The Tread Podcast

Craig Stem and Paul Hall have both lived the pitcher development journey from high school arms to professional baseball. In this episode, they break down everything they wish someone had told them at 18. The mechanical habits, the mindset traps, and the training principles that took years to figure out the hard way.If you're a high school or college pitcher trying to fast-track your development, this one is for you.In this episode:- What Craig and Paul got wrong early in their careers- The mechanical and mindset lessons that changed everything- What they'd tell every 18-year-old pitcher today

In this episode of the Tread Podcast, Performance Coach Chase sits down with Dylan Cumming and Grant Umberger to break down their full journeys.Dylan Cumming and Grant Umberger were never highly recruited. Grant was underperforming and cut at Virginia Tech. Dylan was bouncing between schools and barely getting looks. Then they both found their way to pro ball after the Tread Annual Pro day. Now they are heading into their second season with the Chicago White Sox.-How Dylan went from a disappointing pro day at 90-92 mph to signing with the Giants-How Grant evolved from a one-pitch guy at Toledo into a legitimate multi-pitch arm with the White Sox-They also get into why pitch ability mattered more than velo during their Tread Pro Day Performances

In this episode, we sit down with Grant Manning, a Washington Nationals signee out of the 2026 Tread Pro Day, to tell his underdog story. Grant started his career as a skinny 6'6" freshman throwing 84 MPH at Division III Chapman University. Through years of gradual development, relentless work, and one perfectly timed email, he earned a spot at Virginia Tech in the ACC.We trace the full journey from his early days at Chapman where he first learned about his mechanics, to competing in a top 25 ACC program against future MLB draft picks, to transitioning into a closer role in the MLB Draft League after going undrafted, to finally earning his shot at Tread Pro Day and getting the call from the Washington Nationals while stranded in a Nashville snowstorm.Grant breaks down his complete arsenal, including his fastball that touches 95, his hard gyro slider, and the "Ghost Pitch" changeup that generates 60 to 65% whiff rates and left Virginia Tech hitters completely baffled.This is a story about what happens when you refuse to let your ceiling be defined by where you started.

MT Morrissey wasn't drafted. He transferred twice. He battled inconsistency throughout his collegiate career. Then he hit 98 MPH in a bullpen, and the Phillies signed him.
In this episode of the Tread Podcast, Pro Development Lead Turner Givens and S&C Lead Ethan Dyer sit down with MT to break down his full journey:
- His mindset shift that changed everything
- His Pro-style buildup at NJIT helped him convert to a starter
- The specific training decisions that moved the needle most.
They also get into why his best outings happened after his worst ones, why tinkering mid-season kills development, and the unbelievable bullpen session that got him signed.

David Hess was a 4th round pick out of Tennessee Tech who worked his way to the big leagues with the Baltimore Orioles. In this episode he breaks down the full journey, from decommitting as a high school recruit to his MLB debut, the minor league grind, and what it actually takes to stick at that level. Hess also talks openly about battling cancer, the treatment, and why he's not done with baseball yet.

In this episode of the Tread Podcast, John Lantigua, Trey Goodrich, and Zach Warren break down how all three of them increased their velocity post-retirement. The answer comes down to this: years of coaching taught them what actually matters in a throw, and retirement gave them the freedom to fully apply it.

The conversation digs into the real reasons behind their gains, simplifying their approach, identifying the three or four things that actually matter in a throw, and training without the pressure of a long season. From leaning into individual body types to hammering the weight room in ways they never did as players, each coach found their own path to throwing harder by finally understanding why certain mechanics work instead of just copying what looked good.

Kenny Serwa sits down with Co-Founder Ben Brewster and his former teammate, now Tread Performance Coach Cody Whitten, to reflect on the past year since signing with the Detroit Tigers. Kenny Serwa signed after participating in Tread Athletics Annual Pro Day in 2025.

Sayer Diederich went from getting cut in indy ball and nearly walking away from baseball to becoming a prospect in the Baltimore Orioles organization. In this episode of the Tread Podcast, we break down his unconventional path, from velocity struggles and mechanical overhauls to refining an arsenal that finally got him noticed.

Ryan Flippo and John Lantigua sit down with Tread Performance Specialist and VP of Pitching for the Chicago Cubs, Tyler Zombro, for a deep dive into how pitching development really works at the highest level. They break down the difference between training and competing, how college and pro ramp-ups should actually be structured, and why most players peak at the wrong time. The conversation also covers workload management, deload timing, body changes, and how MLB organizations evaluate arms in today’s tighter roster landscape. If you want an honest look at what separates pitchers who move up from those who get left behind, this episode delivers.

What does pitchability actually mean and how do you train it?In this discussion, Tread Athletics coaches Craig Stem, Lucas Still and Chase Cunningham break down what separates pitchers who just throw hard from pitchers who consistently get outs. As velocity continues to rise across all levels of baseball, pitchability continues to be the true separator.This conversation covers how pitchability is developed over time, including command training, reading swings, sequencing hitters, and building effective game plans.