The Tread Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Insightful interview with Ian MacDonald, the dedicated college recruiting coordinator and pitcher coach at Indiana Wesleyan University. MacDonald shares his passion for the college game, relishing the opportunity to guide players through a transformative stage of their lives. Listen as he delves into the nuances of pitcher recruitment, revealing his key evaluation criteria: control, command, velocity, and the knack for limiting free bases. MacDonald also sheds light on the importance of player development, emphasizing the need for coaches who can provide candid feedback and facilitate player enhancement.

0:00 Current role as a recruiting coordinator. 5:36 Evaluating talent at the high school level. 9:22 What college coaches look for. 19:23 Recruiting at a smaller school. 25:01 The misconception of division one baseball. 28:51 Recruiting 47:04 Red flags for high school players. 50:45 How coaches use high school athletes' social media in the recruiting process. 54:03 Common misconceptions high school players have about college. 1:01:24 Is it worth it to play on showcase teams? 1:08:43 The transfer process.

Carter Hope's journey from being a third baseman in high school to becoming a highly regarded pitcher and getting drafted in the third round by the Royals. Carter's transition to the professional level led to a destructive path fueled by addiction, which eventually led him to rock bottom. Carter emphasizes the importance of admitting the issue, seeking positive influences, and not waiting for rock bottom to make positive changes. If you struggle with mental health and addiction, reach out to Carter Hope at carterhope1995@gmail.com - 0:00 Introduction 6:14 Drafted in the third round 13:43 Drugs and Alcohol 16:40 Strategies for the next generation of players 22:20 Mental Battles for Men and Athletes 25:23 Being a people pleaser vs. being an athlete 32:32 Learning to fall in love with baseball again 35:50 Living a life of purpose and meaning 45:19 Reinventing your mindset

In this episode, we debunk myths about in-season training for athletes and pitchers. We highlight the importance of balancing workout routines and acknowledging different player types, from everyday performers to hybrid-focused players. We emphasize effective workload management, problem-solving techniques, maintaining positivity, and adjusting weight training during the season. Tune in for key insights into optimal in-season training!

Neil Ramirez embarks on a nostalgic journey through his illustrious baseball career, starting from his draft in 2007 and his dynamic stint with multiple teams. Delve into the momentous day of his major league debut and the trials that followed. Dive deeper as he shares invaluable insights on the pivotal role of self-belief and mindset, especially during his post-surgery comeback. Get a glimpse of his training at Tread and his perspective on the fine balance between relentless dedication and the need to engage in diversions to avoid being wholly absorbed by the game.

0:00 Introduction 1:03 Major League Debut 5:01 Being drafted from High School vs College 6:31 The confidence of being a Major League Pitcher 8:09 Adversity 11:02 Social Media & Coverage 13:41 Feeling Good 15:07 Coming back from Injury 19:56 What's your why? 21:10 Walking David Ortiz 23:00 Toughest Hitters to face 24:31 Learning from other pitchers 25:58 MLB the Show Rating 27:16 Started to work with Tread 30:42 95 MPH ain't what it used to be 35:44 You have to get hitters out 40:10 Live ABs 44:50 Life outside of Baseball

Alan Carter dives into the subtle nuances between pitching at 97mph vs 100mph. Listen as he shares insights on optimizing his delivery for efficiency, fluidity, and timing. Discover the stark contrast between the adrenaline rush in a bullpen session versus a live game. Alan also recounts his compelling journey from high school through college and his pivotal decision to transfer to Lee University. He discussed his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, as he researched and experimented with techniques to boost his pitch velocity.

0:00 Introduction 1:56 Alan Carter's Background 18:35 Started working with tread 19:20 Pro Day 22:20 Signed with the Los Angeles Angels 26:05 Splitter 33:44 Playing for Team China in World Baseball Classic 2023 40:50 Goals for this year 2023 43:21 Division 2 Baseball 56:32 Motivation for Baseball 59:40 Be Yourself 1:02:50 The journey starts now

Join us as we explore JT Brubaker's journey, from seeing a spike in pitching velocity during his senior high school year, to his rewarding time at the Pittsburgh Pirates facility. Despite the hurdles faced in the minor leagues, including injuries, Brubaker persevered and showcased remarkable performances, particularly with his slider.

0:00 Offseason Updates 1:30 High School 5:19 College 6:30 Being a P.O. 6:44 Weight Training 10:09 Getting Drafted 17:27 The Minor Leagues 18:37 MiLB Stadiums 21:35 Climbing the MiLB Ladder 27:15 MLB Debut 29:45 Pitch Grips 32:23 JT’s Elite Slider 37:42 Training with Tread 44:44 Sinker Usage 47:26 Pitch Sequencing

Tread Athlete and Detroit Tigers RHP Will Vest talks with his coach Ben Brewster on his experience in the Big Leagues. He dives into the profound significance of respect and how it's earned in the realm of Major League Baseball. He prompts us to ponder the origins of top-tier player abilities— are they innate or is there a possibility for anyone to ascend to such heights? Vest takes us on a journey through the mindset metamorphosis from the constant struggle of securing a spot to the pursuit of becoming a dominating force in the game. Stressing on the beauty of imperfections, he encourages not to overcomplicate the game. Moreover, he opens up about his own shift from hitting to pitching, shedding light on how his athletic prowess has benefitted his pitching mechanics. Timestamps: 0:00 No one would think Will Vest would be a big leaguer 3:42 Will Vest’s transition into the big leagues 11:34 Will Vest Mentality 14:00 The biggest misconceptions of Big League Pitchers 16:03 Having Ben Brewster as a coach 18:17 Navigating throughout the season as a pitcher 19:36 The Role of pitching data and metrics 23:34 Pitchers that start off as position players 30:04 Will Vest Mechanical Gems 36:25 Will Vest’s Vulcan Changeup 40:07 Will Vest’s Slider 45:04 Will Vest’s goals for the 2023 season 51:10 Will Vest Debut 55:28 The closer mentality 1:04:31 Do guys take their craft more seriously in the big leagues? 1:12:59 Will Vest’s biggest advice for young players

A conversation with Tread Athlete and Pittsburgh Pirates Starter Mitch Keller and his coach Devin Hayes. Starting with a below-draft standard pitch in high school, Mitch Keller remarkably improved his game, earning a spot with the Pirates. After a five-year stint in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut in 2019. Keller overcame challenges with his pitching mechanics and mindset by working with Tread and incorporating new techniques like the Kikuchi step back and figure eight rocker drills. Adding a sinker to his arsenal, he further elevated his game.

Timestamps: 0:00 Mitch Keller introduction 2:22 Mitch Keller knew he was going to be a big leaguer 3:19 How did Mitch Keller keep himself grounded 4:53 Mitch Keller Walking Guys Story 6:48 Mitch Keller 2022 Season 9:53 Mitch Keller Mentors 13:50 How did Mitch Keller handle the pressure 16:01 Mitch Keller at Tread 22:12 Mitch Keller’s favorite drills 31:55 Building out Mitch Keller’s Program 35:44 Mitch Keller Sinker 48:50 Mitch Keller’s Arsenal 51:56 Power Pitcher 57:48 Mitch Keller Most Improved Stuff 1:00:23 Mitch Keller go to feel 1:07:15 Mitch Keller’s Goal for 2023 1:11:22 Player Coach relationship at Tread 1:13:24 Mitch Keller’s lifestyle

We sat down with Brian Bannister, Director of Pitching for the San Francisco Giants and former MLB pitcher.  He is known in the baseball world as an expert in pitch design, and he has a number of notable success stories including Zack Greinke and Logan Webb.  He also has spent time coaching little league players, giving him the unique experience of being able to communicate and apply advanced concepts across the lowest and highest levels of baseball.  

You can learn more about Brian here: 

https://brianbannister.co/ 

https://twitter.com/realbanny 

https://twitter.com/ArtOfBaseball

0:00 Intro 0:43 Ryan Crotin Background 7:51 Arm Care's Mission 9:56 How does the arm care process work 19:51 Are all velocity gains equal? 23:10 Throw Fuzz Check List 27:50 Ryan Crotin deep dive into physics 40:45 Lean Mass 46:57 Do players who have a greater range of motion need strength training? 56:22 What injuries do you see with a guy that's lacking internal rotation strength 1:00:32 How do mechanics fit into injury 1:03:24 Death by the cure 1:10:57 Continue to train the arm 1:14:56 Pro Baseball Adjustment logs 1:19:13 Where do private coaches fit in the MLB model 1:32:06 You'll learn something from everybody 1:35:03 You have to figure out what are you looking for