The PBSCCS Podcast

Born in Carroll, OH, Cory Cook currently resides in Sarasota, FL. He is in his 10th season working in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, and is currently in his 4th as the Minor League Strength & Conditioning Coordinator. He spent four seasons overseeing operations at Pirate City (2016-19) after working the 2014 and 2015 campaigns in the same capacity with Low-A West Virginia. He served as an intern assistant coach at The Ohio State University prior to joining the Pirates organization in 2014. He began his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Central Oklahoma where he received his Masters of Science. He is also a 2011 graduate of Radford University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine. He was also a member of the Radford University baseball team as a catcher.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His best professional baseball story
-Assessing players and video breakdown
-Being in "start-up" mode and finding success

Quotes:
-"I believe in the on-field assessment as your assessment more than all the stuff that gets done off-field" (5:41)
-"Pick up an old book and you'll find a new idea" (27:01)
-"All the stuff we work on - force production, rate of force production - you know all those kind of things, it doesn't matter if they aren't moving correctly and applying it correctly out on the field" (29:57)

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

Instagram:
@coryncook

John Gentile (MS, RSCC, CSCS) has been working in the Minnesota Twins organization as an MiLB S&C Coach since 2022. Prior to working with the Twins, John has worked as an MiLB S&C Coach for both the Detroit Tigers organization (2010-2013) and Colorado Rockies organization (2020-2021). John has a BS in Exercise Science from Florida Southern College and an MS in Kinesiology from California Baptist University. Originally from Connecticut, John and his wife, Mallory Gentile, currently reside in St. Petersburg, FL with their two boys, Luca (6) and Rory (2).

Topics covered in this episode:
-Being SCOTY and finding success
-Advice for others
-Continuing education resources

Quotes:
-"I would say communication is the number one key when it comes to being successful" (2:01)
-"One thing that I learned is use your off days as off days" (6:17)
-"I think if these guys can establish routines early on in their career they'll be more prepared for when they get the call up" (13:10)

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

Instagram:
@jgentile118

John Gentile (MS, RSCC, CSCS) has been working in the Minnesota Twins organization as an MiLB S&C Coach since 2022. Prior to working with the Twins, John has worked as an MiLB S&C Coach for both the Detroit Tigers organization (2010-2013) and Colorado Rockies organization (2020-2021). John has a BS in Exercise Science from Florida Southern College and an MS in Kinesiology from California Baptist University. Originally from Connecticut, John and his wife, Mallory Gentile, currently reside in St. Petersburg, FL with their two boys, Luca (6) and Rory (2).

Topics covered in this episode:
-His journey and perseverance into his new role
-His best professional baseball stories
-Maximizing interactions with players

Quotes:
-"I feel like sometimes we don't listen to the players enough to find out what they actually need or want" (20:29)
-"I'm not a big fan of the word maintenance. I feel like there's always a way for these players to get better on a daily basis" (21:20)
-"I think if we use the player as a resource as well, I think we can better serve them on a day-to-day basis" (21:38)

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

Instagram:
@jgentile118

Henry Aleck is in his 2nd season with the Los Angeles Angels organization, recently serving as the Double-A Affiliate Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Rocket City Trash Pandas and previously in the same role with High-A Tri-City. He spent time in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, has worked at the University of Texas as a graduate Strength & Conditioning Coach, and as an intern at UCLA with Olympic Sports.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Training the cheer team and how it has helped in professional baseball
-His best professional baseball story
-Being named a SCOTY and finding success

Quotes:
-"If the preparation sucks for what we're giving then the product's gonna suck" (9:49)
-"I think if we as the coaches don't care about what we do then obviously the athlete's not gonna care" (10:05)
-"Getting guys to compete a little bit on a regular basis I think within the weightroom is just as important in-season as it is in the off-season" (13:03)

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

Instagram:
@henry_aleck22

Twitter:
@Henry_Aleck

Casey Callison completed his fifth season in the Toronto Blue Jays organization this past year. He spent the 2022 & 2021 seasons with the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats. In 2020 he was suppose to be with the Low A Lansing Lugnuts, but the season was canceled due to covid. 2019 Casey spent the year with the Vancouver Canadians in Low A Short Season, and in his first year, he was the Florida Coast League Strength Coach for the Blue Jays in 2018.

Topics covered in this episode:
-His best professional baseball story
-Being named a SCOTY and finding success
-Workload management

Quotes:
-"Show the people around you that you care" (11:43)
-"Know what your year is going to look like and plan accordingly" (12:32)
-"I would say it's just very very important, no matter where we're at in our careers, to just go out and learn from other people" (31:02)

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

Instagram:
@casey_callison

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on being a first year strength and conditioning coach in the Major Leagues. 

Speakers:
-Goldy Simmons (Chicago White Sox organization)
-Tanner Miracle (New York Mets organization)

Questions/topics covered in this episode:
-Journey to your current role and how your previous positions prepared you for it
-Advice for others
-Discussion on everyone's first year in the Big Leagues

Quotes:
-"I think just be where your feet are. Soak it all in." - Goldy Simmons (6:27)
-"Try to be a problem solver." - Tanner Miracle (8:08)
-"Every night means something." - Goldy Simmons (16:05)
-"Always be the same guy every day you come in" - Tanner Miracle (25:48)

If you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:

Instagram:
@gsimmons88 - Goldy Simmons
@tanman_miracle - Tanner Miracle

Twitter:
@CoachMiracleTM - Tanner Miracle

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on being a first year strength and conditioning coach in professional baseball.

Speakers:
-Donny Gress (Boston Red Sox organization)
-Nate Kolb (Arizona Diamondbacks organization)

Questions/topics covered in this episode:
-Journeys into professional baseball
-Overall discussion on first year in professional baseball
-Situations specific to the professional baseball strength and conditioning coach

Quotes:
-"It's easy to go out and chase certs and letters behind your name and all the alphabet soup that we like to throw out, but at the end of the day connections can take you so much further" - Nate Kolb (9:00)
-"The energy and effort that you put into yourself to keep growing and keep learning...it's gonna show" - Donny Gress (10:05)
-"You do what you gotta do with what you have" - Donny Gress (15:02)
-"I think for any young coach that is wanting to get in to pro baseball specifically you need to understand that communication is everything" - Nate Kolb (28:00)

If you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:

Instagram:
@dontron41 - Donny Gress
@kolbnate - Nate Kolb

Twitter:
@dontron41 - Donny Gress
@nkolbster - Nate Kolb

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on the Houston Astros winning the 2022 MLB World Series. This is Part Two of a two-part interview.

Speakers:
-Hazael Wessin (Major League Strength & Conditioning Coach)
-Taylor Rhoades (Major League Strength & Conditioning Coach)

Questions/topics covered in this episode:
-Navigating the lockout
-Playoff run and winning the World Series
-Finding a work/life balance
-Preparing for the upcoming 2023 season

Quotes:
-"We had other plans and other things that we did with our players behind-the-scenes to get them prepared for the season" - Taylor Rhoades (2:45)
-"The playoffs is a different animal. It's way different than the regular season" - Taylor Rhoades (11:08)
-"Sometimes you forget about stepping back and just think about the moment that you're living in" - Hazael Wessin (13:20)
-"I always think to myself try to show up to Spring Training with at least one new thing or something new to try with the guys" - Hazael Wessin (22:40)

If you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:

Instagram:
@wessin16 - Hazael Wessin
@t_rhoades1 - Taylor Rhoades

Twitter:
@BigCoachWes - Hazael Wessin
@T_Rhoades1 - Taylor Rhoades

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on the Houston Astros winning the 2022 MLB World Series. This is Part One of a two-part interview.

Speakers:
-Hazael Wessin (Major League Strength & Conditioning Coach)
-Taylor Rhoades (Major League Strength & Conditioning Coach)

Questions/topics covered in this episode:
-How collaborating with coaches helped achieved the ultimate success this year
-Dividing up day-to-day roles
-Creating a system of continuity for players in the system
-Checks and balances to help keep players consistent and accountable

Quotes:
-"I think one big thing that led us to success this year is collaboration with the coaching staff" - Taylor Rhoades (1:54)
-"You can't do anything at that level without having the coaching staff on your side" - Hazael Wessin (2:58)
-"The players have to buy-in to the program, and I think if they get results from that program, they're gonna keep coming back and it's only gonna help the buy-in" - Taylor Rhoades (15:19)
-"Every player is different" - Hazael Wessin (15:49)

If you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:

Instagram:
@wessin16 - Hazael Wessin
@t_rhoades1 - Taylor Rhoades

Twitter:
@BigCoachWes - Hazael Wessin
@T_Rhoades1 - Taylor Rhoades

Derek started his career at the University of San Diego in 2006 as the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach. During his 4 plus years there he worked with 14 men's and women's varsity sports. He directly oversaw year round training programs for baseball, softball, women's volleyball, men's soccer, swimming & diving, golf, women's tennis, and men's & women's rowing. His first job in baseball was with the San Diego Padres in 2011 at their High A affiliate, and the following two seasons at the Double A level. In 2014 he moved to the Oakland A's to work with their AAA affiliate. 

Derek then got out of baseball and spent time working at the Function Factory in San Diego as the Director of Sports Performance. In 2015 he became the first strength & conditioning coach at Kearny High School in San Diego, and in 2016, became their first athletic trainer as well. In 2018, he re-entered baseball with the Seattle Mariners as the Major League Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach.

Growing up in Fremont, Ca, Derek graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Kinesiology-Athletic Training, and also received his master's degree in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego. He is a certified athletic trainer through the NATA-BOC, as well as holding the distinction of RSCC-D* with the NSCA. Derek currently resides in Arizona with his wife Riki, their daughters Mia and Maisie, and is expecting twin girls.

Topics covered in this episode:
-Developing players and assessing success
-Keeping things in perspective
-Continuing Education Resources

Quotes:
-"Really what our goal is is to help develop players. You know, develop their ability to compete in their sport" (0:46)
-"The life that we lead, you know we don't control our destiny a lot of the times" (10:06)
-"Baseball will humble you. You know, it will expose you and it's 'How do you adapt?'" (17:06)

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

Instagram:
@coachcantieni 

Twitter:
@DJCantieni