Texas Baseball Ranch - Spring 2021

Texas Baseball Ranch - Spring 2021

RANCH REVIEW THE

SPRING 2021

www.texasbaseballranch.com (936) 588-6762

MAKING THE MOST OF THE SEASON Despite Lockdowns

A record-setting snowstorm in south Texas

stories we’re hearing about a couple of the pitchers who have gone the season pain-free and the fellas who have made their first JV, varsity, and college starts. How special is that? As we gear up for the summer at the Texas Baseball Ranch, I want to invite you to join us. My staff and I have added some new and exciting things to both our Elite Pitchers Boot Camp and our Summer Extended Program that will continue to provide you with the Gold Standard of Baseball Training and Development. If you need a short, intensive experience, then I encourage you to come to one of the 3-Day Elite Pitchers Boot camps. If you want to dig deeper and work closely with us on a daily basis, the premiere option is our Summer Extended program. You can find all the information at TexasBaseballRanch.com, or you can call the office at (936) 588-6762. I look forward to seeing you soon!

It’s now been a year since the coronavirus overtook the world and impacted our lives in ways few could imagine. But here we are, and it appears we’re on the rebound. We were very fortunate at The Texas Baseball Ranch ® that we were only slightly affected due to some people not wanting to travel, but so many others took advantage of the time away from not being able to play games and locked in on their specific training needs. That made last summer really enjoyable here at TBR. In addition, we had numerous athletes join our “Ranch Remote Training,” and although it’s not quite the same as being here in person, my coaching staff was fantastic in helping these athletes develop training programs and mentor them through the process. With most of our Ranch guys playing this spring, it’s been exciting hearing about their performances thus far. We’ve had several young men throw no-hitters, we’ve had a young man on the Max Preps Top 5 list of strikeouts, and we’ve also had a Collegiate Pitcher of the Week. These are all very exciting, but for me, personally, my heart is warmed just as much from the

–Coach Wolforth

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Summer baseball camps are everywhere these days. There are local high school camps, college camps, academy camps, etc. And depending on your needs and goals, these can be a good fit. For example, if you’re a 13- or 14-year-old trying to make a high school team next year, you might want to get in front of your future high school coaches. If you’re a high school player interested in a specific college, attending their camp and getting a feel for the campus and coaching staff can be a good idea. (Word of warning: Many times, college baseball camps are a fundraiser for the volunteer coaches, and the major decision makers aren’t there. One way to know is to simply ask, “Will the pitching coach or recruiting coordinator be involved?”) If, however, you are a serious baseball pitcher and you have a specific goal to gain velocity, improve your command, develop your secondary pitches, and/or maximize your arm health and recovery, then the Texas Baseball Ranch® is the place for you this summer. We have two options for you. 1: Our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Boot Camp is the best choice if you want to squeeze in as much information as possible in a short amount of time. This is what we recommend if you are new to the Ranch. 2. The Summer Intensive Program is perfect if you are looking to take your performance to the next level. You can choose to stay from 2–10 weeks and really put your nose to the grindstone during your stay. TBR’S TRAINING Often Copied, Never Duplicated

Each experience offers a holistic approach to your training and development. After a series of initial assessments (including an upper

and lower body video analysis,

a pain audit, a recovery audit, and the BRAT movement assessment), your program will be hyper-personalized to focus on your specific needs and performance constraints. The development of a complete baseball athlete is critical, so each participant will take part in our skill-specific strength development and explosiveness training. You will also experience our powerful mindset presentations. It is important that you develop physically and mentally. When combined, your performance can skyrocket. Our events are world-renowned as the gold standard among summer camps. Information and registration can be found at www.TexasBaseballRanch.com/events, or you can call us at (936) 588-6762. We’re excited to have you join us in Montgomery, Texas, this summer!

DO SOMETHING BETTER IN THE GARDEN 3 Ways to Improve Your Harvest

found in nature — trees grow at the top, shrubs and bushes are below, and other small plants and vines intermingle within. Choose crops that help each

There’s something beautiful about cultivating your own harvest, but you can grow more than simple backyard vegetables. Help your garden “grow up” by trying something unique this spring.

other grow (like corn, beans, and squash), and offer aid to your garden without digging up too much soil or disturbing its natural process. Permaculture gardening requires thoughtful planning, but once your crops are in place, nature will take its course. PLANT FOR YOUR HEALTH Mass production of your favorite fruits and vegetables reduces their key nutrients. Instead, choose fresh, home-grown varieties to yield greater health benefits. This is good news for those living with heart disease, joint disorders, or other chronic conditions. You can grow a garden chock full of nutrient-rich foods! Colorful fruits, root veggies, onions, and beans are great for joint health, while leafy greens can boost heart health. Grow pumpkins so you can harvest the seeds for better brain function, while berries can support your liver.

GROW FUN FOODS We plant gardens for a purpose, so why not make it fun! Plant fresh basil, tomatoes, onions, peppers, oregano, and more to create a garden worthy

of your next homemade pizza. All you will need to buy is the crust! Pumpkin plants can offer fresh gourds for any Halloween fanatic, while new species of fruits and vegetables can create an exciting home-cooking experience. Try the silver cucumber for a sweet taste or pineberries for a mix between strawberries and pineapples. You just might find a new flavor you love. GO WITH THE FLOW Creating a year-round garden that practically takes care of itself means using principles of permaculture, a philosophy of working with, rather than against, nature. Start by analyzing your space and yard. Determine your soil type and layer mulch or cover crops to protect it. Then, begin planting the same way that’s

Before you dig into these new gardening methods, consult with an expert at a nursery or greenhouse to get the best possible results.

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THE FACTS ABOUT BREAKING BALLS A Training Challenge

thereby requiring the most time to pronate and thereby the most time to decelerate efficiently. Fact No. 5 : Most youth pitchers are inefficient in their mechanics and tend to begin their rotation very early; therefore, a vast majority of them fail to release the baseball significantly out in front and subsequently do not pronate/ decelerate efficiently, adding significant stress to soft tissue in elbow and shoulder. Fact No. 6: Every prepubescent pitcher’s growth plates are wide open for stretches of their early baseball career, so their soft tissue and bone are already more at risk from the stress of throwing a baseball at high speed. Fact No. 7: Most youth pitchers have alignment asymmetries, strength imbalances, and mobility/flexibility constraints or limitations which will complicate any movement pattern, so their soft tissue and bone are already more at risk from stress of throwing a baseball at high endpoint velocities. Fact No. 8: Many youth pitchers are taught the curveball incorrectly and are taught instead to manipulate or “turn” the curveball, making the efficient deceleration/pronation of the arm even more difficult; in fact, sometimes the incorrect instruction literally makes an efficient deceleration impossible. Fact No. 9: Many youth pitchers fall in love with the pitch and throw 40%–60% breaking balls because the hitters they face at their level usually have little experience hitting curveballs, and they are easily fooled by such a pitch.

Here is what I believe is common sense about breaking balls in the prepubescent male pitcher. It is straightforward but multifaceted and, in the end, simple but not easy. Let me walk you through breaking balls and why, in my opinion, they have gotten such a bad reputation. Fact No. 1: One of the two primary places in the delivery where the stress on the medial elbow is at its greatest is right at release, when the olecranon fossa can bang into the olecranon process. Fact No. 2: The way the arm naturally and most efficiently decelerates is for the forearm/ hand to pronate immediately after launch. At The Ranch, we actually refer to it as “pronating into launch,” implying that effective pronation/ deceleration is simply part of the launch process.

Fact No. 3: If the pitcher releases the baseball out in front of his body with the throwing shoulder significantly out in front of the glove side/directional shoulder, the arm will decelerate much more efficiently, and the bang on the olecranon fossa into the olecranon process is minimal to nonexistent.

Fact No. 4: The curveball, at release, represents the most supinated orientation possible,

UPCOMING RANCH EVENTS ELITE PITCHERS BOOT CAMPS:

REFLECTING ON GREATNESS Mickey Mantle Takes the Cake

MAY 29–31 JUNE 11–13 JUNE 25–27 JULY 9–11

JULY 23–25 AUG. 6–8 SEPT. 4–6

In 1956, Mickey Mantle stepped into baseball history by winning the Triple Crown, the only switch hitter to ever do so. He led the majors that year with a .353 batting average, 52 home runs, and 130 runs batted in. Mantle is widely regarded as the best switch hitter in major league history. On May 18, 1956, Mantle hit home runs from both sides of the plate for the third time in his career, which set the major league record for switch hitters. There

SUMMER PROGRAM: JUNE — SESSION I BEGINS JUNE 7 JULY — SESSION II BEGINS JULY 5 AUG. — SESSION III (SPECIAL MINI SESSION) BEGINS AUG. 2

weren’t too many players who could switch hit, period, and even today, the number has not grown very much. But Mickey Mantle wasn’t your average player, and he proved it that day. May is a good month for records. May 21, 1996, saw the same smaller records that you might expect — like Larry Walker setting a Rockies record for total bases — but it was the record-breaking earthquake that made headlines. It was especially disruptive to ball games played in San Francisco at the time, where memories of the deadly 1989 quake still lingered.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR OATES SPECIALTIES! EQUIPMENT PROVIDER,

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PAGE 1 Making the Best of the Lockdown Season PAGE 2 TBR’s Training Make Gardening Better With These 3 Ideas! PAGE 3 Training and Breaking Balls: The Challenge This Month in Baseball History PAGE 4 4 MLB Teams Poised for a Great Season

4 Teams to Watch This Baseball Season DON’T COUNT THEM OUT

draft picks. The Tigers are on the cusp of finding that special blend of offense and defense in the coming season thanks to

This is no joke: The 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) season will begin on April 1. While you may wonder whether the Los Angeles Dodgers can repeat as champs or if the Tampa Bay Rays can exact their revenge, don’t count these four teams out just yet. MINNESOTA TWINS You don’t make it to the playoffs with the best record in all of baseball and not make it into some kind of list. The Twins are going to be a fun team to watch because they have a chip on their shoulders. While the team managed to score 269 runs in just 60 games, they also lost their record-breaking 18th straight playoff game in 2020. If they can get consistent pitching, both starters and relievers, they will be in the hunt at the end of September. DETROIT TIGERS There is a benefit to repeatedly being near the bottom of the league: You get good

some much-needed depth by up-and-coming pitchers and first-round draft picks — so much so that Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has them as the top team that missed the playoffs in 2020 who could make a solid run. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS The award for best offseason ought to go to the Cardinals, who, all winter long, appear to have outwitted their Milwaukee and Chicago rivals — the Brewers and Cubs were the top two teams in the National League Central last year — by acquiring third baseman Nolan Arenado and re-signing Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. The Cardinals are favored to win the Central if those off-season moves pay off. SAN DIEGO PADRES After acquiring Manny Machado in a big trade in 2019, the Padres have continued to improve, especially against difficult opponents. The Padres were a tough team last year, defeating the Cardinals in the wild card round and losing to the eventual World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Expect them to be near the top of the standings in September.

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