The 9-Hole

ALBERT ALMORA - Outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks

World Series Champion (2016 Cubs)

Parts of 7 seasons in Major League Baseball

Played in MLB w/3 teams (Mets, Cubs & Reds)

Known for ELITE defensive skills in Center Field

Today I'm joined by one of the coolest dudes I've ever shared a locker room with. Truly one of the most elite Center Fielder's in the game

Al dives into the mental & physical grind to get back on the field after missing 2023, what winning a World Series feels like, and what his mindset is like in the outfield and at the dish.

There are some serious tips in here about WORK ETHIC, pre-pitch routine and separating yourself from the pack that any athlete at any level of their career can learn from.

Those who have done it, helping those who are next...

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

EMILIO PAGÁN - Entering his 8th Season in the MLB

Has pitched for: Mariners, A's, Rays, Padres & Twins

400 Innings Pitched over his 7 year career so far:

3.71 ERA | 456 Strikeouts | 32 Saves | 22-18 Record

When you think of a player in Major League baseball who has had over 7 years of success, has made the type of money people can only dream of, and is only getting better with time - you think of a 1st rounder, a dude that is 6'8 - or someone that throws 102 MPH with elite movement.

Emilio is somebody who takes that narrative and turns it upside down. Drafted in the 10th round as a SENIOR SIGN out of a D-2 school for $5K - pitching wasn't even what he wanted to do, he wanted to be a 3rd basemen in the league, with his sweet left handed swing.

Throwing 88-91 at Belmont Abbey, and with a mindset/attitude that was unbreakable - scouts for Major League baseball teams saw more than what his velo and his numbers portrayed.

Emilio's story is ridiculously motivating, and he's somebody that I've looked up to as inspiration along my own journey.

The success he's found in the Major Leagues

His underdog story and the challenges he's conquered to get here

His M.O.A.M. (Man on a Mission) Mindset

How his new pitch (cutter) has changed the game

Thank you for tuning in - it absolutely FIRES ME UP to be able to have Emilio tell his story on The 9-Hole.

Those who have done it, helping those who are next...

IM

MICKEY BRUECKNER - Founder & CEO of Annex Sports Performance (Chatham, NJ)

Mickey is the premier sports performance coach in the state of New Jersey, with a variety of top tier athletes relying on his expertise ranging from Cy Young Award Winners, to Junior Olympians - all the way to starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

I personally trained with Mickey to make sure that I was battle ready during my last two off seasons heading into Spring Training - and my only regret is that I didn't utilize his services sooner.

Please listen to this man share his knowledge & experience from YEARS of working with some of the most successful people in MULTIPLE industries, across multiple sports - whether you are a 10 year vet in the Show, or a young athlete hoping to one day make your varsity team - you can LEARN SOMETHING in these 80 minutes. I promise!!!

What YOUNG ATHLETES should be focusing on

What SUPPLEMENTS are necessary in sports development

What exercises baseball players should focus on/stay away from

What the most successful people in business/sports do that others don't..

Check him out:

https://www.annexsportsperformance.com/

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

KYLE ATTL - The Director of Professional Baseball joins me from Blast Motion, which is a sensor that goes on the knob of your baseball bat and helps track the metrics of your swing.

Blast Motion was INSTRUMENTAL in helping me get to the Big Leagues, and I'm so excited to not only share MY story and how it changed my career - but have him explain how it could potentially change yours.

In this episode, we dive into:

WHAT Blast Motion is, and the metrics it tracks

WHAT understanding those metrics can UNLOCK for you

WHY I gave it a chance, and HOW it changed everything for me

HOW the biggest names in baseball utilize Blast

Those who have done it, helping those who are next...

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

CAMERON RUPP - Assistant Coach at Blinn College

Parts of 5 Seasons w/the Philadelphia Phillies ('13-'17)

2023: Assistant Coach at Texas (Alma Mater) while finishing his degree

3 years playing at Texas: 25 HR's & led team to College World Series

MLB: Played in almost 300 career games, totaling 240 hits, 39 HR's and 124 RBI's playing a PREMIUM position

His advice on standing out & winning the recruiting game

What thinking positive did for HIM and his career

Tips for the next generation that want to catch in the Big Leagues

I'm joined today by two young men who are both committed to go play baseball at the Division 1 level.

Matthew VanOstenbridge (PSU, Left Handed Pitcher)

Tyler Huzzy (NJIT, Catcher)

The amount of High School players that go on to play D1 baseball are minuscule, and the game is constantly changing year after year. So I wanted to ask them HOW they got seen, what worked for them - and how the next generation of players that want to play D1 baseball can get seen.

How they dominated the recruiting game

What they had to sacrifice (that others wouldn't) to get here

What playing multiple sports has done for them athletically

Those who have done it, helping those who are next.

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

JUSTIN STEELE - MLB All-Star & Cubs Starting Pitcher

2023: First All-Star Appearance & 5th place finish in NL Cy Young

30 starts: 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA // 176 K's vs. 36 BB's in 173.1 innings

3 seasons w/Cubs: 3.30 ERA in 349.1 innings pitched (24-16 record)

His journey

Advice to the next generation of baseball players

What his routine looks like and how he gets away from baseball

If he could do it all over again as a pitcher, what would he do different..

CARSON VITALE - Mariners Major League Field Coordinator

Entering his 5th year in the position

Mariners Minor League Field Coordinator (2 yrs)

Dodgers International Field Coordinator (2 yrs)

Manager of the DSL Angels (2 yrs)

Hitting Coach for Orem Owls & AZL Angels (2 yrs)

Professional Player in the Rangers Org (2 yrs)

3 Different Schools in College

His Unconventional / International Grind in Getting to the MLB

Mental Skills Training - Grounding, Meditation & Visualization

What separates those that get to the MLB from those that STAY

BRET BOONE - 14 Year MLB Veteran

3-time All Star

4-time Gold Glover

2-time Silver Slugger

Hitting Approach MASTERCLASS

How the Best Hitters SET UP Pitchers

Advice to those who are next

Awesome conversation with one of the best to do it.

1775 hits, 252 HR's & 1021 RBI's over the course of 14 seasons.

Please listen to how he talks about hitting. It's the GAME within the GAME!!!

And don't forget his glove...Gold x4!

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

David & Ian hit on:

The KC Royals making Bobby Witt Jr. the FACE of the franchise

Jose Altuve's new deal & being an Astro for LIFE

Kershaw coming BACK to the star-studded Dodgers

The Oakland A's are a turtle without a shell