The PBSCCS Podcast

Ryan Harrel just completed his 3rd Year as a Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ryan grew up in Cashion, Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Kinesiology. Prior to joining the Diamondbacks, he spent time as an intern at Edge Sports Performance in Edmond, Oklahoma & Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Garden, Florida.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey and family ties in professional baseball
-His best professional baseball stories
-Microdosing within a daily training regiment

Quotes:
-"This is what I want to do. I love baseball. I love the gym. And then on top of it, it's so cool to get to help people accomplish what they want to accomplish" (3:20)
-"It's probably one of my favorite things about baseball: the stories and the laughing and the joking" (8:08)
-"Movement is medicine, and I think that that is critically important in sustaining long-term health and success" (16:06)

If you'd like to learn more from Ryan, you can find him on social media:

Instagram:
@rjharrel10

Joe Leo just completed his 2nd Year as a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Prior to joining the Diamondbacks, Joe has stops at Lift Chicago, Cressey Sports Performance, and The Ohio State University. Joe is a proud Buckeye and Chicagoan.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Working the Arizona Complex League
-Relationship building and creating buy-in
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"I think getting them into a solid routine that they do every day is probably our primary objective" (4:57)
-"Team is so important" (12:27)
-"Building a relationship isn't just one day" (20:10)

If you'd like to learn more from Joe, you can find him on social media:

Instagram:
@joeyl2

Joe Leo just completed his 2nd Year as a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Prior to joining the Diamondbacks, Joe has stops at Lift Chicago, Cressey Sports Performance, and The Ohio State University. Joe is a proud Buckeye and Chicagoan.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey to professional baseball
-The value of an internship (especially in professional baseball)
-Programming for and working with in-season athletes

Quotes:
-"It was kind of a good last internship for me because you get out of it what you put into it" (7:47)
-"That's the easiest way to grow I think; just try not to make the same mistake twice" (14:12)
-"I think one of the most valuable things we can do as strength coaches is help pain a more well-rounded picture of the athlete" (23:56)

If you'd like to learn more from Joe, you can find him on social media:

Instagram:
@joeyl2

Adam Decker is currently serving in his third season as the Director of Sports Medicine & Performance for the Houston Astros. Originally from Canada, Adam started his career with Sport Canada where he worked for 8 years in Strength & Conditioning, Performance Science, Talent Identification, and Athlete Development with Provincial and National/Olympic level athletes. Adam then moved to the world-renowned performing arts company, Cirque du Soleil, and later to the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils. Adam holds degrees in Exercise Science, Education, a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, and a PhD in Medical Rehabilitation.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Discussion on being Houston's Director of Sports Medicine and Performance
-Finding success and advice for others
-Continuing Education Resources

Quotes:
-"I get to work with a very diverse group of people, multiple disciplines, and I love it" (1:50)
-"You'd be amazed at how generous people are. I've had so many people who have helped me along the way" (13:30)
-"Probably more than any other industry, sport is about people and relationships" (14:20)

If you'd like to learn more from Adam, you can reach out to him on LinkedIn!

Adam Decker is currently serving in his third season as the Director of Sports Medicine & Performance for the Houston Astros. Originally from Canada, Adam started his career with Sport Canada where he worked for 8 years in Strength & Conditioning, Performance Science, Talent Identification, and Athlete Development with Provincial and National/Olympic level athletes. Adam then moved to the world-renowned performing arts company, Cirque du Soleil, and later to the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils. Adam holds degrees in Exercise Science, Education, a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, and a PhD in Medical Rehabilitation.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey into professional baseball
-Working with Sport Canada, Cirque du Soleil, and the New Jersey Devils
-Movement Creativity and Physical Literacy

Quotes:
-"I mean I've worked with so many different people and cultures and just in different environments" (10:19)
-"I think that's probably the best thing about my career is that I've had those different experiences. Because I think, without a doubt, it's made me a much better practitioner" (11:32)
-"Those kinda personal stories are the ones that I think stick with me more than anything else" (20:44)

If you'd like to learn more from Adam, you can reach out to him on LinkedIn!

Max Miller is the Complex Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Seattle Mariners. He is from Parkersburg, WV and graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science from Cedarville University in 2021. Max is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Finding success at work and at home
-Advice for others on how to win relationships
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"This is a relationship business. And that goes well beyond just baseball. Strength and conditioning in general, it's a relationship business" (5:53)
-"I think to succeed in this industry, relationships are of critical importance" (7:34)
-"Always close the loop" (13:28)

If you'd like to learn more from Max, you can follow him on social media:

Instagram:
@maxmiller_6

Max Miller is the Complex Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Seattle Mariners. He is from Parkersburg, WV and graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science from Cedarville University in 2021. Max is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey and best professional baseball story
-Programs and athlete buy-in
-Working the Arizona Complex League and the newer Bridge League

Quotes:
-"Whatever it is I just wanted to be in baseball" (3:27)
-"The things that bring the program to life, I think, are probably more important than the X's and O's of the specific program" (7:07)
-"The goal is by the time they move up to the next level, they are familiar and proficient with our big rock movements" (18:16)

If you'd like to learn more from Max, you can follow him on social media:

Instagram:
@maxmiller_6

This episode marks the Seven Year Anniversary of The PBSCCS Podcast. It is a "Year in Review" episode, discussing the 11 individual interviews and 2 group interviews published throughout the year.

Yannick Plante is entering his sixth season within the Kansas City Royals organization. He is working the 2024 season as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Surprise Royals after working three seasons in the same role with Triple-A Omaha. He is also serving as a Rehab Strength & Conditioning Coach. In the fall of 2019, Yannick was a staff member of the Surprise Saguaros during the Arizona Fall League. Plante has a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Calgary and a bachelor’s degree in human kinetics with specialization in biophysics from the University of Ottawa. He is from Ottawa, Ontario and currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Advice for others
-Finding success at different locations
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"We have an unbelievable privilege of working with athletes that come from all over the world" (1:45)
-"I think in due time everyone can find a place in a different setting" (9:48)
-"You've gotta be able to immerse yourself in a setting where other people are already comfortable in" (15:07)

If you'd like to learn more from Yannick, you can follow him on social media:

Twitter:
@YannPlantz

Instagram:
@yannplantz

Yannick Plante is entering his sixth season within the Kansas City Royals organization. He is working the 2024 season as the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Surprise Royals after working three seasons in the same role with Triple-A Omaha. He is also serving as a Rehab Strength & Conditioning Coach. In the fall of 2019, Yannick was a staff member of the Surprise Saguaros during the Arizona Fall League. Plante has a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Calgary and a bachelor’s degree in human kinetics with specialization in biophysics from the University of Ottawa. He is from Ottawa, Ontario and currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey throughout the Minor League system
-The benefits of working in Rookie Ball
-The balance between technology and the human element of coaching

Quotes:
-"In Arizona, with the younger group, we're working on building solid routines, having consistency in their training, understanding exercises and why they have to do them" (8:32)
-"I think as we go forward the Arizona Complex is gonna have a lot of people looking for those positions if they can't move up or for whatever reason" (12:08)
-"If you can just take a moment and just appreciate what's in front of you and the person, and enjoy the session with them and coach them through it, over the course of the long-run you're gonna get buy-in from that athlete, and you're gonna be able to measure the things that are deemed important" (23:56)

If you'd like to learn more from Yannick, you can follow him on social media:

Twitter:
@YannPlantz

Instagram:
@yannplantz