PODCAST

The Tread Podcast

Tread Athletics

sports baseball

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01:18:48

From MLB Pitcher To Cancer Diagnosis To Comeback |...

The Tread Podcast ·

2026/04/02

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.

01:07:49

How Tread Coaches Gain Velo After Retiring

The Tread Podcast ·

2026/03/12

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

01:01:37

Tigers Knuckleballer Prospect Breaks Down His Career...

The Tread Podcast ·

2026/03/06

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.

00:50:38

He Was Released By 3 Indy Ball Teams. Now He's An...

The Tread Podcast ·

2026/02/17

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.

00:59:14

The State Of Pitching - With Cubs VP Of Pitching...

The Tread Podcast ·

2026/02/06

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

00:51:22

How To Train Pitchability?

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/12/18

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

01:10:08

How To Throw Hard As A Short Or Tall Pitcher

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/12/09

Are taller pitchers always better? Or do shorter pitchers have a hidden edge? In this video, we discussed the differences between tall and short pitchers. We compared delivery, mindset, and development challenges pitchers can go through depending on their height. We also delved into the concept that optimal lifting and power metrics can vary based on a player's size and physical leverage.

01:48:14

2 Hours Of Pitching Velocity Hacks To Try

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/11/24

We've all seen "velo hacks" on the internet. Here are a handful of variables to experiment with that we have seen add small but significant bumps in velocity with certain pitchers. Don't view these as guaranteed quick fixes - view them as mini-experiments to quickly uncover if they can help clean up various pieces of your delivery. Sizable gains in velocity take time, and everyone has a different genetic ceiling.

01:15:41

How Mobility Can Help You Throw Harder

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/11/11

Time Stamps:0:00 Intro6:30 How Do We Determine Mobility Targets?15:00 How Matt Marsili Moved As A Tight Mover31:50 How Past Injuries Can Affect Mobility46:16 Mechanical and Mobility Links46:50 The Linear Move51:20 Rotation55:00 Areas To Check Mobility In The Arm57:05 The Block1:00:08 The Arm Acceleration Phase1:05:05 The Arm Deceleration Phase1:07:45 North/South Vs. East/West Pitchers

01:04:50

What Does It ACTUALLY Take To Become A Pro Pitcher?

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/11/04

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

00:33:06

Reflecting on 10 years of Tread

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/10/24

Thanks for watching - it's been a wild ride over the last decade. We appreciate you all for joining us on this journey. Questions or comments? Let me know below.

01:18:27

Throw Harder By Fixing Your Back Leg

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/10/21

Why is the back leg such a critical, yet often misunderstood, piece of pitching mechanics?In this episode, Ben Brewster sits down with Tread coaches Lucas Still and Paul Hall to break down the foundations of efficient lower-half movement and how it impacts everything up the chain.We cover:🔹 Why the back leg sets the tone for velocity, command, and arm health🔹 How to convert linear momentum into efficient rotation🔹 What “back-hip tension” actually feels like and how to train it🔹 Drills and cues

01:14:28

Trying To Throw Harder? Don't Make These Mistakes

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/10/14

Three former upper 90 mph arms break down the mistakes they've made when they were athletes trying to throw harder and what to do instead.Timestamps: 0:00 The dangers of over-analyzing baseball throws with video3:06 The importance of understanding one's body8:33 The importance of video analysis for pitchers13:17 Long Toss18:40 The importance of training on a mound26:08 Lower Body Mechanics34:34 Implementing new theories41:03 Planning offseason throwing phases44:29 Importance of combining

00:13:30

Josh Hader Breaks Down His Own Mechanics

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/10/06

Can you guess which MLB legend Josh Hader got his signature leg kick from?Learn about his leg kick, crossbody delivery, and how he prepares to close out MLB games in this conversation with Tread remote athlete and one of the best relievers of all time, Josh Hader.

00:39:49

How To Master Changeups & Splitters | Pitch Design...

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/09/29

Why do some changeups miss bats at the highest levels while others get hammered?In this episode, Tyler Zombro sits down with Ryan Flippo and Leif Strom to break down what makes elite changeups work, from velocity separation to vertical attack angle.We cover:🔹 Why vertical separation and VAA often matter more than raw movement🔹 Front-to-back velocity differential vs. angle manipulation for high-slot arms🔹 The kick change -- when it plays, when it doesn’t, and how to cue it🔹 Pronator vs. supinator

01:02:22

How To Fix Your Fastball

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/09/23

Are you throwing the wrong fastball or just throwing it too much? We break down everything that goes into building a fastball that actually plays. From dead zone profiles and approach angles to deception, command, and usage. This is a full look at what makes a fastball effective at every level.What we covered:✅ How to fix dead zone fastballs✅ Vertical & horizontal approach angle explained✅ Fastball command vs outlier shapes✅ How fastball usage affects velocity, pitch design & recovery✅

01:11:40

The Best Ways To Train Command For Pitchers [Part 2]

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/09/15

Why is command so tough to train and why do so many pitchers get it wrong?In this episode, Ben Brewster speaks with Tread coaches Craig Stem and Turner Givens to unpack the mechanics, mindset, and drills that actually move the needle on command.We cover:🔹 Why you can (and should) train velocity and command together🔹 Mechanical red flags: direction, early torso, late/low arm timing🔹 How anatomy and mobility can limit command potential🔹 The role of vision, focal points, and effort level in

00:57:11

How To Lift In Season Without Killing Your Velo

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/09/08

Most pitchers lose velo during the season not because they stop training, but because they train the wrong way.In this episode of Around the Mound, Tread coaches Ethan Dyer, Matthew Jordan, and John Lantigua break down how to lift in season without wrecking your performance. They cover how to manage volume, why most pitchers overdo it, and what smart in-season training actually looks like for high school, college, and pro athletes.If you want to stay strong, feel fresh, and keep your velo through

01:08:24

The Best Ways To Train Command

The Tread Podcast ·

2025/08/21

Why is command such a difficult, often-overlooked part of pitching development?In this episode, Ben Brewster chats with Tread Athletics performance coaches Craig Stem and Turner Givens to unpack the layers of command training, from biomechanics to the mental game.We cover:Why command is harder to quantify (and train) than velocityThe difference between command vs. controlKey metrics (walk %s, in-zone %, competitive location %, race to 2 strikes)Case studies of pros, college, and high school arms who

01:19:55

College Recruiting: What Are Coaches Looking For? |...

The Tread Podcast ·

2023/07/31

Insightful interview with Ian MacDonald, the dedicated college recruiting coordinator and pitcher coach at Indiana Wesleyan University. MacDonald shares his passion for the college game, relishing the opportunity to guide players through a transformative stage of their lives. Listen as he delves into the nuances of pitcher recruitment, revealing his key evaluation criteria: control, command, velocity, and the knack for limiting free bases. MacDonald also sheds light on the importance of player

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