The latest MoreThanVelocity podcast covers Zach Dials and John Geisel from Bullpen Pitching & Performance Training, a top-tier training facility in Northern Virginia. From guiding high school players to the big leagues, Bullpen is redefining player development with a "grinder mentality" and a focus on building self-reliant, resilient athletes.

Zach and John break down how they use data-driven assessments and arm care programming to create personalized, efficient routines that help athletes reach their peak while avoiding burnout. They share insights on their unique process, from initial assessments to weekly progress tracking, and discuss how they balance elite training and foster a strong, supportive culture.

🔗 Bullpen Website: https://www.thebullpenpitching.com/

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bullpenpitching/

In this episode of More Than Velocity, the ArmCare team sits down with Erik Wagle, the CEO of Kinetic Performance Institute (KPI), a premier baseball training facility in Silicon Valley.

Erik shares his insights on leveraging real-time data and technology to improve player performance, especially focusing on how KPI uses the ArmCare sensor to prevent injuries and enhance athlete longevity.

Listen in as Erik discusses the challenges of balancing performance demands and player health, uses objective data to make tough decisions, and shares a remarkable case study about a player who avoided injury and ramped up his performance through careful monitoring.

Key topics include:

• The use of tech like force plates and ArmCare sensors to track player readiness.
• How objective data informs decisions on athlete training and game-readiness.
• Real-world examples of injury prevention and performance optimization.
• The importance of collaboration between private trainers, team coaches, and medical staff.

Don’t miss this deep dive into the science of player performance and injury prevention with Erik Wagle and the team.

You can follow Eric on Twitter at https://x.com/erikwagle11

Check out KPI at https://www.kpimh.com/

Dive into the world of sports medicine with Michael Voltz, founder of The Movement Science Project. He also has experienced physical therapist and athletic trainer, shares his passion for aiding overhead athletes, drawing from his work with USA Baseball, USA Diving, and the United States Olympic Training Center.

As an instructor with Evidence in Motion and a speaker on sports injuries and dry needling, Michael's expertise is invaluable for athletes, coaches, and sports medicine professionals. In this podcast, we highlight the role of dry-needling and using advanced metrics in baseball training and rehabilitation to enhance athletic performance.

Michael also shares his valuable insights on how understanding the neurological aspects of sports injuries can revolutionize athlete recovery and performance. Whether you're a developing baseball player, a coach, or simply interested in sports medicine, this video offers a unique perspective on the intersection of neurology and sports.

Learn more at https://armcare.com/

Standout RHP at University Florida, Hurston Waldrep joins the pod.

Ryan & Jordan discuss why Hurston's arm strength and process will be so valuable at the MLB level.

Hurston provides some great insight to what his year at UF was like and the CWS experience.

In this episode of The More Than Velocity Podcast, host Ryan Crotin sits down with guest Ryan Lavarnway, a retired professional baseball player with an impressive career spanning 15 years. Lavarnway shares insights into his journey and discusses the importance of preparation and maintaining arm health in baseball. The conversation delves into catching techniques, the role of catchers in stealing strikes, and the mental aspects of the game. With valuable tips and anecdotes from Lavarnway's experiences, this episode offers a comprehensive perspective on the game of baseball beyond just velocity.

Robert Hege has one of the more unique paths that got him into baseball coaching.

Throughout his career as a pilot in the military, he stayed in touch with baseball as a coach on the side. Upon his exit from the military, he moved into coaching full-time as the owner of Southern Baseball Academy in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Robert shares his reasons for adopting ArmCare into his program and the processes he uses that have led to some incredible success stories.

This week we welcome Brittany Dowling on the podcast to dive into the application of biomechanics in baseball. Brittany is the Director of Biomechanics at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, overseeing a world-class motion capture lab.

Previously she served over 5 years as a Director at Motus Global, where she built a depth of experience in assessing pitchers.

You can follow Brittany on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

A great discussion with Jimmy Lee, Athletic Trainer for Towson University Baseball, discussing a variety things they are doing to get better and compete. https://towsontigers.com/staff-directory/jimmy-lee/2349

In this video, we sit down with Mark Sheehan, a Master Pitching Instructor and winner of the 2014 Collegiate Baseball News Teaching Professional of the Year Award.

With over 13 years of experience, Mark has developed a reputation as an extremely knowledgeable and highly sought-after instructor.

He is the Director of Pitching for Canes Illinois and runs Evolution Athletics.

https://www.evo-athletics.com/

https://www.canesillinois.com/custom_pages/35995/about-us

Mark has a long resume of current and former professional and college pitchers he's worked with, along with countless others he's helped reach their full potential at all levels. Whether you're a pitcher looking to improve your skills, or a coach looking to enhance your teaching methods, you'll learn a ton from this interview with Mark Sheehan.

In this episode of More than Velocity, we chat with Big League pitching coach and manager Mickey Callaway.

He shares his insights on individualizing player development and optimizing communication from his time as a pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angles, as well as the Club Manager for the New York Mets.

Learn more at https://armcare.com/

This week on More Than Velocity, we have Tommy Weaver, the Director of Training at USA Prime Virginia, who plays a role in developing over 150 players.

In this episode, we'll discuss his latest training techniques and the implementation of strength testing in his program. This includes his regiment and schedule that rival the organization of some MLB Spring Training programs.

Be sure to check out USA Prime Virginia at https://www.usaprimevirginia.com/

And follow them on social at https://www.instagram.com/usaprimevirginia/

Pitchers and position players alike need to take care of their throwing arm. ArmCare has the perfect solution for keeping your arm healthy and building strength!

Watch the latest More Than Velocity podcase to see the results players are getting with ArmCare. Kyle Bogese & RC Orlan from Backyard Baseball

Join us to talk about the results they're getting with ArmCare.

Also discussed in this episode is training to develop powerful rotation: https://armcare.com/blog/how-to-train-better-hip-shoulder-separation/

And we get into ways to build better lower body power: https://armcare.com/blog/hip-core-for-arm-care/

In this episode of the More Than Velocity podcast, we sit down with Josh Kauten, founder of K's Training Academy in Bloomington, Illinois. Josh takes us through his journey from growing up in small-town Iowa to being drafted by the Detroit Tigers and ultimately establishing a premier training facility that has impacted hundreds of athletes.

Josh shares the unique approach of K's Training Academy, which integrates strength and pitching coaching to maximize athlete performance and minimize injuries. He discusses the importance of data-driven training using Armcare.com and how it's become a crucial tool in maintaining athlete health across all levels—from junior high students to professional players.

Learn how Josh's background in kinesiology and his experience as a coach have shaped the success of his academy, making it a go-to destination for aspiring athletes. This episode offers valuable insights into the world of baseball development and the methods used at K's Training Academy.

🔗 Links:

K's Training Academy: https://www.kstrainingacademy.com/

Follow Josh Kauten on Twitter: https://x.com/jukoachk

In this episode of MoreThanVelocity, Kyle Bogese from Backyard Baseball joins us to discuss the innovative use of technology in baseball training. Founded in Chester, Virginia, Backyard Baseball was an early adopter of the ArmCare App and has used it to revolutionize their approach to helping their players become better athletes and reach their goals.

Kyle talks about how the ArmCare App helps coaches get meaningful data about their athletes' performances, allowing them to pinpoint areas for improvement. He also explains how the app helps players keep track of their progress, so they can identify areas where they need to focus more energy and effort.

Additionally, Kyle shares how it also allows them to customize drills based on individual needs, allowing for increased efficiency and effectiveness. Finally, he offers advice on how coaches can use the ArmCare App to maximize its potential benefits.

Don't miss this valuable conversation with Kyle Bogese from Backyard Baseball as he shares his insights into using innovative technology in baseball training!

If you're looking to make some gains in your coaching career then check out our Armcare Specialist certification.

The course is designed by pitching specialist Dr. Ryan Crotin and covers the most up-to-date and effective information needed to protect athletes and help them perform.

In this podcast, you'll hear from one of our graduates of the program member of the ArmCare Elite on what he's seen change on the field.

To learn more about the certification go to https://armcare.com/armcare-specialist-certification-2/

Learn about the life of a professional baseball umpire from someone who's been in the game for over three decades.

From his unique perspective, umpire Dale Scott provides a fascinating look at what happens behind the scenes of professional baseball.

You'll never look at the sport the same way again! Check out his book for more info along with his incredible personal story at https://www.umpiredalescott.com/

Will Kempner is a 3rd round draft pick with the SF Giants.

He joins us to discuss what the draft process was like, what his future will entail, and how he dealt with an injury earlier this year.

This is a great listen if you want a behind the scene look at the move to professional baseball and what it took to get there.

Follow Will on Twitter at https://twitter.com/williskempy

Kaylee Shores isn't at the field to "eat sunflower seeds and treat turf burn."

She's actively involved in managing player workloads, assessing data to make better game-time decisions, and helping players gain velocity while staying healthy.

In this week's podcast, she dives into some of the data she's regularly using to support the team and her plans for the next season.

You can connect with Kaylee Shores at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylee-shores-17ab41137/

Ryan Clark a former 5th round draft pick and now founder of Ripple Baseball discusses individualizing training using experiments, experts and technology to push performance.

https://www.ripplebaseball.com/

https://armcare.com

Dr. Chris Bishop joins us to discuss measuring lower body explosive power, asymmetry, and predicting injury risk or performance potential.  Jordan and Ryan tap Chris' experience to discuss a variety of topics including antagonist / agonist movements pairings, and limb dominance.

Chris is a Strength and Conditioning expert currently working at Middlesex University in London. https://www.mdx.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/staff-directory/profile/bishop-chris

@DrChrisBishop on Twitter

In this week's More Than Velocity, Ryan wraps up his talk with Mike Killian.  You are in for a ride as the conversation goes from snake venom and rats to rehabbing a bone fracture of a collegiate pitcher throwing 90+.  

Press play and hold on.

In this week's More Than Velocity, we cover the comeback of a Division I pitcher who was experiencing arm pain and the steps it took to get him back on the mound.

The discussion covers drills and training tools related to both the biomechanical and physiologic demands of regaining the throwing motion and arm strength after injury.

And an important note to it all is that not all drills are created equally, and not all drills are beneficial. The way to execute is to individualize everything by understanding athletes' strength and range of motion responses.

Learn more at ArmCare.com/blog

Mike Killian works with all types of athletes in their return to performance, but his forte is baseball pitchers and getting them out of pain.

He's interesting because, in the traditional sense of "rehabilitation", the athlete gets passed from the therapist to the coach and typically loses contact with the therapist when re-entering competition.

Mike's offering is different. He never loses contact with the athlete as he's both a clinician and coach—it's a seamless transition from injury to return to performance programming to competition.

In this episode of More Than Velocity, Jordan Oseguera and Ryan Crotin dive deep into the journey of Nolan Cruz at Backyard Baseball Lab.

Nolan, who came in with shoulder and elbow issues, transformed from throwing 74 to 88 mph thanks to meticulous training and the Arm Care App.

The team discusses the importance of consistency, discipline, and a data-driven approach to player development. Kyle and RC from Backyard Baseball Lab break down their systems, emphasizing the significance of balanced strength, proper movement patterns, and the role of a diligent coaching process for injury prevention and developing velocity gains.

They also highlight the competitive yet supportive environment at the Lab, where athletes push each other to new levels. Whether you're a coach, parent, or player, this episode offers insights on how to turn injury into opportunity and maximize your athletic potential.

Follow the Backyard Baseball Lab and all their athletes at https://www.instagram.com/the_backyard_baseball_lab

In this episode of More Than Velocity, we take a deep dive into the exam process for the ArmCare App and cover some essential analytics that we pull from each test.

If you're looking to build your expertise on this and other arm care essentials, check out our certification course.

Rob Gray is an Associate Professor of Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University where he works to answer many of the questions about how we learn to move.

Rob has a diverse background where he's worked with Nissan Motor Corp, the US Air Force, serving as an expert witness for driving accident cases, and consultant in roles with several sports teams and organizations.

In 2015, he started the Perception & Action Podcast. With over 350 episodes and 2 million downloads, it has helped enhance movement science in areas including coaching, talent development, training, and rehabilitation.

He also has a book titled: How We Learn to Move: A Revolution in the Way We Coach & Practice Sports Skills.

Scott Emerson has been coaching professional pitchers for over 20 years and is currently working at the highest level as the pitching coach for the Oakland Athletics.

In that time, he's learned a ton of strategies for developing successful pitchers, but continuing to adapt as new technology and strategies come his way.

You can follow Scott on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-emerson-191018ab/

After playing professional baseball for almost 10 years, Ty Buttrey announced that he was stepping away from the game in 2021.

But after recentering himself and finding his purpose again in baseball, Ty is making a comeback with the LA Angles. In our discussion, Ty discusses some of the self-evaluation, analytics, processes, and routines that have helped him find success.

You can follow Ty on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tybuttrey/

The first thing to know is that not all professional baseball scouts are the same. They have different priorities for assessing players, along with different backgrounds and expertise.

One scout who's been doing this a while is Carlos Gomez.

Not only does he have experience pitching professionally, but he's been working within baseball for over a decade. In that time he's learned to assess the qualities of elite players.

Most notably he worked as the Director of International Scouting for the Los Angels Angles and has some keen insights on Latin American baseball prospects.

In this podcast, we talk about the demands for elite arms with Luke Novosel.

Luke is a former Division-I baseball pitcher and graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

He is a sports residency-trained physical therapist, certified athletic trainer, and strength and conditioning specialist. He's currently the Minor League Rehab and Reconditioning Co-Coordinator for the NY Mets.

Click here to learn more about Luke Novosel.

This is like the cliff notes of Arm Care.

Sit down with our pitching and performance specialist as the dive into the reasons why players get injured and what their programs are missing.

Learn more at ArmCare.com/blog

This week we chat with Hall of Fame softball player and elite pitching coach, Toni Paisley.

Toni is leading the charge by implementing the latest technology such as ArmCare and Rapsodo with the players that she coaches.

Check out Toni and her online softball pitching academy at: https://www.paisleyspitching.com/

Just because it looks different doesn't mean it's wrong.

Listen to our talk with Carter Capps who has a "funky" delivery that he's made work.

Check out Carter's unique pitch mechanics here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaPy8...

Carter is currently the pitching coach for the Seattle University Redhawks

In this episode, we dive into the research and science of strength training behind baseball performance.

Dr. David Szymanski is one of the most unique people in baseball and currently wears many hats at Louisiana Tech University.

He is the Chair for the Department of Kinesiology, the Director for the Human Performance Laboratories at the college, and the Director of Baseball Performance for a team that cracked the top 20 in NCAA D1 Baseball last season.

His research area is widespread in evaluating performance outcomes across cardiovascular fitness, strength and conditioning, functional strength, and biomechanics related to pitchers and hitters.

He's also had many students go on to careers in human performance and coaching in Major League Baseball and continues to publish articles year after year despite all of his involvements. 

Be sure to check out his book Strength Training for Baseball.

In this episode of the More Than Velocity Podcast, we dive deep into the intersection of strength and spin in pitching with special guests from PitchLogic and Louisiana Tech University.  Join this team of experts as we explore the impact of training and forearm strength on spin characteristics.

We’re excited to welcome Larry Sorenson and Steven Cukiernik from PitchLogic to discuss their groundbreaking pitching measurement system. Stephen, the co-founder of PitchLogic, explains how this advanced yet affordable technology provides detailed pitching metrics, including pitch movement, velocity, and biomechanical data. Larry shares his insights as a former professional pitcher, emphasizing the importance of individualized training programs to enhance performance and prevent injuries.

Dr. Szymanski takes us inside the Human Performance Laboratories at Louisiana Tech, where they conduct extensive research on baseball players. From measuring arm speed and body composition to analyzing pitch movement with advanced motion capture systems, Louisiana Tech is at the forefront of integrating sports science with baseball training.

Chris Watson, a graduate student at Louisiana Tech, presents his thesis findings on forearm strength biases and their influence on pitch characteristics. Learn how supination and pronation strengths can affect fastball spin efficiency, breaking ball spin rates, and change-up movements.

Discover how these insights can help pitchers optimize their performance and stay healthy throughout the season. Whether you’re a coach or player, this episode is packed with valuable information on how to blend strength training with skill development to achieve pitching excellence.

🔗 Links:

• Visit our Website: https://armcare.com/

• Check out PitchLogic: https://pitchlogic.com/

• Learn more about Louisiana Tech's Human Performance Laboratories: https://www.latechsportscience.org/

In this week's episode, we talk with Greg Morrison, who has seen baseball from many different angles.

Having retired from 12 seasons as a professional player, he now applies his education and experience to keep his athletes performing at their best through his clinic, Morrison Health in Medicine Hat, AB, CAN

Learn more about his practice at: https://morrisonsofttissue.com/

Greg also sees things as a manager as the current owner and GM of the Medicine Hat Mavericks of the Western Major Baseball League.

Follow his team here: https://www.themavericks.ca/

In this episode, we dive into assessing and training the shoulder for performance with the notable physiotherapist Ben Ashworth.

Ben is best known for his development of the ASH test and expertise in developing shoulders at the highest levels of performance.

He is currently the Director of Performance for AC Sparta Prague and host of the Inform Performance Podcast.

You can find him on Twitter @benashworth and Instagram @AthleticShoulder

In this week's podcast, we meet with David Meyer who is a physical therapist with a wealth of experience from his time working in major league baseball.

David specifically covers the cognitive side of injury and how athletes face the mental struggle of physical challenges. David is the author of Injured to Elite: A Guide to Empowering Yourself to Transform Your Life After Injury, and hosts the Injured to Elite Podcast.

He's also the founder and owner of Pipeline Performance Inc.

In this week's podcast, we chat with Joe Beimel.

He's a former big-league pitcher, whose looking to make a comeback through some hard work and direction from the ArmCare App.

We discuss what's got Joe currently throwing harder than ever and how he's using ArmCare for himself, but also integrating it with players he coaches at a Beimel Elite.

You can check out Beimel Elite at http://beimeleliteathletics.com/

In this episode of More Than Velocity, we walk through the mental and physical approach for helping athletes who are injured.

Show Notes: 2:20- The athlete mindset when dealing with an injury

5:15- The phases of rehab

15:00- What is Kinesiophobia?

22:00- How to best support an athlete going through rehab

25:20- Goals and benchmarks for rehab

44:00- The explosive rise in injuries and the issues that it brings.

Learn more at armcare.com/blog

Take a look at some of the data that we're pulling from the ArmCare App and learn how to personalized programs using data.

Show Notes:

3:30: Changes that happen from pitching and heavy workloads

11:11: 50% of players aren't getting the right dosage

20:00: 80 pitches isn't always 80 pitches

26:38: How testing works in the real world

35:00: Notes on High School Pitchers

41:40: What causes the loss of strength and range of motion

50:00: Strength matters most

Learn more at ArmCare.com/blog/

In this episode of More Than Velocity, we'll cover all the essentials for building a training plan to develop high-performance baseball players.

Show Notes:

1:35 - Dialing in the Player First Approach

6:30 - Answer the: What, Why, and How

9:45- When do you intervene in a player's program?

15:15- How to communicate with your players

19:19- A practical example

"The great coach is able to affect change in a positive manner as fast as possible."

Ryan and Jordan pull from their lifetime of baseball experiences to describe what makes a good coach and a bad one - how success is measured and exactly what to do to evaluate a great coach.

9:48   Individual Approach

16:30 Definition of a Good Coach

28:25 Success as a Coach

31:58 How to Identify A Good Coach

https://armcare.com

This week we welcome Dr. Nick Serio from Velocity University along with our hosts Ryan and Jordan as they dive into the intricacies of training, focusing on arm strength and velocity, and how data-driven approaches at VeloU are revolutionizing how athletes train and prevent injuries.

Dr. Serio shares his journey through kinesiology, strength and conditioning, and performance psychology, emphasizing the importance of individualized training and mental preparation.

The discussion highlights the integration of arm care platforms, the challenges of generalization vs. individualization, and the critical role of mental fortitude in athletic performance.

Listeners will gain insights into the systematic approach employed at Velocity University, including the importance of frequent assessments and the nuanced art of coaching. Dr. Serio stresses the responsibility that comes with increased velocity, advocating for a comprehensive understanding of each athlete's unique needs.

This episode offers valuable perspectives on optimizing performance and ensuring sustainable athletic success. 

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction and Welcome

[00:01:00] Dr. Nick Serio's Background and Journey

[00:02:00] The Role of Data in Training and Individualization

[00:03:00] Systematic Approaches and the Art of Coaching

[00:06:00] High-Intensity Training and Response Assessment

[00:10:00] Mental Preparation and Confidence Building

[00:17:00] Addressing Common Misconceptions in Training

[00:24:00] Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Pro scouts and college scouts are evaluating more than velocity when it comes to who gets offers and who does not.

Ryan and Jordan go into detail about what they look for and why.

Show Notes:

3:10 What besides velocity matters?

8:30 The importance of sustainable velo/biomechanics

15:25 Peaked vs Potential

21:30 Rotational Speed

23:45 Drafting High School Players vs College Players

28:50 Professional Player Development

32:45 Self Evaluation and Data

38:45. College Scouts look for this.

Get more at armcare.com/blog

Covid wreaked havoc on professional baseball. But it also opened our eyes to how much better training, coaching, and competing could be.

Show Notes:

6:30 Taking care of minor leaguers and staff

11:40 Revamping communication

21:42 What to keep as we return to normal

28:10 Remote Coaching

32:10 Humility Leads to Gold

Get the latest at https://ArmCare.com/blog

This week we get deep into baseball training with a man who is building strong arms by the masses. Ben Brewster is the co-founder and president of Tread Athletics, the author of Building the 95mph Body, and still putting in work himself to get past injury and make another run at professional baseball.

This week we get deep into baseball training with a man who is building strong arms by the masses. Ben Brewster is the co-founder and president of Tread Athletics, the author of Building the 95mph Body, and still putting in work himself to get past injury and make another run at professional baseball.

You can learn more about Ben Brewster and Tread Athletics here: https://treadathletics.com/

Show Notes:

12:37 Importance of Daily Logs

17:37 Hydration & Carbs 22:32 Body Mass link to Velocity

24:59 In-Season Training: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjbxp2kwpiU)

32:07 Not Competing Year-Round

40:47 Stride Length

49:10 Trunk Rotation & Inverted W

51:17 Variability & Injury Risk

52:20 Chasing Metrics

1:00:13 Developing around Individuality

1:04:07 Hip Movement / Rotation

1:17:27 Good Coaching

1:25:27 Ground Reaction Forces

Learn more at https://ArmCare.com

In this episode of More Than Velocity, we bring Kyle Matsel onto the show to discuss important findings when it comes to Arm Care Training.

Kyle is a Physical Therapist, researcher, and professor at the University of Evansville, and has spent a great deal of time working on how to reduce injuries in the sport of baseball. He recently published an article on the findings of a nationwide survey on high school baseball coaches and their perceptions of arm care training.

(Link to Research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8169022/)