Baseball Training Aids That Change My Career

Career Changing Baseball Training Aids

Over the last couple of days, I've pulled some parents aside to make training aid recommendations. I only endorse items that have helped me and I can truly say that these two instruments have literally changed my career:

The first one is a must for EVERYONE. The most preferred training aid of any professional hitting instructor. If a hitting guy ever comes to you and says that he does not believe that the batting tee can help a hitter, I will forewarn you that you are wasting your time. Probably the most reliable, and durable batting tee out currently is the Tanner Tee. I have had mine for about 7 or 8 years now. Any tee will suffice but this one I would say is the choice of many colleges and pro teams today.

Secondly, Throw Max. I've had a history of elbow issues, lack of velocity on my throws, and some of the worst mechanics imaginable. I looked like I was trying to throw darts when I picked up a baseball. The Throw Max changed it all. The pain went away, my mechanics completely changed, and I put more mph on my throws because I learned how to throw more with my core and lower half than relying on my arm. If you want to preserve your kid's arm and improve overall throwing performance, you NEED this tool!

Ball HARD,

Raphael Turner

Hitting Professional 

Owner/Operator

UMPerformance.com

Role of the Power Hitter

I happened to run across an incredible article on the role a power hitter plays on a baseball team. Not only does it talk about his responsibility, but some of the other role players that can make up a team also. I cannot stress how important it is for our youth baseball players to understand player roles. It helps win games, establishes accountability amongst teammates, and more than anything helps them LEARN the game. So, take a look into this post and tell me what you think:

http://www.baseballcoachingtips.net/baseball-tips/power-hitters-easy-think-plate/?goback=.gde_1523717_member_5792423489008848896#!

The Importance of Baseball IQ

In my last blog post, I talked about players being coachable and how they should listen to the advice that coaches offer. Well, this time, I would like to take the opportunity to get on my peers just a bit. Just as being coachable is important, delivering great coaching advice should not be undermined either. It is our duty as coaches to be sure that we teach the intricacies of the game that help mold smart players by offering information they can ALWAYS use as they progress through the ranks. Even though we all like to think that our son is the next Justin Upton or Stephen Strasburg, the reality is that it takes a boatload of talent and a world class work ethic to get to where those megastars are in their careers. However, there is something that an athlete can have at ANY level that takes no talent to build upon, and that is Baseball IQ. Baseball IQ is a player’s ability to assess a situation, and the steps necessary to achieve a desired outcome.

 It is a coach’s job to develop and nurture player IQ. In this blog I will talk about not only the misconception of the young mind in baseball, but also use a specific scenario that can help Baseball IQ and how critical it is to evaluate conditions to achieve the desired outcome. As a coach, one of the first things you have to do is understand how the young mind works. To the amateur baseball mind; in player’s and parent’s alike, baseball game is comprised of a pitcher whose job is to strike as many people out as possible and a batter whose job is to get a hit as many times in a game as possible. Do not get me wrong, this can ultimately help a team achieve victory, but not guarantee it at all. To the professional and more seasoned baseball fan, you understand the chess game that is being played, the unintentional-intentional walk, the fielder’s choice, or the lefty versus lefty matchup. It is the small battles within the war that help us all understand the game we love so much more.

Let’s take a specific example: The leadoff hitter is walked and is rewarded first base. The leadoff batter then steals 2nd base. The current batter at the plate grounds out to the 2nd baseman and the leadoff batter is now on 3rd base with one out. How can you score that run from 3rd base? Well, to most young baseball players, and even a lot of parents, 9 times out of 10 they will tell you that the next batter has to get a hit. This is incorrect. It is POSSIBLE; however, incorrect. There are 5 ways to score that run from 3rd base without actually getting a hit, which are:

1. Grounding out
2. Sacrifice fly
3. Scoring on a pass ball
4. Balk
5. Dropped 3rd Strike

With that, you’ve boosted your Baseball IQ in a matter of seconds and learned how to score a run without getting a hit in an inning. The problem is that as coaches and fans, we do not put enough emphasis on the small things that work just as well as homeruns and strikeouts. Take the opportunity to give your kids that “A-ha!” moment that may actually help them become the player they strive to be. Raise Baseball IQs and raise success!

The Best Trait an Athlete Can Ever Have...

Being a coach is one of the greatest feelings in the world. The only thing that seems to out-do coaching, is playing. However, there is still a sense of competitiveness amongst coaches in live games where you get that, “it is you vs. me” type of feeling. Your ability to have the most prepared team in competition is what drives you. The fact of the matter is this however—you need players that fit the mold. It is not necessary that you to go out and find a particular type of player. It all boils down to one specific characteristic that determines how good your team can be and how well your players develop individually. This one characteristic is probably the most understated, intangible, underrated, but most important distinctive trait for any player to have. What is it? Coachability.

Coachability is an athlete’s capacity to listen, decipher, and regurgitate the message of a coach in its physical form. A player’s aptitude in sports directly correlates to how well players listen-- and listening is the first step to being coachable. What makes being coachable so hard for some players, most typically for high school athletes, is the humility that comes along with it. To admit to being coachable is to admit that you are not omniscient or “all-knowing” of your sport. However, once you can accept this fact, then that aptitude will in turn determine your altitude as a player.

There is a lot coachablilty can do for you. It can help you win over your teammates, and more importantly, win over your coaches. It can turn a less talented player into tremendous prospect. But even with that, I think most importantly, the negative effects of what not being coachable can do to you should be considered here, most importantly. It can tear team chemistry apart because a player has his or her own agenda. It can hinder player development for other teammates because too much time is being focused on one player that refuses to take heed to coaching advice. Probably the most detrimental thing it can do is leave an athlete “black-balled” where no coach wants to deal with him or her. Teammates will not associate with the player, and ultimately no coach or team is willing to accept you on their team any longer.

In closing, as coaches, we need to do a better job at showing our athletes how important it is to be coachable and how fun the game can be when our athletes listen. They should be rewarded when doing so, and reprimanded when not. As coaches, we need to do a better job of humbling ourselves, so that in turn we can help humble our players. Let us become better examples, so that we can foster better pupils. And at the end of the day; athletes, you must be coachable because your career depends on it.

UP Athlete Kevin's 10 Month Swing Progress

At one point, more of a reliable out than a a reliable bat, Kevin has made up his mind to change himself as a hitter. Pay attention to some of these key points being talked about in this video. Kevin's evolution as a hitter has not been a short one. It has been swing, after swing, after swing. There have been bad habits formed and good ones. Understand the most, that it has been a process. In no way is his progress done. He will continue to grow as a hitter, we will continue to work, and keep getting better. Great job Kevin and keep up the good work.

Good Luck to the Class of 2017

Turning the page to the next chapter in their careers, this class of 2017 will hopefully earn a chance to make an immediate impact on their new school's programs. New atmosphere, new campus, new program-- this is what they find themselves walking into. Along with finding new friends, new professors, and new challenges over the next four years. 

For Andrew Altamira (Brevard College), Brandon Gragilla (Wake Tech Community College), Pierce Suttles (Western Carolina), and Kyle Bynum (USC Upstate), surely what they look forward to most will be lining up on an all new baseball diamond with all new teammates and their sights set on a common goal of winning a conference championship. All amazing talents individually, at the high school level their senior year, together they compiled a cumulative batting average their senior years of .380, 75 RBI, and 31 doubles. That's enough fire power to keep any high school offense running on all cylinders!

This year, they look to compete for starting positions, and get a better understanding for their team role, and help their teams win. Good luck to the Unmatched Performance college class of 2017!

Kyle Bynum Signs with USC Upstate

The Mallard Creek High School and Unmatched Performance Athletics alumni will be joining the University of South Carolina at Upstate this fall to continue his career in baseball. A great talent and extremely hard worker, Kyle made up his mind after his sophomore year at Mallard Creek that he would begin leaving his mark on Charlotte's I-Meck High School Baseball conference.

That summer he endured an extensive practice regimen that helped him put on 15 pounds of lean muscle, improve his speed which was once above the 7 second mark in the 60-yard dash (a very common method used by college and pro scouts to measure speed), to a more speedy 6.8 seconds. Developing his ability to drive the ball to all fields made it certain that he was well prepared going into his Jr. year.

His Junior year at Mallard Creek was a season to remember, hitting for an average of .411 with 10 doubles, 3 triples, and 25 runs batted in, he was a force in the lineup-- earning himself player of the week honors on a couple of occasions. He went on to have another successful season as a Senior, showing that he could be consistent.

Congratulations Kyle on your many accomplishments but we are certain that there will be more to come at the next level! Follow Kyle this year at the USC Baseball Athletics page.