The AOP Podcast

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Website: theartofpitchingcorp.com

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Today we dive into program hopping ( guys that go from program to program or place to place & don't ever see a process through) and why it's bad for your development.

You can also listen to our podcasts on:

Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6pYS3zS...

Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a4b...

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Website: https://theartofpitchingcorp.com

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Today we dive into why following the latest social media trends is not always the best idea!

You can also listen to our podcasts on:

Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6pYS3zS...

Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a4b...

Follow us on Instagram!
  / theartofpitching_ 

Website: https://theartofpitchingcorp.com

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Today we dive into why attacking development alone won't work. You need a team around you or at least someone else you can lean on. You can also listen to our podcasts on:

Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6pYS3zS...

Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a4b...

Follow us on Instagram!
  / theartofpitching_ 

Website: https://theartofpitchingcorp.com

Send a text

Today we dive into the mental training aspect and why it is very important. The higher you go the more it matters. 

You can also listen to our podcasts on:

Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6pYS3zS...

Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a4b...

Follow us on Instagram!
  / theartofpitching_ 

Website: https://theartofpitchingcorp.com

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In today's episode we have the honor of interviewing the Co-Owner of Armoured Heat, Ben Holmes. 

Ben Wetzler is a left-handed pitcher whose career has been defined by grit, adaptability, and a relentless love for the game. A standout at Clackamas High School, he posted a 12–0 record with a microscopic 0.33 ERA, earning Oregon’s 6A Player of the Year honors. At Oregon State University, he cemented his place in program history—becoming the school’s all-time wins leader, earning First-Team All-American recognition, and guiding the Beavers to multiple deep postseason runs.

Drafted three times—first in the 15th round by Cleveland in 2010, then the 5th round by the Phillies in 2013, and finally the 9th round by the Miami Marlins after returning for his senior year—Ben’s professional journey has taken him through the Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox organizations, as well as independent and international leagues, including the Mexican League with Veracruz and Durango, the Dominican Winter League, and the Venezuelan Winter League.

Throughout his career he's faced many obstacles, setbacks, and hardships but has continued to persevere through it all. 

Far from slowing down, Ben is obsessed with player development—both his own and that of the next generation. He’s committed to pushing his craft, studying the finer details of pitching, and squeezing every ounce of potential out of his career. His mission is simple: play this game at the highest level, for as long as humanly possible, while inspiring others to chase their baseball dreams—and guiding them in a way that helps them build the tools, mindset, and habits to be as successful as possible in their own careers.

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Website: https://theartofpitchingcorp.com

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In today’s episode we have our colleague Dylan Silver, the Strength and Conditioning Coach at AOP, joining us to talk about a key component of creating a development plan, periodization. Coach Silver gives us insight on what periodization is, the importance of it when customizing an athlete’s training program, and how It affects the development process. 

What we discuss:

0:00 Intro

1:06 What is periodization?

2:23 Why is periodization important?

3:20 How does periodization lead to progress?

4:52 Don’t work on everything at the same time

7:39 Off-season vs season training

8:32 You can’t run before you crawl

10:54 Focusing on others = self-sabotage

13:06 Training plan for the year

15:41 Comparison is the thief of joy

17:21 Consequences of not doing proper periodization

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Website: https://theartofpitchingcorp.com

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In today’s episode we shine light on the mistakes we commonly see parents make that can be detrimental to a player’s development and his baseball career. Based on our experience we’ve witnessed how these decisions can lead to overuse, injury, and prevent progress. As parents we want the best for our kids and we want to bring awareness so that players can reach their full potential.

What we discuss: 

0:00 Intro

1:39 Rushing development

5:26 Overlooking overuse + underfueling

6:28 Downfall of desperation

10:33 Focusing on the wrong things

12:47 Closed-minded parents

15:11 Becoming competitive

19:32 Recommendations

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Website: https://theartofpitchingcorp.com

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On today’s episode we have the Colorado Rockies Closer, Victor Vodnik, joining us to share a little bit of his journey getting to the show. Victor shares his experiences getting scouted, playing for the Braves organization, and how he overcame setbacks and adversity leading to getting called up.

What we discuss:

0:00 Intro

2:45 What was the process like leading up to trade?

4:48 Development while being with the Braves

6:22 Who from the Braves helped you the most to prepare for the big leagues?

8:50 Victor Vodnik’s Backstory

13:13 When did you realize you were special?

16:48 How do you handle pressure?

18:22 How was it off the field leading up to the draft?

21:34 Did you ever doubt yourself?

25:03 What drives you to continue to work hard?

27:07 How has AOP helped you to reach your goals?

33:15 How did it feel to get called up?

36:28 When did it hit you that you’re a big leaguer?

37:12 What’s been your favorite part about being a big leaguer?

38:22 How different is it playing for the bigs?

39:36 Spring Training 2024 

45:06 What clicked on opening day?

47:05 Victor Vodnik vs Teoscar Hernandez

52:01 Learning from every situation

52:53 What are you going to do different this year?

56:04 What can AOP provide for players that were in your shoes?

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On today’s episode we have Cal State San Bernardino Head Coach, Mike Nadeau, joining us to share insights on the recruiting process and its challenges, his experience in building a culture, and what it’s like to play for a Division 2 school like CSUSB.

What We Discuss:

0:00 Intro

1:32 Finding talent & building a culture 

5:11 NorthWest Baseball vs SoCal

6:05 Overcoming financial challenges when recruiting

8:27 Selling during recruitment

13:06 Being real with players

14:45 Love baseball & trust the process 

15:27 Dealing with players wanting to go D1/NIL

16:31 Players following the money

18:13 Freshman vs Senior opportunities

22:26 New ruling on JC eligibility

27:24 Personality of a player affects the culture

32:40 Spotting Red Flags In Recruits

35:53 Finding what areas work best for Recruiting

37:29 Pros & Cons of D1 + D2

40:33 Best part of going D2

42:03 Players that are built different

46:34 You either have it or you don’t

47:28 How some parents ruin baseball

50:23 Advice to get to college baseball