Bio

Current Infield Coach for the Baltimore Orioles

Former Assistant coach for University of Memphis2nd in School History .974 Team Fielding Percentage 65th in Nation

53 Team Errors, 2nd in School History for Fewest Errors in a Season

Former Assistant coach with the Milwaukee Milkmen

Former Assistant coach at the University of HartfordSchool Record Fewest Errors in a Season (45)

School Record .975 Team Fielding Percentage, 49th in Nation

2 Infielders taken in MLB Draft

 

Show notes

Hand shake distance (visual out in front)

Know your player to know how much they need to know Some guys need more, some less

All about relationshipsAsk guys and open communication

Just need to talk

Understanding the learning style - verbal, picture, kinesthetic

Know how much you care before they care how much you know

They need to trust me with their career and show them they can trust me

Have a plan with open communication

Get feedback after a drill about how they feel and if it work for the players

Foundation is the relationship with the players, and its not about ME! 

Once base skills are there then go position specific

Corner guys lower and different groundballs

Middle guys more lateral and different groundballs

Base skillsSee it in (hand/eye drill)

Glove isolation

Play catch

Hip hinge and knowing your body

First basemenCuts and relays

Pick work

Approach to bag

shifting/positioning - every step towards 4 hole you take one step in

Tags

Starting double plays with accurate throws

Good first baseman and good catcher will prevent a lot of runs and will not lose games for you!

Playing multiple positions to perform different movements to help with athleticism

Wall drills!Throw over shoulder

Throw bag down and first baseman steps to bag and picks

Shuffle off bag and catch groundball off wall

Instruct it first, model it, and be there, and then float and let them go

Make a checklist of everything you want to cover as a group

Make a checklist of everything you want to cover as individual (position)

Spend time on the things that happen in the game more frequently

Stick to your time and just end it! 

Angles towards the base or ball. Be deliberate on the practice that they do more frequently

Collect data that will help you design practice and specifically get better

Pay attention to angle taken

Pay attention to the time needed to make play

Where are they consistently making errors? Chart that so you can practice their errors

Good infielders have:Footwork - 

Proper way to play catch

Develop arm strength and proper arm angle 

Hands

If there is a problem with their body that is symptomatic of them making errors then you have to put in the time to determine when to work on it

Foundationally kids catch the ball one handed and we have to teach them to put the other hand there, so let them be free and promote one hand more

Catcher, pitcher, and first baseman are all one handed catchers.

High IQ as an infielder

Keep the game slow, can slow the game down, control their breathing

Fail more in practice

Short memory - take glove off, turn around, and then come back to the hitter when you are ready

Practice each moment and those time you are trying to stay under control

Practicing even in your life, not just in baseball

Put a success rate on a drill, high or low difficulty to allow them to push themselves

At intersquad every batter is 3-2 count to create game like atmosphere and chaos!

Twitter - @DeJohn_5