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

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on being siblings working in professional baseball.

Speakers:
-Joe Hudson (Boston Red Sox organization)
-Garrett Hudson (Tampa Bay Rays organization)

Questions/topics covered in this episode:
-Explain your journey to where you are now (Did one brother influence the other?)
-Do you guys talk shop/share ideas about strength and conditioning?
-Is there any "animosity" about working in different rival organizations?
-What are your ultimate goals? Could you guys ever see yourselves working together down the road?

Quotes:
-"I think all of us strength coaches our first client is ourselves" - Joe Hudson (3:37)
-"I would advocate for people to try and be like that. You know, I don't want to be just taking someone else's approach to it" - Garrett Hudson (12:59)
-"When we do communicate, especially about the field, I think we're very productive and very effective in what we turn out" - Garrett Hudson (24:50)
-"It'd be cool to, you know, know that ultimately, like we followed the same path, right, but we got there different ways" - Joe Hudson (25:54)

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

Instagram:
@hudson_jr12 - Joe Hudson
@hudson_sports_performance - Garrett Hudson

Twitter:
@Coach_JoeHudson - Joe Hudson
@Hud12G - Garrett Hudson

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on being named a AA Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.

Speakers:
-Henry Aleck (Los Angeles Angels organization)
-John Gentile (Minnesota Twins organization)
-Casey Callison (Toronto Blue Jays organization)

Questions/topics covered in this episode:
-What did you learn in previous positions that helped you this year?
-Advice for others on looking to be successful at a Minor League affiliate
-Was there anything that you could have done better or different?
-What will you be working on this off-season and/or next season?

Quotes:
-"We get to wear shorts and a t-shirt. There should be no reason not to smile every day you walk in the clubhouse" - Henry Aleck (12:28)
-"Give yourself some time or you get burnt out quickly. It's a long season and if you're burnt out in May, you got a grind ahead of you" - John Gentile (12:59)
-"I think that's something that I know I can always do better of, of just developing better questions to be able to ask" - Casey Callison (19:49)

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

Instagram:
@henry_aleck22 - Henry Aleck
@jgentile118 - John Gentile
@casey_callison - Casey Callison

Twitter:
@Henry_Aleck - Henry Aleck