On this episode of Patrick Jones Baseball, Josh Gessner, a right-handed pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization, shares his journey from Australia and Japan to professional baseball, discussing overcoming challenges like the yips and increasing pitching velocity through training methods. Gessner advises aspiring players to know themselves and consider their development needs, emphasizing the value of education alongside athletic pursuits. They highlight personal struggles and coping mechanisms, stressing the mental aspect of overcoming fear and judgment, and discuss simplifying the pitching ..read more

In this podcast episode, Sean Stevens shares his remarkable journey from starting college baseball at 28 to becoming a successful coach at Middle Georgia State University, emphasizing perseverance and dedication despite challenges. He discusses the recruiting process, stressing the importance of building relationships with players and identifying talent both online and through personal interactions. Stevens also highlights the significance of summer collegiate baseball in player development, advocating for players to seize opportunities to showcase their skills and improve draft prospects. Add ..read more

This week we're focusing on the mental side of the game. This is what I've seen separate players over the years. Of course, you have to have the physical skills, but you'd be surprised at how many players have better physical skills but can never seem to put it all together. The reason? The mental game. In today's episode, I'm sharing 7 ways to help players with the mental side of the game. Timestamps: [ 0:44 ] A Player’s Version of Success [ 3:40 ] Plan for Failure  [ 7:23 ] The Process Checklist  [ 9:19 ] Be less negative, Not more Positive [ 11:18 ] The Art of Not Caring&nb ..read more

In this podcast, Mike Brown, the recruiting coordinator at the University of Utah, discusses the details of recruiting players for college baseball programs. Brown shares insights on scholarship allocation, recruiting strategies, and evaluating player potential, emphasizing character traits. They discuss prioritizing key positions like starters, shortstops, catchers, and center fielders for scholarships and recruiting Juco players and transfers. Evaluating high school players involves assessing adaptability and attitude, with a focus on arm action for infielders and hitting mechanics for hitte ..read more

In this podcast, Micah Franklin, the manager of the Oakland Ballers in the Pioneer League, discusses the team's entry into independent baseball, focusing on winning and the challenges of player recruitment. The team's unique approach to signing players, with an initial emphasis on position players, is highlighted, and the coaching staff, including notable names like Don Wakamatsu and J.T. Snow, is introduced. Micah shares insights into the team's spring training schedule and the importance of a specific directional bat path for hitting success. The conversation shifts to Micah's scouting exper ..read more

In this podcast, Dr. Laby discusses sports vision, its accidental entry during his UCLA fellowship, and the sports vision pyramid. He emphasizes starting from the base and individualized care in training. Dr. Laby addresses improving vision from 20/20 to 20/15 or better. He emphasizes the importance of personalized evaluations, and recommending contacts or glasses for focus improvement. He also highlights the complexity of achieving optimal vision, involving considerations of the eye's focus, retina, and brain function. He suggests a careful refraction process to find the right lens and advoca ..read more

In this podcast, Bert Gonzalez, a veteran with over a decade of experience in independent baseball, sheds light on Indy Ball Jobs. Topics discussed include player recruitment, placing talent in various leagues, challenges undrafted players face, and intricacies of player salaries. Gonzalez, the bench coach for the High Point Rockers in the Atlantic League, emphasizes the unique aspects of independent baseball as a legitimate route to the majors. He discusses the cutthroat nature of the game, success stories of undrafted players reaching the big leagues, and his role in player recruitment for t ..read more

In this podcast episode, Patrick Welcomes Ryan Johanson, a recurring guest, to discuss his experiences as a coach in both the private sector and professional baseball. They delve into the challenges of scaling coaching efforts and building effective hitting development systems. Ryan emphasizes the importance of simplifying complex information and understanding how to communicate with players at different levels. The conversation touches on utilizing technology like force plates and 4D motion, as well as the shift in approach when working with youth players versus professionals. Ryan also share ..read more

In this podcast episode, Corey Ritter, a guest with eight years of experience in professional baseball as a strength and conditioning coach and sports science coordinator for the Dodgers, discusses various aspects of player development. The conversation covers topics such as the importance of a global perspective in training, the need for continuous improvement, the role of workload management, and the integration of strength and hitting programs. Ritter emphasizes the significance of assessing athletes over an extended period to tailor training programs effectively. He also touches on the ch ..read more

In this podcast episode, Patrick welcomes Jordan Stamper, Director of Player Development at Campbell Jordan. They discuss the integration of technology in player development, focusing on how coaches can effectively implement it into their programs. Jordan shares his background, emphasizing how his experience at various levels of baseball led him to embrace technology more fully at Campbell. He highlights the importance of metrics and measurements, emphasizing that they are tools for improvement rather than something to fear. Timestamps: [3:26] Navigating Baseball's Tech Evolution [8:34] Pl ..read more