How to Improve On the Field
The Simplest Hitting Approach That Led to the Highest Team Batting Average in the Country
What simple hitting trick led to the highest team batting average in the country? In this video, Coach Jason Rathbun of Herkimer College talks about the key to coaching successful hitters: simplicity. With your hitters, sometimes the worst thing you can do is over...
Dante Bichette on Setting up the Pitcher
Dante Bichette played 13 seasons in the big leagues, most notably as a 4 time All-Star with the Colorado Rockies. As a career .300 hitter with nearly 300 homeruns, Bichette credits much of his success to his ability to “setup” the pitcher. He used to love...
Yankees’ 3B Shares How To Start Driving the Baseball & Stop Your Front Shoulder From Flying Open
This week we have an exclusive hitting lesson with 2012 Silver Slugger, Chase Headley. In the video, Chase reveals how he keeps his front shoulder from "flying open" on the inside pitch and why hitters should load with your hips instead of your shoulders....
Is This Common Habit Keeping You From Being A Great Hitter?
A common mistake high school hitters can make is getting hung up on their swing mechanics rather than getting in the right place mentally before and during an at bat. Dante Bichette, the proud owner of the first home run in Colorado Rockies’ history, claims...
MLB All-Star/Hitting Coach Shares Key To Being Locked in at the Plate
Today we are joined by 4x All Star and former Rockies hitting coach, Dante Bichette. Dante finished his big league career with a .299 batting average and 274 home runs including almost hitting for the triple crown in 1995 when he had a monster .340 batting...
Mike Martin’s Favorite Hitting Drill
Today Next Level Ballplayer got together with Mike Martin, the (now retired) head coach of the Florida State Seminoles at the ABCA conference. In this short interview, we go over Coach Martin’s favorite hitting drill. He shares a simple drill that is extremely...
Baseball Wisdom From Third baseman Chase Headley
In today's video, big league ballplayer Chase Headley shares some deep insights on the major adjustments he's had to make throughout his journey to the big leagues. From facing elite level pitching to the mind-set players need to adopt to compete at the highest...
Todd Cunningham’s #1 Philosophy on Staying Confident in the Batter’s Box
Todd Cunningam, a young outfielder in the Atlanta Braves organization took some time today to chat with Next Level Ballplayer. In this interview we cover how Todd slows the game down. You’ll also get to hear his best advice for aspiring players who are trying...
The Two Keys To Becoming a Great Hitter
I get emails from hitters all the time asking for help with a common problem. It usually sounds something like this: “I feel great hitting in practice, but once I’m in the game I continue to struggle. It’s so frustrating. Any advice?” Today we are joined by former...
Why You Need To Know Who You Are As A Player Today!
Who are you as a player? Are you able to answer that right away or is your answer more wishful thinking?... “Well, I’d say I’m a cross between Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, and Derek Jeter.” Knowing who you are as a player helps you prepare and practice in a way that...
Why Your Mindset Inside The Batter’s Box Is More Important Than How You Feel
Attention Hitters! The next five minutes will change your baseball career for the better if you let it. We are joined by University of Washington Hitting Coach and friend, Donagal Fergus. Coach Fergus is one of my favorite guys in the baseball world because of...
How Punching Your Couch Can Turn You Into A More Explosive Hitter .
Wanna be a more explosive hitter? Just start punching your couch. I thought about ending this article there, but for the sake of clarity, we have former Astros and hitting guru Chris Burke here to break it down for us. In the quick video below, Chris does a great job...
Inside the Mind of Brandon Phillips in the Batter’s Box
Today we're going back to a previous interview we did with the Braves' Brandon Phillips to get inside his mind while in the batter's box. While it seems that Brandon can come off as crazy (and hilarious), there is a very important lesson in today's post... Each player...
How Steve Delabar Went from Substitute Teacher to Major League All-Star
In today’s post, we are joined by former Toronto Blue Jay and current Cleveland Indian’s pitcher: Steve Delabar. Delabar has one of the best stories you’ll hear in the game today. Steve gives us the shorter version of this incredible story: going from an assistant...
UCLA Coach Shares the Problem with Arm Care in Youth Baseball
In this week’s blog, we are joined by former UCLA Coach and current Minnesota Twins Area Scout Seth Moir. Seth talks to us today about a popular topic among pitchers: arm health. During Moir’s days at UCLA, they would simply promote a lot of throwing. They...
The “Right” Way for Pitchers to Throw Year Round
This week we are joined by none other than long toss guru Alan Jaeger. Now more than ever, pitchers have the opportunity to pitch just about every day of the year (not that you should!). The question becomes, "How do I make sure that my arm stays healthy and strong...
How to Engage Your Lower Body on the Mound
In this week’s blog, Otterbein pitching/strength coach Johnny LaCorte talks about engaging your lower body when throwing off the mound. Coach LaCorte talks about how pitching is a kinetic chain: it starts with your feet and ends with the ball coming out of your...
The Six Areas that Create A Complete Pitcher (And the Common Mistake that Robs Pitcher’s Command)
What is the number one cause of command issues for early age pitchers? According to former Chicago White Sox pitcher Stew Brase, it’s all about direction. In this video post he also covers the six things that makes a “complete” pitcher. All of these together are...
Todd Blyleven on The Difference Between Control and Command
Former Big League Scout Todd Blyleven believes the key to having good control for a pitcher is having good direction to the plate. An easy way to make sure you are having good “direction” is to focus on having good balance. Finding a good balance point and...
The Importance of Staying in the Moment & Managing Expectations as a Pitcher
This weeks interview is with journeyman, left-handed pitcher Rich Hill. Hill's advice to young pitchers is all about control, a word synonymous with pitching, but a different type than you might be thinking. It involves mentally controlling what...
Rangers’ Pitcher Shares Mentality & Mindset on the Mound
Repetition can be used as a tool to regain focus in many different sports. In basketball, players will dribble the ball and spin it in their hands a unique way before a free-throw attempt to clear their head and focus on the shot. In tennis, before a serve, the player...
Increasing Velocity, Maintaining Command, and Becoming An Elite Pitcher with Mississippi State’s Pitching Coach
Today we get a great interview with Mississippi State University’s pitching coach, Wes Johnson. He has been a coach since 1998 and has had numerous pitchers of his drafted by MLB teams. His specialty is developing pitchers and increasing their velocity. This is...
Illinois Pitching Coach on Being a Better Pitcher
Today Next Level Ballplayer got together with Drew Dickinson, the pitching coach at Illinois. In this short interview, we cover what advice Drew gives for ball players who want to take their game to the next level. He shares some very simple advice that every...
R.A Dickey on his #1 Pitching Tip & Favorite Star Wars Character
Today Next Level Ballplayer got together with R.A Dickey, one of the best knuckleball throwers in the MLB. He was kind enough to take some time to share his wisdom. In this interview, you will learn R.A’s top piece of advice for ball players who are looking to get...
Thomas Edison’s Pitching Advice That Helped Trevor Bauer Make It To The Big Leagues
"The Indians' Trevor Bauer has been one of the top prospects in baseball leading up to spending the majority of the 2014 MLB season in the big leagues. When I asked him about the biggest pitching lesson he learned that has helped him over the years, I was very...
The Key to Being a Great Pitcher
I love asking the question, What is the biggest separator between good and great _____? You can fill in the blank with pitchers, hitters, fielders, high school players, and college players. Today, we fill in the blank for pitchers. We’re joined by Indiana...
How To Increase Velocity & Arm Strength Through Long Toss with Alan Jaeger (video)
“What do I need to do to increase velocity… improve arm strength… throw harder… hit 90 mph on the gun…?” Those are the questions I frequently get from NLB players / parents / coaches. Well, today we dive into exactly how you can increase velocity and arm strength....
Pitching with David Price: Throwing Hard, Recovering After a Start, How He Wants To Be Remembered, And More
David Price isn’t just one of the best pitchers in the league, he’s also one of the game's premier competitors. Here’s a quick look inside the pitching phenom’s head as he talks about, throwing hard, arm recovery the day after a start, pre season mindset, what he...
Play Every Day Like It’s Opening Day
Steve Springer of Quality At Bats is one of the best known Mental Skills coaches in the country. We talked with him at this year's ABCA Coach's Conference in Nashville. Coach Springer spent 8 years as the performance coach and major league scout for the Toronto...
Dodgers Second Basemen Shares Secret to Playing Multiple Positions Well
In this week’s blog, recently traded infielder Logan Forsythe talks about the mental preparation for a guy that may not necessarily be playing every day. Forsythe says go to the yard every single day with the expectation that you are going to play every day. ...
Big Ten Coach Shares the Difference Between Good & Great Ballplayers
In this week’s blog, Illinois Coach Dan Hartleb describes the difference between good and great ballplayers: their mentality. Coach Hartleb thinks that when they have the mental capacity and the mental toughness along with their work ethic, they become truly...
Northwestern University Says You Must Have One of These to Have Success at the Plate
In this week’s blog, we are joined by Northwestern University Head Coach Spencer Allen. Coach Allen shares with us an essential part of hitting at the next level: having a routine. Whether you are playing in front of 500 or 5,000 people, always have a routine you...
The One Thing All Players Who Make It to the Next Level Have in Common
In this week’s blog, we are joined by former Commodore, professional ballplayer, Cubs coach, Seattle Mariners’ Operations Coordinator, Mariners Minor League Manager and, currently, back with the Commodores as Assistant Coach at college powerhouse, Vanderbilt, David...
Steve Springer Shares Why You Should Start Treating Every Game Like Opening Day
Steve Springer is one of the best hitting coaches on the planet, especially when it comes to the mental side! Today he tells us why every day should be opening day. If you have a 50 game schedule, every single game is opening day. You have the utmost confidence...
Todd Cunningham & The Quiet Mind Approach
Todd Cunningham, a young outfielder in the Atlanta Braves organization took some time today to chat with Next Level Ballplayer. In this interview, we cover what Todd does to make sure that he has a quiet mind when stepping into the batter’s box. You’ll learn all about...
How R.A Dickey Stays Focused On The Mound
Today Next Level Ballplayer got together with R.A Dickey, one of the best knuckleball throwers in the MLB. He was kind enough to take some time to share his wisdom. In this interview, you’ll hear all about how R.A is able to focus when he is on the mound...
The Key to True Success as a Hitter with Blue Jays Mental Coach Steve Springer
Some of you guys might know that Franco and his good buddy, Steve Springer, share a hotel room every year for the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) annual convention. It's a exhausting and awesome four days of non stop baseball talking and catching up with...
Keys to Mental Toughness in Baseball with Ken Ravizza
We have great respect for the iconic sports psychologist, Dr. Ken Ravizza. Sadly, he passed in July of 2018. However, we were fortunate enough to interview Dr. Ravizza in 2014 and would like to share that with you today. Today we have a treat as I sit down with one of...
Former Big Leaguer Shares Top Advice to Aspiring Young Ballplayers
In this week’s blog, former Rockies hitting coach Dante Bichette gives some advice for aspiring ballplayers. Coach Bichette thinks the most important thing is to learn to have thick skin. A lot of people out there will tell you you’re not good enough or...
The One Thing Florida State’s Mike Martin Wants to Tell Young Ballplayers
Florida State Coach Mike Martin (who just won his 1,900 game as a head coach!) shares top advice for baseball players! We asked Coach Martin the one piece of advice he wants to tell all ballplayers around the world. His answer: enjoy the game. This is a beautiful...
The Effective Outfield Defense Philosophy of Todd Cunningham.
Today Next Level Ballplayer got together with Todd Cunningham, a young outfielder in the Atlanta Braves organization. In this interview, we cover Todd’s top advice for outfielders trying to make it to the next level. Todd also shares the things he does to work...
Otis Nixon on The Art of Stealing Bases
Today Next Level Ballplayer got together with Otis Nixon, a Center Fielder who played with the Atlanta Braves when they were one of the most dominate teams in the MLB. First in this interview, you’ll hear the story of when Otis stole six bases in one game. Then we...
How to Teach Catchers How to Catch a Knuckleball Pitcher
Today Next Level Ballplayer got together with R.A Dickey, one of the best knuckle ball throwers in the MLB. He was kind enough to take some time to share his wisdom. In this interview you’ll hear all about how R.A made the change from a power pitcher to a knuckle ball...
Swiping Bags with a Smile… And More with Marlins’ Dee Gordon…
Today, I’m excited to sit down with 5’11”, 160-pound Dee Gordon. Dee burst onto the scene with the Dodgers in 2011 with hits in his first three at-bats. He’s known as a speedster who always seems to be having fun on the baseball field. After some injury setbacks...
