Dwayne Peterson is entering his six season as a minor league strength coach with the Houston Astros and his second year in AAA. He is a former division one football player, competitive powerlifter and bodybuilder. Dwayne spends his offseasons with his wife Candie at their home in Erlanger, KY.

Topics covered in this episode:

-His unique journey

-Hard in-season training

-His vision for an off-season program in professional baseball

Quotes:

-"I push players hard in-season" (15:23)

-"I think it's more the intangible things that make the difference" (18:35)

-"You need to enjoy the journey" (23:53)

If you would like to learn more from Dwayne, you can read his articles on the PBSCCS website:

http://baseballstrength.org/1436-2/

http://baseballstrength.org/integration-prt-baseball-strength-conditioning/

http://baseballstrength.org/rdl-progressions-by-dwayne-peterson-rscc/

http://baseballstrength.org/progressions-from-glute-bridge-to-hip-lift-to-hip-thrust-by-dwayne-peterson/

Logan Byman is currently in his fourth season in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He joined the Pirates after serving a 5 month internship at EXOS in 2014, and a 2 year graduate assistantship at the University of Florida from 2014-2016 covering football, soccer, gymnastics, and lacrosse while pursuing his Master’s Degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology: Human Performance.

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management from North Carolina State University in 2013 while participating as a member of the North Carolina State wrestling team.

He became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2014. He earned his Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach’s association in 2015.

He was born in Raleigh, NC and currently resides in Bradenton, FL.

Topics covered in this episode:

-Being Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year

-Developing as a coach

-Speed and unilateral training

Quotes:

-"At the end of the day the athletes we work with don't want to be the best lifter - they want to be the best baseball player" (7:15)

-"How does what you're doing help them on the field?" (7:23)

-"Be absolutely amazing at the basics" (18:54)

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

Instagram:

@loganbyman

Trevor Swartz is currently the Minor League Physical Performance Coordinator for the Colorado Rockies (currently in his 6th season with Colorado and 3rd as the Coordinator). Trevor graduated from Central Washington University in 2014 with a BS in exercise science. His certifications include the CSCS, RSCC, USAW and FRCmS.

Topics covered in this episode:

-Trevor's unconventional path to where he is now

-Lifting heavy and running less

-Self-evaluation

Quotes:

-"Put your head down and work" (3:15)

-"Be under constant evaluation" (12:48)

-"We had to remove the ego at the door" (20:31)

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

Instagram:

@trevor_swartz9

Twitter:

@tswartz9

Jason Meredith is in his second season with the Milwaukee Brewers after joining the organization in November 2016.

Prior to working with the Brewers, he spent seven seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, most recently as minor-league strength and conditioning coordinator (2014-16). He was the strength and conditioning coach at Triple-A Lehigh Valley (2011-13) and served an internship at Double-A Reading in 2009.

In 2010, Meredith worked as the strength and conditioning coach at Double-A Trenton in the Yankees organization.

Meredith earned his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in exercise and sports science - athletic training in 2005 and received his master’s degree in applied physiology and kinesiology from the University of Florida in 2007. While in college, he spent the 2004 summer as an athletic training intern with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jason and his wife, Christina, reside in Chandler, Arizona with their two children, daughter, Isabella, and son, Alexander.

Topics covered in this episode:

-Best professional baseball story

-Off-season strength coaches

-Continuing education resources

Quotes:

-"Sometimes strong enough is strong enough, and anything extra is just extra" (4:14)

-"A mediocre program done consistently is better than a perfect program done inconsistently" (6:17)

-"Coach where you can coach" (8:15)

If you would like to learn more from Jason, you can read about him on the PBSCCS website:

http://baseballstrength.org/jason-meredith-cscs-rscc-milwaukee-brewers/

or by following him on social media:

Instagram:

@jtmeredith83

Twitter:

@jtmeredith83

Patrick Trainor is currently the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization. Prior to joining the Rays in his current role, he has spent time with the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians, as well as a previous stint with the Rays as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the Minor League affiliate level. Outside of professional baseball, he has held positions at the collegiate level with Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA (2007-2009) as well as Queens College in New York (2012), overseeing the physical preparation of varsity sports.

Topics covered in this episode:

-Best professional baseball story

-In-season training and micro-dosing

-Pitcher conditioning

Quotes:

-"Just when you think you know enough, you realize that you don't know anything" (29:19)

-"You can't get stuck in the weightroom and have the blinders on of what only goes on in your world" (32:49)

-"Understand the stress that you are prescribing before blindly prescribing stresses over the course of the season" (39:58)

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

Instagram:

@p_trainor

Twitter:

@PTrainorNJ

Shaun Alexander is currently entering his 6th season (2014-2019) as a Minor League Performance Coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to the Dodgers, he spent 2 seasons with the Miami Marlins (2012-2013).

Shaun graduated from Arizona State University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, and from San Jose State University in 2010 with a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology.

He was named the Strength Coach of the Year in 2017 (California League) and 2018 (Texas League). He holds a number of certifications, including: Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach, Precision Nutrition Level 1, StrongFirst Kettlebell Level 1, Functional Movement Systems Level 1, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Level 1.

He currently resides in Arizona with his wife of 6 years (Cari Alexander) and their 3 children (Jillian – 4, Benjamin – 3, and Emmeline – 2 months).

Topics covered in this episode:

-Being Strength Coach of the Year multiple times

-Breathing

-Staff Continuing Education

Quotes:

-"You have to be able to adjust on the fly" (6:34)

-"Always be learning" (10:36)

-"Talk to as many coaches as you can" (15:23)

A Guilford College graduate, Logan Jones, is heading into his second season with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a strength & conditioning coach. While at Guilford, Logan earned his degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences & Health Sciences and was also a member of the Quakers’ baseball team. Following graduation, he completed strength and conditioning internships at the University of Kentucky and Wake Forest University working with a variety of sports including volleyball, soccer, track & field, field hockey, and baseball. With the Diamondbacks, he is assigned to the Rookie-Level Arizona League Diamondbacks located in Scottsdale, AZ. Logan is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA, a Sports Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting, holds a Functional Movement Screen Certification (FMSC) through Functional Movement Systems, and is currently working towards his Corrective Exercise Specialization (CES) through NASM.

Topics covered in this episode:

-Recap of his first year in professional baseball

-Training and the minimum effective dose

-Personal improvement

Quotes:

-"Gain the trust of all your players" (4:16)

-"Are you the best version of yourself?" (14:16)

-"Meet others in the field who you can learn from" (23:20)

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

Instagram:

@logan_jones95

Twitter:

@Logan_Jones95

Ryan Crotin is the Director of Performance Integration for the Los Angeles Angels covering quality control aspects within the organization. Previous to this position, Ryan was the Player Performance Coordinator overseeing minor league strength and conditioning aspects, contributing to sport science and player procurement.

Topics covered in this episode:

-Characteristics of successful strength and conditioning coaches

-Advice for others in the field

-Reading research

Quotes:

-"I think we have to have a general openness to learn" (4:28)

-"Learn from as many people as possible" (8:14)

-"If you want to be successful, you have to have gratitude" (8:41)

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

Instagram:

@ryancrotin

Dallas Lopez just completed his fourth season with the Chicago Cubs organization and second-straight with the Eugene Emeralds. He spent 2015-16 with the rookie league Mesa Cubs after graduating from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice.

Topics covered in this episode:

-Working the Arizona Fall League

-Difficult training sessions

-Newest trends and topics

Quotes:

-"We're in a constantly developing field of practice" (15:14)

-"The day of just writing programs and getting guys to workout is no more" (18:48)

-"If it's been proven to have some sort of benefits, then you gotta give it a chance" (20:15)

Mike Schofield is currently the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the Atlanta Braves. He is a registered strength and conditioning coach (RSCC), licensed manual therapist (LMT), and Postural Restoration trained (PRT). Prior to working with the Braves, Mike spent 8 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He attended Colorado State University where he completed his degree in Exercise Science.

Topics covered in this episode:

-Adjusting to both a new role and a new organization

-PRI in professional baseball

-Ideas and advice on how to be successful

Quotes:

-"I view myself as another piece to help push the program forward" (2:19)

-"Recovery is king in this game" (12:08)

-"Good training is good training - it's all encompassing" (21:13)

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

Instagram:

@mschofield3