Steven Thayer enters his fifth season in the Athletics organization and third year with AAA Las Vegas as sport performance coach. He spent 2023 in High A Lansing and 2022 in Low A Stockton in the same role. Prior to joining the Athletics organization, he served as sport performance coach in the DSL with the Giants in 2021. Before his time in professional baseball, he oversaw strength and conditioning programs for multiple varsity sports at Mater Dei High School. Additionally, he spent time as an assistant strength coach for Michigan State basketball and volleyball teams and as an intern with Cal football and Apple Wellness. A native of San Ramon, CA, he is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has a master’s degree in kinesiology from Michigan State University. He holds nine certifications in the strength and conditioning field.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey (including working in the DR and corporate wellness with Apple)
-His best professional baseball story
-Current trends in the field
-Working in AAA Pacific Coast League

Quotes:
-"Baseball's my first love" (6:30)
-"A lot of the foundational stuff is the same. Everybody needs to squat, hinge, lunge, push, pull" (8:05)
-"It starts with the rapport. It starts with that getting to know the guy, getting to know that you care about them" (35:48)

Campbell Quirk is a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He has been with the organization for four seasons, having worked two in Low-A and two in High-A. He was named the 2025 MiLB Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in the Midwest League. Campbell is also a former college baseball player. 

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey and best professional baseball story
-Being named the Midwest League SCOTY and finding success
-Advice for others
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"I think, overall, Minor League Baseball has done a great job making sure the facilities are kept above par" (14:29)
-"Showing the athlete you care is crucial because at the end of the day it's their journey" (18:57)
-"The best day of my life was becoming a dad and having to learn how to look after someone else" (27:56)

If you would like to learn more from Campbell, you can connect with him on social media:

Instagram:
@quirky26

Luis Cervantes was born in Mexico City, Mexico and was raised in Montrose, CO. He graduated in 2016 from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a Bachelors in Sports Training and Conditioning. After spending 3 seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Cervantes accepted an opportunity with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021. Prior to his career with Minor League Baseball, Cervantes was with the United States Airforce Academy and a few private training facilities. Luis currently resides in Mesa, AZ.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Effectively coaching athletes of different ages and cultural backgrounds
-Working the Arizona Fall League
-Finding success
-Advice for others
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"You're dealing with kids who don't know what it means to be an adult yet, so you're showing them more than just strength and conditioning X's and O's. You're trying to teach them how to be just an adult and a good human being" (5:26)
-"Maybe you know your X's and O's, but if people don't like you it's gonna be really hard to convince them to do things" (13:17)
-"I do use audio a lot, that's like a hack right there. Just put on some audio and listen to it right before you go to bed or when I'm walking the dog" (19:22)

If you would like to learn more from Luis, you can connect with him on LinkedIn!

Luis Cervantes was born in Mexico City, Mexico and was raised in Montrose, CO. He graduated in 2016 from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a Bachelors in Sports Training and Conditioning. After spending 3 seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Cervantes accepted an opportunity with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021. Prior to his career with Minor League Baseball, Cervantes was with the United States Airforce Academy and a few private training facilities. Luis currently resides in Mesa, AZ.

Topics covered in this episode:
-The importance of being a good father and husband
-Being a 2x ACL Champion
-Similarities and differences between working in different organizations
-Emotional intelligence and soft skills

Quotes:
-"You grind during the season, but then you earn that offseason where you have a little bit more relaxing time with your family" (6:21)
-"I think that's something you need to teach: teaching how to win" (13:21)
-"You have to have the soft skills and emotional intelligence to know your audience and what you're gonna talk about" (25:38)

If you would like to learn more from Luis, you can connect with him on LinkedIn!

Jake Kistaitis is a strength and conditioning coach in the Oakland A's organization. Jake has been with the organization since 2022, where he has worked multiple levels from the DR up to AA. Prior to joining the A's, Jake spent time in 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Jake is a former college baseball player who grew up in the Omaha, Nebraska area. He was named the Texas League Strength Coach of the Year this season.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His professional baseball journey (including entering pro ball during the COVID chaos of 2020, time spent coaching in the DR, and working his way to AA)
-His best professional baseball story
-Being named the Texas League Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year
-Advice for others and continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"Trying to pick up as much as I can. Kind of getting overwhelmed, because your first few weeks in pro ball, as you know, it's crazy" (2:49)
-"I would say building relationships is probably the most important because once you have that relationship built with a player, them buying into your program or buying in to you as a human is gonna allow that relationship to move onward and upward because they know that you're in it for them, not for yourself" (16:56)
-"I think every off-season you find something that you're interested in and then you just try and learn as much as you can and then figure out how to utilize that on the day-to-day" (21:35)

If you would like to learn more from Jake, you can follow him on social media:

Instagram:
@jake_kistaitis

And a special thank you to xcelerated recovery for sponsoring this episode! 

Grace is a Minor League Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, where she works to support athlete performance and development throughout the organization. Before joining the Rays, she served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Queens University, working with baseball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s tennis. Grace has also spent time in professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals as a Player Development Strength & Conditioning Coach and previously interned with the Cleveland Guardians. 

She holds a master’s degree in Applied Kinesiology and Physiology from the University of Florida, and a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Sports Psychology from the University of Evansville.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Working in the college setting vs. professional baseball
-Advice for others and finding success
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"I think this year has really solidified that I want to be in pro ball" (4:33)
-"I think you should definitely experience both of them. For me, I'm obviously really glad that I experienced and went and worked in the college setting. It makes me appreciate being where I'm at a lot more" (10:36)
-"Every day I try and just be really appreciative of the people I get to work with, the athletes I get to work with, and the experience I get to have because it's a really cool job that we have" (23:42)

If you would like to learn more from Grace, you can follow her on social media:

Instagram:
@coachgracecullen

Grace is a Minor League Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, where she works to support athlete performance and development throughout the organization. Before joining the Rays, she served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Queens University, working with baseball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s tennis. Grace has also spent time in professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals as a Player Development Strength & Conditioning Coach and previously interned with the Cleveland Guardians. 

She holds a master’s degree in Applied Kinesiology and Physiology from the University of Florida, and a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Sports Psychology from the University of Evansville.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Her best professional baseball story
-Being a younger coach in the field
-Axial loading for baseball players
-Learning how to coach effectively without technology
-Working with unfamiliar sports and athletes

Quotes:
-"Their spine is so mobile and gets put in such crazy positions that I'm not really a huge fan of putting a bunch of weight on their back" (7:28)
-"I just think people need to hammer the basics when they're coming up and they're interning" (10:04)
-"I think whenever a coach writes a new program they probably modify it like five times" (19:39)

If you would like to learn more from Grace, you can follow her on social media:

Instagram:
@coachgracecullen

Joe Hudson is in his first year as a Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Major League level with the Boston Red Sox organization. He has previously spent multiple seasons at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A within the organization and another 4 years managing private sector sports performance facilities in Massachusetts. He received his B.S. in Exercise Physiology from Plymouth State University (’12) and his M.S. in Exercise Science from Springfield College (’15). Joe and his wife Meghan currently live in Springfield, MA with their twin boys Callan & Griffin and their daughter Maeve.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Finding success at different levels
-Collaboration with staff and players
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"You experience the soft skills and learning how to navigate people and stuff like that through experience and through continued exposure to doing it" (11:41)
-"The message for me is accept that there's always more to learn and that the experience is still valuable" (12:30)
-"The science side of our profession is booming at a rapid pace, but the art side is getting lost, or passed over, just because there is so much technology and there is so much in the analytical space of tying this thing to that thing" (17:23)

If you would like to learn more from Joe, you can follow him on social media:

Instagram:
@hudson_jr12

Twitter:
@Coach_JoeHudson

And a special thank you to Ecore Athletic for sponsoring this episode! 

"As the Official Flooring Partner of the Professional Baseball Strength & Conditioning Coaches Society (PBSCCS), Ecore Athletic is proud to support the training environments where elite athletes prepare to perform at their best. From Major League to Minor League Baseball, Ecore Athletic surfaces are trusted in weight rooms and training facilities across the country — designed to deliver unmatched durability, performance, and safety. All manufactured right here in the USA."

Joe Hudson is in his first year as a Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Major League level with the Boston Red Sox organization. He has previously spent multiple seasons at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A within the organization and another 4 years managing private sector sports performance facilities in Massachusetts. He received his B.S. in Exercise Physiology from Plymouth State University (’12) and his M.S. in Exercise Science from Springfield College (’15). Joe and his wife Meghan currently live in Springfield, MA with their twin boys Callan & Griffin and their daughter Maeve.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Being in the Big Leagues vs. being in the Minor Leagues
-In-season programming adjustments
-Media pressure on players and staff

Quotes:
-"The biggest difference between the Big Leagues and the Minor Leagues is really in the travel schedule and the game schedule" (1:15)
-"If there's still performance and physical development gains on the table still, we want to chase those" (20:05)
-"Everything here is under a microscope, for sure" (24:41)

If you would like to learn more from Joe, you can follow him on social media:

Instagram:
@hudson_jr12

Twitter:
@Coach_JoeHudson

Joe Hudson is in his first year as a Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Major League level with the Boston Red Sox organization. He has previously spent multiple seasons at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A within the organization and another 4 years managing private sector sports performance facilities in Massachusetts. He received his B.S. in Exercise Physiology from Plymouth State University (’12) and his M.S. in Exercise Science from Springfield College (’15). Joe and his wife Meghan currently live in Springfield, MA with their twin boys Callan & Griffin and their daughter Maeve.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey to the Big Leagues and Opening Day 2025
-Practicing gratitude and meditation
-Managing all the factors that go into being successful in the Big Leagues

Quotes:
-"What I started doing, which has been really helpful, is every couple Sundays when we were at home I'll get there early, I'll go up, walk up to The Monster and just sit on The Monster for like 10 minutes" (13:54)
-"We're lucky man. There are so many other (bad) jobs that we could be doing" (14:38)
-"The priority, first and foremost, is winning baseball games, right? And that requires a different type of consideration towards what you wanna do every day" (18:03)

If you would like to learn more from Joe, you can follow him on social media:

Instagram:
@hudson_jr12

Twitter:
@Coach_JoeHudson