What does it actually take to become a pro pitcher?In this episode of Around The Mound, former pros and current Tread Athletics coaches John Lantigua, Justin Nicolino, Craig Stem, and Paul Hall sit down to talk about the mindset it takes to make it, and more importantly, to stay.Each of them have a unique background that shapes their coaching philosophies. From affiliate ball struggles to rediscovering the joy of the game in indy ball, each coach shares how failure, adaptability, and relentless self-belief shaped their careers.Some awesome takeaways from this episode:💭 “Failures can’t define you, they’re your life lessons.”💭 “Be obsessed with keeping a jersey on your back.”💭 “Don’t lose that kid who fell in love with the game.”

Timestamps0:24 – Backgrounds and Playing Careers2:30 – Paths to Professional Baseball8:25 – Lessons from Early Struggles14:45 – Developing a Pro Mindset21:10 – Mentality and Growth as a Player28:50 – Handling Pressure and Adversity34:30 – What It Takes to Reach the Next Level41:45 – The Grind and Sacrifice Behind the Dream50:20 – Final Reflections and Takeaways