Thanks to the players for their work over the past two Saturdays on fitness testing. 

Results are posted on our Training and Nutrition cloud.  Click here for access.  I have included a spreadsheet of data with your measurements all the way back to Nov 2011 for 16u and 17u players that have been in the program since then.  

The tests were as follows:

Throwing velocity

Bat Speed

40 yard dash (speed)

Pro-agility drill (lateral quickness)

Med ball Toss (power)

Squat (core/lower body strength)

Bench (upper body strength)

The averages per age group in each test are the February testing data over the past 5 years at each age group.

Note -- the bat speed for the players tested on 10/19/13 was adjusted to reflect at 29 ounce bat instead of a 30 ounce bat using the physics and data from this study (if you are in AP Physics).

First, program records were established by:

Ryan Mantle - overall program record at 95 mph

Wes Baker - 15u velocity record of 87 mph

Matt Vierling - 17u shuttle record of 3.94 seconds

Tyler Foote - 14u/15u bat speed record of 94 mph

Brendon Kelly - 15u squat record of 396 lbs

Top overall test scores by age:

2015 - Ryan Mantle

2016 - Eli Fox

2017 - Mark Vierling

2018 - Hayden Bollinger

Important points from the testing:

• Speed/strength and tool testing is something you need to take seriously.  Numbers matter in baseball.
• Get use to this testing.  The majority of college baseball programs do it, starting your first fall in college.
• Improvement trends matter just as much absolute numbers.
• Unless you pitch at 90+ or can hit like David Ortiz, you need to be an ATHLETE to play college baseball.  These tests are about athleticism.  You need to take pride in being an athlete, even if you have exceptional baseball skills.

We have been doing this testing now for 5 years.  I am a little disappointed with the results from this round of testing.   As a program this is what we need to ( WILL!!!) do better in the future:

• We expect you to maintain strength and speed levels during the season.  This is why we talk about a maintenance lifting program.  The cycle is: build in offseason, maintain during season.  Too many players (about 1/2)  have failed to maintain their strength and speed levels since last February.   This is because you are not taking maintenance lifting/training seriously.  Our football players do a great job of this -- which makes it clear that is a matter of effort and focus for everyone else.

• For some reason, too many players are skipping the squat test, probably because it is the most challenging and is the clearest indicator of whether or not you have been working out.  Your college coaches are not going to let you skip that.  In the future, you will only be exempted from the squat test with Matt or my approval.  Either the squat test box has a number in it or our initials.  If you are hurt, we understand.

• Finally, we do not have the financial resources or time to provide individualized strength/speed training for players.  We expect you to develop a good program and work hard at it.  In this area, we measure RESULTS.  If you are not getting the results you expect, you need to change your program -- immediately.  If you keep doing the same thing, you will continue to be disappointed with results.   I will be sending out separate emails to players that, based on the testing data, are either not working out OR are not making the progress expected.

Thanks,

Coach Gallion