The Tread Podcast

College Recruiting: What Are Coaches Looking For? | Ian MacDonald

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.

From 3rd Rounder To Heroin Addiction: Carter Hope's Journey Of Redemption

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

From 2 TJ Surgeries To 101 MPH 🤯 | Pete Fairbanks

In this episode, we sat down Pete Fairbanks where he dives deep into the trials and triumphs of his career, including overcoming the challenging ordeal of undergoing Tommy John surgery not just once, but twice. He opens up about the modifications he had to make to his pitching mechanics post-surgery, providing an insightful look into the perseverance and adaptability demanded of professional athletes. He also shares his love for collecting Pokemon cards, proving that there's more to him than just the fastball and curveball. 0:00 Introduction 2:56 Pete Fairbanks' Mentality on the mound 10:50 The balance between analytics and the fundamentals 14:18 Pitchers without plus-plus stuff can still perform well 19:46 Second Tommy John Surgery 23:17 Pete Fairbanks revamping his mechanics 29:29 The Death Pitch 33:03 Pete Fairbanks' Changeup 38:27 Competitive advantage of the Rays' organization 45:40 Taste Per Dollar 49:41Pokemon Cards and Building Legos 54:11 The importance of having off-the-field hobbies 56:55 Jeff Passan is an anti-hero 1:05:08 Advice to younger players

The Coach Who Helped Fix Aroldis Chapman & How He Did It | Hector Berrios

We sat down with Hector Berrios, who shares his remarkable journey and insights into fixing the pitching mechanics of Aroldis Chapman. He discusses his experience in the Phillies organization, his current endeavors, and the transformative techniques he employed to help Chapman regain his form. Join us as Berrios delves into the importance of body movements, hip rotation, balance, and tension in pitching. 0:00 Introduction 3:50 Hector Berrios working with the Dodgers and other big names 10:12 Learning to read and interpret metrics 18:15 Hector Berrios meeting Aroldis Chapman 20:56 Every drill has a purpose 23:50 Aroldis Chapman Coiling the back leg 31:20 The involvement of the whole body 35:06 How to apply pressure from the hip into the knee 37:51 The pelvis is what drives the knee down to the ground 40:31 Towel Drill 53:30 Fixing the arm path in the delivery 1:08:04 The idea of throwing hard, easy 1:21:04 Addressing confidence from the mental side 1:30:45 The importance of creating a deeper hinge 1:38:04 Keeping mechanical anchors in your routine

Tyler Zombro's Underdog Story & His Comeback From A Freak Accident

Tyler Zombro, Tread's data team lead, opens up about his personal journey and professional baseball career. In this episode, Z gets candid about his experiences from college recruitment to being signed by the Tampa Bay Rays without a draft. Discover his incredible comeback story after a traumatic brain injury and his resolution to keep playing post a significant surgery. 0:54 How Tyler Zombro got into Pro Baseball 11:19 Underdog Mentality 12:40 Stuff vs Results 16:08 Transparency in Pro Ball 24:03 Notorious Head Injury 35:19 Playing again after a life-threatening injury 37:49 TOS 49:53 Goals 51:04 Advice to younger players