryan Hansen to the podcast to discuss all things foot and ankle. Ryan speaks to both the structure and function of the foot, with specific focus on common injuries in this region, and the impact of footwear.

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 an exclusive discount on your order.

Duration: 01:10:45
197. Will Waterman on Proteus Predictions for Hitting and Pitching Velocities
Aug 13, 2024

We welcome physical therapist and Proteus Motion Director of Performance Will Waterman to the latest podcast. Our first ever three-time guest, Will has some exciting Proteus data collection results to share. Will speaks to predictors of hitting and pitching velocities, and shares some compelling data that demonstrates how a rotational athlete's height may impact how they need to attack the force-velocity curve. We talk about "powerpenia" and male/female differences in power production trends as well. This is a great conversation that has already impacted the way I program for athletes.

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Duration: 01:01:54
196. Corey Muscara on Leveraging Technology in Pitching Development
Aug 06, 2024

We welcome Wake Forest Pitching Coach Corey Muscara for a far-reaching discussion of developing pitchers. He speaks to leveraging technology, attacking hitters, optimizing pitch arsenals, and embracing outlier qualities. Corey also shares invaluable insights on college recruiting and how the transfer portal and NIL dynamic have dramatically changed the recruiting landscape.

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Duration: 01:07:57
195. David Peralta on Habits, Adjustments, Perseverance for 10 Years of MLB Service Time
Jul 30, 2024

We welcome San Diego Padres outfielder David Peralta to the latest podcast for an awesome conversation on the hard work, adjustments, and perseverance it's taken for him to get to 10 years of MLB service time. David speaks to converting from a pitcher to outfielder; how hitting has evolved during his career; and key lessons he emphasizes to up-and-coming players. He also shares insights on the challenges young Latin American players face when they first enter pro ball.

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Duration: 00:42:05
194. Dr. William Kraemer on Strength and Conditioning Education, Research, and Practice
Jul 23, 2024

We welcome accomplished strength and conditioning educator, researcher, and practitioner Dr. William Kraemer to the latest podcast. With over four decades of experience, Dr. Kraemer shares a fascinating history of the evolution of the strength and conditioning and - just as importantly - insights on where it's headed.

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Duration: 01:06:03
193. July 2024 Q&A: Scapular Winging, Decreased Velocity, and Toe Spacers
Jul 16, 2024

It’s time for another listener Q&A! In this week's podcast, Eric covers three questions from our audience relating to scapular winging/dyskinesis, diminished pitching velocity, and toe spacers.

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 an exclusive discount on your order.

Duration: 00:30:49
192. Kevin Vance on College Recruiting, Culture Change and Bullpen Frequency
Jul 09, 2024

We welcome University of Arizona Pitching Coach Kevin Vance to the latest podcast. In his first year with the Wildcats, the pitching staff improved dramatically and the team won both the Pac-12 regular season title and conference tournament. In this conversation, Kevin shares some of the key initiatives that drove this success, as well what important cultural adjustments they made to carry them out. We discuss the changing college recruiting landscape, particular with respect to the transfer portal and name-image-likeness dynamic. This is an excellent listen for players, parents, and coaches alike.

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Duration: 00:48:55
191. Dave Wallace on Five Decades of Pitching Development
Jul 02, 2024

We welcome wildly experienced MLB pitching coach Dave Wallace to the latest podcast. With over five decades in professional baseball – beginning with a career of his own – Dave has served in roles ranging from minor league pitching coach all the way up to MLB General Manager. “Wally” has played an important role in the development and success of some of the best pitchers in the game since the 1980s, and in this interview, you’ll see why he’s so well respected across the game and still sought out for his expertise even as baseball has evolved tremendously. We discuss pitc...

Duration: 01:07:17
190. Justin Su'a on Establishing Processes, Solidifying Confidence, and Failing Forward
Apr 19, 2024

We welcome process and development coach Justin Su'a to the podcast for a deep dive into how athletes can establish good processes, separate out bad outcomes, and build unshakable confidence. Justin brings a wealth of knowledge from his work with a variety of sports and the military, so there's something for everyone in this discussion. I found myself intrigued as a coach, business owner, father, and husband throughout the entire conversation.

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Duration: 01:24:51
189. Luka Hocevar on Strength and Conditioning Non-Negotiables
Apr 12, 2024

We welcome strength and conditioning coach Luka Hocevar to the podcast for a thorough discussion on a variety of physical preparation topics, ranging from coach development, to program design, to athlete assessment. Luka also spoke to some key factors that contribute to so much athletic success in his native country of Slovenia as well. If you’re an up-and-coming coach, you’ll find this to be an extremely beneficial episode. And, if you’re a player, Luka’s story will yield a lot of perspective on how hard you have to chase your dreams.

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Duration: 01:27:34
188. 31 Questions to Ask During the College Recruiting/Selection Process
Apr 05, 2024

This week’s podcast might be the most important one that I’ve ever done, as it outlines a list of questions that I think every baseball family should have in the back of their minds as they approach the college recruiting/selection process. At Cressey Sports Performance, we’ve worked with countless high school kids who’ve gone through this process, and we’ve learned a lot of the norms, seen a lot of the common mistakes, and helped a lot of folks navigate these challenging times.

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Duration: 00:39:31
187. Mike Boyle on Long-Term Athletic Development, Inseason Training, and Training Your Own Kids
Mar 29, 2024

Joining Eric on this week's episode is Mike Boyle, a leading expert in Strength and Conditioning with a career spanning over four decades. He co-founded Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning in 1996, focusing on training athletes from junior high to professional levels. Before this, Boyle was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Boston University for 15 years and has since served as an assistant coach, primarily for the ice hockey team. He has also worked with the Boston Bruins, the 1998 US Women's Olympic Ice Hockey Team,  and for the World Champion Boston Red Sox. He shares good insight into long-term a...

Duration: 01:22:13
186. March 2024 Q&A: Sleep Tracking, Work Capacity, and Tendinopathy Wordplay
Mar 22, 2024

It’s time for another listener Q&A, Eric covers three questions from our audience in this week’s podcast that touch on Sleep Tracking, Work Capacity, and Tendinopathy Wordplay.

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Duration: 00:25:21
185. Eric Hosmer on Rookie Success, Adjusting to Competition, and the Evolution of Hitting
Mar 15, 2024

We welcome recently retired 13-year MLB veteran first baseman Eric Hosmer to the latest podcast. We discuss his path to being a #3 overall MLB draft pick, and what made him not only a fast riser through the minor leagues, but also a guy who immediately “stuck” in the big leagues. Eric speaks to how a young Royals team ascended to a World Series championship, and how the game evolved – especially for hitters – over the course of his career. He also reflects on what strategies kept him durable, and how various coaches impacted him along the way.

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Duration: 00:44:14
184. Pat Rigsby on Finding Value in Where Others Miss It - in Baseball and in Business
Mar 08, 2024

Joining Eric on today's podcast is former college baseball coach turned entrepreneur and business coach, Pat Rigsby. He shares his journey which included becoming the youngest head college baseball coach in the country and how those early coaching days made a massive impact on his business to help him be a successful entrepreneur.

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Duration: 00:57:14
183. Bill Parisi on Fascia Aware Training
Mar 01, 2024

We're excited to welcome Bill Parisi back to the podcast for a second appearance. He speaks to his expanded view on the fascia system, and some practical applications for improving training programs with "fascia aware" training. Bill highlights some excellent takeaways from his new book, "Fascia Training in Application."

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Duration: 01:07:53
182. Ryan Feltner on College Development, Cold Weather Pitching, and Altitude Adjustments
Feb 23, 2024

We welcome Rockies' pitcher Ryan Feltner to the latest podcast. A Cressey Sports Performance athlete since college, Ryan speaks into his development, from growing up in the Midwest, to attending Ohio State, to being drafted by the Rockies.  He shares the complexities of pitching at altitude and also discusses how the cancelled MiLB 2020 season prepared him to jump from single-A to the MLB in 2021. 

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Duration: 00:42:07
181. Developing College Pitchers with John O'Neil and Eric Cressey
Feb 16, 2024

After a brief podcast hiatus to stockpile some content, we are back with a new episode, this time with Cressey Sports Performance – MA co-owner and Director of Performance John O’Neil as my co-host. We dig in on key competencies with developing college pitchers, highlighting the important considerations that have paved the way for success in our summer development programs (you can learn more about them: Massachusetts and Florida). This is an invaluable listen for players, coaches, parents, and support staff alike.  

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Duration: 01:06:30
180. Dan Swinscoe on Essential Clinical Skills and Rehab Approaches
Jan 05, 2024

Joining Eric on this week's podcast is Dan Swinscoe, a physical therapist and strength and conditioning specialist. With over 30 years of experience treating and learning from his patients, and having faced several substantial injuries of his own, Dan brings a unique perspective to solving movement problems. He has been entrusted with the rehabilitation and training of athletes from the NFL, MLB, WNBA, professional golf, as well as many local doctors and their families. Dan is specialty trained and certified by the Titleist Performance Institute and Golf Digest as a Golf Medical and Golf Fitness Professional. Additionally, he holds certifications...

Duration: 01:06:32