The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions: Recent Episodes
Matt Pajak
The Outlier Sessions have been created as a way to bridge the gap and create a connection between the aspiring and the achieving. All of our guests have a niche at the highest levels of their sport and are an outlier in their own right. We use these sessions as an opportunity to talk about long term athlete development (LTAD) in the context of their experiences; their journeys; their processes for taking care of themselves; and to get to know a little bit more about their personal interests as well.
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On January 30, 2024, we chatted with 2024 MLB Draft Prospect and LSU Commit, Kale Fountain. Among other things, we discussed: Backwards ice cream season and Runzas... Growing up a Braves fan in Nebraska... Athleticism opening up doors and creating options... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:54 Quick hitters 18:48 LTAD: Gratefulness 21:45 LTAD: Routines and Efficiency 27:32 LTAD: Ignition 29:24 LTAD: Sleep 31:28 College Process and Choosing LSU 36:06 Being Athletic on a Baseball Field 40:46 How He Trains 43:39 Learning from Volleyball Player Jordan Larson 44:27 Norris High School; Firth, Nebraska 47:48 Relationship with Tyson Lewis 50:24 Favorite Event and What He Learned About Himself on the Circuit 52:25 How He's Handling the Draft Buzz 53:28 Conclusion Use the Loden Sports Performance Lab App to measure, track, and compare jump performance from your phone. Kale Fountain: instagram.com/kalefountain Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On January 9, 2024, we brought back 2024 MLB Draft Prospect, Oregon State Beaver, and Australia-native, Travis Bazzana for a second go-round. Among other things, we discussed: His time on Cape Cod Free play, creativity, and exploration Player development seminars and scouting reports The healthy learning environment at Oregon State Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 3:00 Quick Hitters 5:00 How He Enjoyed His Time in Falmouth 7:40 Best Arm He Faced in 2023 9:55 Best Position Player He Played With or Against in 2023 11:17 Ohtani Signing With the Dodgers 14:57 Most Exciting Young Team in Baseball 22:19 LTAD: Gratefulness 26:08 LTAD: Routines and Time Efficiency 34:26 LTAD: Creativity and Exploration 44:08 Scouting Reports on Pac12 Pitchers 47:31 Player Dev Seminar - Hitting and Pitching Presentations 55:30 Cape Cod Baseball League: Sharing Knowledge on Pitch Usage 1:00:30 Art of Base Stealing and the Walking Lead 1:08:40 How He's Handling 2024 MLB Draft Buzz Use the Loden Sports Performance Lab App to measure, track, and compare jump performance from your phone. Travis Bazzana: instagram.com/travbazzana Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On December 10, 2023, we chatted with 2024 MLB Draft Prospect and Ole Miss Commit, Slade Caldwell. Among other things, we discussed: Possum pie and chocolate gravy... Growing up in a cross-fit gym... Lifting year-round... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:03 Quick hitters 8:45 LTAD: Gratefulness 12:03 LTAD: Sleep 13:30 Favorite baseball experience from Summer 2023 15:02 Being around the circuit and the first time he realized his size didn't matter 17:01 How he's progressing from his leg injury 18:26 What he would say to those who might knock him for his size 19:36 How important his athleticism is on a baseball field 20:13 Slade's message to youth players re: athleticism 22:15 Player/s he models his game after 22:45 2024 MLB Draft process 23:58 How he trains, how often, and how it differs in/out of season 26:35 Muscle ups and a 5'2" box jump 28:28 What he does in his downtime 30:09 Music tastes 31:13 Conclusion Use the Loden Sports Performance Lab App to measure, track, and compare jump performance from your phone. Slade Caldwell: instagram.com/slade.mc3 Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On November 2, 2023, we chatted with uncommitted 2025 Outfielder and Outlier Athlete, Trey Meyers. Among other things, we discussed: Real Chicago-style pizza... An influx in recent college interest... The first time he realized he was a little different than everyone else... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:49 Quick hitters 6:57 LTAD: Gratefulness 9:53 LTAD: Ignition 11:43 LTAD: Sleep 13:14 What Trey Meyers is looking for in a school 14:16 College recruitment thus far 16:15 Recent X (Twitter) buzz 17:55 College football interest 19:23 Entertaining playing multiple sports in college 20:10 First time he realized he was a little different than his peers 21:50 Awareness of recent run of large-athletic players in baseball 24:15 Player he models his game after / player comp 25:07 Favorite place he's ever traveled for baseball 25:47 Best advice he's ever gotten from his parents 26:13 Trey Meyers off field interests and conclusion Use the Loden Sports Performance Lab App to measure, track, and compare jump performance from your phone. Trey Meyers: instagram.com/trey.meyers24 Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On October 25, 2023, we chatted with 2024 MLB Draft Prospect and Indiana University Baseball Commit, Jake Hanley. Among other things, we discussed: Skyline Chili + the Cincinnati Reds... The best players he played with last summer... Being an athlete at 6-6, 220 lbs. + who he models his game after... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:54 Quick hitters 8:15 LTAD: Gratefulness 13:07 LTAD: Ignition 18:45 LTAD: Sleep 20:52 Area Code Games and East Coast Pro 23:56 Biggest takeaway from the summer 27:09 Favorite event of the summer 27:53 Advice for a 2025 ahead of next summer 30:16 Being tall and athletic: Bryce Eldridge, James Wood, Jac Caglianone 33:50 Position he enjoys playing the most 35:25 2024 MLB Draft 36:48 Developmental focus this fall 38:21 Best advice he's ever gotten from his parents 40:18 Self-evaluation and self-awareness 42:20 Jake Hanley off the field 45:18 Conclusion Use the Loden Sports Performance Lab App to measure, track, and compare jump performance from your phone. Jake Hanley: instagram.com/jake.hanley34 Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On September 23, 2023, our guests were Braedon Peterson-Cheek and Matt Haidl - a pair of outfielders at Huntington Beach High School. A few things we touched on: Huntington Beach and Coach Benji Medure... The best athlete at Huntington Beach High School... Smoking beef ribs and fishing with Mike Trout... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:05 Quick hitters 8:12 LTAD: Gratefulness 10:21 LTAD: Ignition 12:39 LTAD: Sleep 14:50 Best player they've seen at Huntington Beach High School 20:41 Coach Benji Medure 24:00 Observed differences between SoCal players and elsewhere 27:03 HB Superlatives: best athlete, most interesting, Phillip Kang 34:54 Chef Cheek + Haidl the Fisherman 41:03 Favorite players in baseball, MLB predictions, LSU vs. Oakland A's 51:00 Leaders and Dawgs on the 2024 HBHS Oilers 54:44 Conclusion Use the Loden Sports Performance Lab App to measure, track, and compare jump performance from your phone. Braedon Peterson-Cheek: instagram.com/braedon_cheek Matt Haidl: instagram.com/matthaidl1 Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
A very special episode of the Loden Sports Outlier Sessions in collaboration with Geoff Pontes, host of the 90th Percentile Podcast and Prospect Write at Baseball America. The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On July 3, 2023, our guest was Ugandan baseball player and MLB Draft League participant, Dennis Kasumba. A few things Dennis touched on: How he found baseball in Uganda... Escalators, coffee, and hibachi... Meeting Adley Rutschman... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 5:01 Dennis Kasumba joins the show 5:46 His baseball journey 6:25 When did he start playing baseball 10:24 Using social media for exposure 17:05 Coming to America and playing at night 20:03 Escalators and being a big fan of elevators 21:49 Discovering coffee 24:16 Difference between food in Uganda and America 29:20 Meeting Adley Rutschman 31:20 Playing in the MLB Draft League and inspiring young Ugandans 38:16 How he is handling the speed of the game in the MLB Draft League 41:06 What's next for Dennis Kasumba? Loden Sports is the easiest way to measure and track jump performance. Dennis Kasumba Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennisk648/ Dennis Kasumba Twitter: https://twitter.com/KASUMBADENNIS4 Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On June 6, 2023, our guest was 2023 MLB Draft Prospect and Outlier Athlete, Denmark High School Outfielder, Kyle Henley. A few things Kyle touched on: His favorite player in college baseball... How his athleticism plays on a baseball field... His plan for the summer leading up to the draft... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Quick hitters 8:12 LTAD: Gratefulness 10:29 Growing Up Playing in the Neighborhood, Football 13:24 LTAD: Ignition 17:43 LTAD: Sleep 18:42 2022 East Coast Pro 21:00 Playing at Fenway Park 22:52 Kyle Henley on a Baseball Field 24:18 Advice for 13-year-old Kyle 27:10 Georgia Tech Commitment and the College Process 29:20 Senior Spring 30:44 Playing in front of Scouts this Spring 32:45 Playing in the Sunbelt League and Plan Before the Draft 34:34 Pickleball, Hitting the Pool, Country Music 35:35 Conclusion Loden Sports is the easiest way to measure and track jump performance. Kyle Henley: https://www.instagram.com/kyle.henley/ Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On April 27, 2023, our guest was 2023 MLB Draft Prospect and Outlier Athlete, Eaton High School Shortstop, Walker Martin. A few things Walker touched on: Growing up in Eaton, Colorado... 5 State Championships and counting... Being a late-bloomer... All things MLB Draft... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:25 Quick hitters on Colorado 12:35 LTAD: Gratefulness 20:15 5 State Championships and counting... 25:37 Choosing baseball over other sports 29:20 Did he have any interest from college football programs? 31:48 LTAD: Ignition 33:12 LTAD: Relationship with sleep 34:20 Playing with Slammers Duman at the WWBA in Atlanta 36:15 Area Code games and leaving a mark on the scouting community 39:50 Did other events miss him? 42:17 Advise for kids coming up on mentally navigating the showcase summer 44:16 Thoughts on rankings 48:00 Being from a small town in Colorado + being older for the class 56:10 Being a Loden 9 at the 2021 PBR Future Games 58:05 College process and choosing Arkansas 1:02:00 Using athleticism as an advantage on a baseball field 1:04:25 Hitting a home run in 9 straight games 1:06:56 Was relocation an option for senior year? (Academy, prep, etc.) 1:10:17 What it's like when all eyes are on him 1:14:08 Are there teams that are more interested than others? 1:16:15 Living and playing at altitude 1:17:51 How he trains 1:21:10 The importance of lifting in-season 1:25:00 Favorite non-sport activities 1:27:10 Anything else he wants the world to know about him 1:30:00 Conclusion Loden Sports is the most objective and efficient way to measure raw athleticism. Walker Martin: https://www.instagram.com/walkerjace2/ Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.On March 18, 2023, our guest was 2023 MLB Draft Prospect and Outlier Athlete, Christian Brothers College Shortstop, Nazzan Zanetello. A few things Naz touched on:All things St. Louis...Choosing baseball when surrounded by basketball culture...Being an athlete on a baseball field...Playing for Team USA 18U and the World Baseball Classic...Chapters:0:00 Introduction0:51 Quick Hitters on St. Louis10:45 Gratefulness13:50 Christian Brothers College Basketball, Caleb Love, Justin Tatum19:35 Pursuing Baseball over Basketball20:10 Mom's Vision21:37 Ignition23:39 A Happy Relationship with Sleep26:53 Summer 2022: PDP League + PG All-American30:00 Experience with Team USA in Mexico33:24 Get to know Naz on a Baseball Field34:54 What's it Like Knowing You're a Loden 10?39:59 From Miami to Arkansas: His College Process45:07 The World Baseball Classic46:47 The Pepper Grinder Celebration47:43 Wearing Team USA on Your Chest50:00 The Team USA WBC Lineup53:18 Naz's WBC Pick55:33 If a WBC Opportunity Presents in the Future...55:50 Goals for the Spring and Pre-Draft57:12 Teaching Himself How to Ride a Bike w/o Training Wheels When He Was 3Loden Sports is the most objective and efficient way to measure raw athleticism.Nazzan Zanetello: https://www.instagram.com/na2zan/Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On February 20, 2023, our guest was 2023 MLB Draft Prospect, Lee Ellis from Pro5 Academy in North Carolina. A few things Lee touched on: Baseball over basketball... Being a Loden 12 and how it plays on-field... Being recruited as a pitcher... Thoughts on the World Baseball Classic... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:54 Quick Hitters w/ Lee 9:43 Gratitude 12:48 Basketball + the Decision to Play Baseball 15:18 Ignition 18:10 Relationship w/ Sleep 21:22 Summer 2022 Recap: Hank Aaron + East Coast Pro Invite 23:53 Being a Top-of-the-Scale Athlete + How it Plays On-Field 27:04 South Carolina, the College Process + Being Recruited as a Pitcher 28:52 Transferring to Pro5 Academy in North Carolina 31:13 The World Baseball Classic 34:50 Personal Goals for 2023 35:40 Personal Touches + Conclusion Loden Sports is the most objective and efficient way to measure raw athleticism. Lee Ellis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yungluth90/ Lee Ellis Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yungluth89/ Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On February 20, 2023, our guest was 2023 MLB Draft Prospect, Lee Ellis from Pro5 Academy in North Carolina. A few things Lee touched on: Baseball over basketball... Being a Loden 12 and how it plays on-field... Being recruited as a pitcher... Thoughts on the World Baseball Classic... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:54 Quick Hitters w/ Lee 9:43 Gratitude 12:48 Basketball + the Decision to Play Baseball 15:18 Ignition 18:10 Relationship w/ Sleep 21:22 Summer 2022 Recap: Hank Aaron + East Coast Pro Invite 23:53 Being a Top-of-the-Scale Athlete + How it Plays On-Field 27:04 South Carolina, the College Process + Being Recruited as a Pitcher 28:52 Transferring to Pro5 Academy in North Carolina 31:13 The World Baseball Classic 34:50 Personal Goals for 2023 35:40 Personal Touches + Conclusion Loden Sports is the most objective and efficient way to measure raw athleticism. Lee Ellis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yungluth90/ Lee Ellis Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yungluth89/ Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions take you inside the Loden Sports ecosystem. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. On February 8, 2023, our guest was St. Louis Cardinals, Gold-Glove utility man, Brendan Donovan. A few things Brendan touched on: The biggest differences between MiLB and MLB... His feedback loop and processing information... His offseason and how much goes into what you see on the field... How he uses the Loden Sports Performance Lab App... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:45 Gratitude 4:19 Difference Between MiLB and MLB 13:39 Feedback Loop and Filtering Information for Improvement 17:48 The Importance of Hitting the Ball Hard 21:27 Hitting the Ball Harder w/o Sacrificing Technique or Approach 26:42 How Much Time Do You Invest in Your Body Over the Course of a Week? 31:30 If You Don't Use it, You Lose it: Sprinting Max Effort Twice per Week 34:32 First Big League At-Bat 40:48 The Long Road to Winning a Gold Glove in 2022 48:23 Favorite Big League City Other than St. Louis 49:48 Living and Playing in St. Louis 52:00 The Loden Sports Performance Lab App 59:55 Personal Goals for 2023: Aggregating Little Wins Every Day Loden Sports is the most objective and efficient way to measure raw athleticism. Kolby "K-Wayne" Tullier: https://www.instagram.com/kolbywayne/ Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
In October 2022, we caught up with Zion Rose, an outlier athlete and a senior catcher at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
A few things Zion touched on:
The summer showcase circuit ...
How he became a catcher ...
His transition to IMG Academy ...
Thoughts on Albert Pujols, Aaron Judge, and Barry Bonds ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:11 Zion Rose Background
1:55 Quick hitters
5:25 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
8:09 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
10:56 LTAD: Foundational Element - Sleep
13:20 How his body held up over the summer
16:10 Best player he played with; best future pro
17:48 Best arm he caught; best arm he stepped in against
19:31 The impact of Danny Ardoin
21:14 Favorite scout
22:32 Favorite MLB ballpark he played in
24:16 When did he start catching
26:34 Decision to transfer to IMG Academy
28:23 Importance of athleticism on a baseball field
31:12 Albert Pujols and 700 HR
33:57 Aaron Judge and thoughts on the steroid era
38:10 Favorite player in the game today and why
39:43 Personal goals for this year
42:37 Conclusion
Check out the Loden Sports Blog to read about Zion's athleticism - A Rare Catcher, Zion Rose, An Outlier Athlete: https://lodensports.com/use-case/a-rare-catcher-zion-rose-an-outlier-athlete/
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
Yellowbox Macaroons: https://www.yellowboxmacaroons.com/
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports. In August 2022, we caught up with Oregon State middle infielder and Australia-native, Travis Bazzana. A few things Travis touched on: Playing with/against grown men in Australia at the age of 15 ... The stars aligning for him to commit to Oregon State ... The rise of Australian baseball ... Being deliberate in goal-setting and planning ... Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:11 Travis Bazzana background 1:50 Quick hitters 8:00 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being 10:31 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition 13:25 LTAD: Foundational Element - Sleep 15:52 How he got his opportunity with Oregon State 20:28 2019 WBSC U18 World Cup in South Korea 23:48 Expectations for the 2022 squad at the WBSC U18 World Cup 24:54 The emergence of exposure opportunities for Australian players 27:45 The difference between being an amateur in Australia and the US 30:28 A robust athletic foundation: track, basketball, rugby, soccer, cricket 34:40 Cricket as a donorsport for baseball 36:25 The importance of speed, power, and strength 40:00 Transition to Oregon State and the fall of 2021 46:27 Oregon State: an open-minded development environment 48:49 How he spent his summer and being deliberate in decision-making 53:53 Goal-setting and getting into the details 58:41 Conclusion Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider. Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports Yellowbox Macaroons: https://www.yellowboxmacaroons.com/
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
In July 2022, we caught up with Vanderbilt Outfielder and 2022 MLB Draft Prospect, Spencer Jones. A few things Spencer touched on:
Being an outlier athlete at 6-7, 230 lbs ...
His journey in baseball ...
MLB Draft preparation ...
Understanding the link between athleticism and longevity ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:11 Spencer Jones background
7:20 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
9:57 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
14:00 Could it have been another sport or was it always baseball?
16:13 Evading the push to the mound + conviction with the bat.
21:55 Success in his first full season as a position player.
24:45 The stigma against tall players.
25:37 Aaron Judge, Oneil Cruz + James Wood and the precedent for 6-7 position players.
28:48 On being a Loden 9... did it surprise you?
29:40 The role of athleticism in longevity.
31:55 The experience at the MLB Combine.
35:37 Do you remember the players that were ahead of you?
37:31 How much did you play vs. practice in high school?
38:35 Having the right perspectives and communicators re: consuming data for development.
41:58 Playing next to Enrique Bradfield + how that pushed him to be better.
43:44 Walk-up song + favorite music.
46:42 What animal would make the best baseball player.
47:27 Conclusion Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
Yellowbox Macaroons: https://www.yellowboxmacaroons.com/
In May 2022, we sat down with the Huntington Beach High School Baseball crew: Head Coach, Benji Medure; Director of Performance, Josh Reidt; and Parent / 1995 College World Series Champion, Joe Fraser. This episode was largely dedicated to discussing the work that Loden Sports has done with the Huntington Beach High School Baseball Program since June 2021 from three different perspectives.
High-level, how are they using the information?
... to help build strength programming
... to provide insights into player health
... to create competition and accountability
... to provide to recruiters and scouts
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:14 Background: Benji Medure, Josh Reidt, Joe Fraser
9:45 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
15:56 Benji: Athletic Evaluations as a Difference-Maker for Huntington Beach Baseball
19:15 Joe: Parent Reaction to Learning About the Evaluations
21:30 Josh: Using the Data to Build + Adapt Programming
24:40 The Effects of the Amateur Baseball Summer
31:25 Joe: The Demands on the Young Athlete
37:20 Benji: Loden Sports Data Reflects the Toll of the Baseball Summer
42:10 Benji: Loden Sports Data Reflects Progress in the Training Window
45:22 Using Loden Sports Data to Time Recovery, Training, Playing, Showcasing
47:22 Benji: Using Loden Sports Data to Help Athletes Decide the Best Uses of their Time
48:42 Joe: Using Loden Sports Data in Decision-Making When Mapping Out a Summer
55:28 Josh: The Best Way to Get Better at Baseball isn't Always to Play More Baseball
57:21 Josh: Understanding the Physically Maturing Athlete
1:05:25 Benji: Monitoring Lower-Half Symmetry + A Talking Point for Intervention
1:09:20 Joe: Using Lower-Half Symmetry to Be Intentional in Training
1:12:39 Benji: Using Loden Sports Data to Create Competition + Accountability
1:16:24 Joe: Using Loden Sports Data to Spur Self-Competition for the Athlete
1:17:47 LTAD: Sleep Discussion
1:19:20 Benji: Using Loden Sports Data to Open Eyes to the Unassuming
1:21:42 Using Loden Sports Data to Keep Tabs on the Younger Guys
1:23:00 Benji: "We were able to show a school what a freak-athlete our guy was"
1:25:08 Joe: Building an Objective History of His Son's Athletic Development Roadmap
1:27:30 Conclusion
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
Yellowbox Macaroons: https://www.yellowboxmacaroons.com/
In March 2022, we caught up with Josh Reidt, CEO of Reidt Fitness Systems in Costa Mesa, California and also the Director of Performance for Huntington Beach High School, Mater Dei High School, JSerra Catholic High School, and the Evoshield Canes National Team. A few things Josh touched on:
His path and how he got into being a strength coach ...
His view on the summer ball circuit ...
The importance of sport-specific training ...
How he applies Loden Sports information in training ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:14 Josh Reidt Background
10:10 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
18:40 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
27:50 LTAD: Foundational Element - Sleep
34:45 Training High School Athletes vs. Pro Athletes
43:20 A Strength Coaches Opinion on the Summer Ball Circuit
46:30 Routine w/ the Evoshield Canes National Team
56:10 Breaking Down the Importance of Sport-Specific Training
1:12:50 Love for MMA and Application to Training
1:17:40 How He Applies the Loden Sports Information
1:25:18 Conclusion
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Josh Reidt Links:
Website: https://reidtfitness.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/reidtfitness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reidtfitness/?hl=en
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
Yellowbox Macaroons: https://www.yellowboxmacaroons.com/
In February 2022, we caught up with 2021 Chicago Cubs 9th-round draft pick, Chase Watkins. A few things Chase touched on:
What ignited his organic interest in baseball at a young age ...
Identity and how we define ourselves ...
Doing vs. paralysis by analysis ...
Making the decisions that are best for you ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:14 Chase Watkins Background
4:50 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
6:35 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
10:57 LTAD: Foundational Element - Sleep
14:05 Why Tying Your Identity to Your Sport isn't Good
19:55 Playing Basketball His Senior Year of High School
21:55 High School Senior Spring Season + the 2018 MLB Draft
22:55 Making a Big Change: From Cal Poly to the College of Central Florida
30:06 A Different Culture + Meeting New People
32:13 Five Starts at the College of Central Florida
35:44 D1, Round 2: Oregon State
38:45 The 2021 MLB Draft + A Different Type of Hitter in Pro Ball
42:40 How Important is Athleticism on a Baseball Field?
43:50 "Weird" Training: Spinal Hygiene
45:00 An Athletic Family: The Son of a Linebacker + a Swimmer
46:55 A Shift in Life-Mindset: Creating in Reality + Reckless Action
51:10 Creating in Reality: Planting Fruit Trees
54:14 Thoughts on Crypto + NFTs: Parallels to Ball-Flight Tracking Technology
58:50 Conclusion
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
Yellowbox Macaroons: https://www.yellowboxmacaroons.com/
On January 6, 2022, our guest was Matt McLain, the 2021 first-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds. A few things Matt touched on:
What ignited his interest in baseball at a young age ...
Sibling rivalry and growing up with baseball brothers ...
Flying under the radar as a high school prospect ...
Being an athlete and how he takes care of his body in the offseason ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:40 Matt McLain Background
4:25 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
6:25 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
11:00 Being the Oldest of 3, D1 Baseball Playing Brothers
13:12 Funny Parallels Between the McLain's and Another SoCal Family
15:18 Breaking Down the McLain Brothers with the 5 Tools of Scouting
20:05 Crystal Ball: Is Sean McLain a First-Rounder?
21:13 The College Process with UCLA
22:50 The High School Showcase Circuit
25:00 The 2018 MLB Draft Experience
27:58 Being the 1st-Round High School Draft Pick at UCLA
30:48 Experience on Cape Cod, Wareham, Jerry Weinstein, + Gravel Infields
37:50 The 2020 Season, a Long Lay-Off, and the 2021 Season Ahead of the 2021 MLB Draft
42:08 Thoughts on Being a 2-Time First-Round Pick
44:02 The Transition to Pro Ball
49:52 The Offseason, Baseball-Specific Training, Reidt Performance Systems
53:50 What He's Learned About Himself as an Athlete from Data
57:50 How Important is Athleticism on a Baseball Field?
59:39 Matt's Approach to His Baseball Data
1:01:15 Conclusion: Golf + Cooking
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
Yellowbox Macaroons: https://www.yellowboxmacaroons.com/
On January 4, 2022, our guest was Enrique Bradfield, an outfielder at Vanderbilt, consensus All-American, and the 2021 SEC Freshman of the Year. A few things Enrique touched on:
What ignited his interest in baseball at a young age ...
His MONSTER freshman season ...
Playing with emotion and leadership ...
Being a Panamanian baseball player ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:22 Enrique Bradfield Background
6:50 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
9:24 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
18:25 Playing at American Heritage (Plantation, FL)
19:50 National High School Invitational (NHSI) Experience x2
24:05 The College Process; Choosing Vanderbilt
29:40 Breaking His Back Before his High School Junior Summer
33:00 Thoughts on Showcases vs. Competitive Events
38:22 Coronavirus Shutting Down His High School Draft Season
42:18 Choosing a School That Fits YOUR Needs
44:00 The Freshman Fall: A Huge Learning Curve + Struggle
47:07 Resetting After a MONSTER Freshman Year + No Expectations for 2022
48:40 The Importance of Athleticism on a Baseball Field
50:15 What Leadership Means to Him + Variables
53:47 Playing with Emotion
56:05 June 2021: Vanderbilt vs. Stanford; Driving in the Tying Run in the 9th
1:01:28 Being a Panamanian Baseball Player
1:03:27 The Red Rose with the Black Background
1:04:55 Hattie B's, Sushi, and The Nashville Food Scene
1:07:20 Look Out for These Freshman this Spring at Vanderbilt
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
Yellowbox Macaroons: https://www.yellowboxmacaroons.com/
On January 2, 2022, our guest was Glenallen Hill Jr., an Outfielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks Organization. A few things Glen touched on:
What ignited his interest in baseball at a young age ...
Growing up the son of a World Series champion ...
The importance of being an athlete on a baseball field ...
Being your authentic-self ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
3:33 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
6:37 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
8:50 His Love for Basketball
10:12 Growing Up the Son of a World Series Champion
14:18 The Time Commitment of High-Level Baseball
17:02 The Role of the Game of Basketball
22:08 Steph Curry: Top 5 All-Time
24:05 The MLB Breakthrough Series
26:38 The Tournament of Stars + Keeping Up with Old Friends
28:39 The Difference Between Playing in Front of Scouts in the Summer vs. the Spring
31:15 The 2019 MLB Draft + Getting Selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks
34:15 The Missed 2020 Minor League Season
40:55 The Transition Getting Back to Affiliated Baseball in 2021
42:55 The Importance of Being an Athlete on a Baseball Field
44:10 How He is Resetting After a Tough 2021 Season
46:30 Being Your Authentic Self
52:16 The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
53:50 Unpopular Advice: "Go Be a Kid, Enjoy Being a Kid ..."
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
On December 23, 2021, our guest was Brendan Donovan, the newest member of the St. Louis Cardinals 40-man roster. A few things Brendan touched on:
What ignited his interest in baseball at a young age ...
Being a 7th-rounder out of South Alabama, grinder-mentality, doing whatever it takes ...
Raking at 3 levels and the Arizona Fall League + being named to the 40-man in 2021 ...
Using the offseason to maximize athleticism and how he takes care of his body ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Brendan Donovan Background
3:20 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
5:23 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
8:15 The College Process, Being a Late-Bloomer + South Alabama
11:22 The Cape Cod Baseball League Opportunity + Being a Temp
14:35 Being an Underdog + Introduction to Baseball Politics
17:00 Responding to Struggling Hard on the Cape
20:19 2018 MLB Draft + the St. Louis Cardinals
26:30 The Difference Between Top Picks and Later Draft Picks
30:26 As Good of a Year as Anyone in Minor League Baseball
35:04 First Big League Experience at Dodger Stadium
38:23 The Marathon Continues ... the Arizona Fall League
39:40 Learning from Other High-Level Players
42:54 Being Open to and Filtering New Information
46:14 Training Balance + Stability and How it Translates on a Baseball Field
49:33 The Importance of Athleticism as the Game Speeds Up
51:28 Advice to Younger Self: Take Pride in the Little Boring Things
53:05 The Role that Jump Data + Athletic Evaluation Plays in his Process
56:38 Rolling His Ankle, Having Baseline Data + Using Data to Work Back to His Baseline
1:00:03 Tracking and the Importance of Sleep
1:04:10 Most Things Are Out of Your Control
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
On December 16, 2021, our guest was Noah Campbell, a Utilityman in the Milwaukee Brewers Organization. A few things Noah touched on:
What ignited his interest in baseball at a young age ...
Starting with USA Baseball at 15 years old, the college process, choosing an advisor ...
The Cape Cod Baseball League, the COVID season, signing as a free agent ...
Versatility as a pathway, playing all 9 positions in a game, taking care of the body ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:55 Noah Campbell Background
3:45 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
5:57 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
10:27 Experience with the USA Baseball 15U National Team
13:40 The Importance / Unimportance of Being One of the Best Players in the Country at 15-years-old
18:35 Getting Approached by Agents at 15-years-old
22:47 The College Process
27:00 The Cape Cod Baseball League Experience
34:30 Thoughts on Performing Better with Wood in College
37:18 The COVID Season + the 5-Round, 2020 MLB Draft
39:15 Circumstances that Led to Signing as an Undrafted Free Agent
44:40 Playing His First Professional Season at Home with the Carolina Mudcats
48:15 The Playing Time Pecking Order in Pro Ball + Getting On the Field
51:36 Positional Versatility + Playing 9 Positions in a Game
55:08 Maintaining Health Over a Full Season + Routines
57:45 Tracking Weekly Jump Testing Over the Course of a MiLB Season
59:25 Confidence from Objective Data
1:01:12 Single Leg Jumps + Lower-Half Symmetry
1:06:15 Creating Good Habits: Finding Escape in the Guitar
1:07:50 Conclusion + Guns N' Roses
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
On December 9, 2021, our guest was Alonzo Wright, the Upper Midwest Area Scout for the Boston Red Sox. A few things Zo touched on:
What ignited his interest in baseball at a young age ...
His coaching journey: High School to JuCo to Division 1 ...
The process of evaluating a player + what he looks for ...
Dealing with rejection and perseverance ...
Do and doors open ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:45 Alonzo Wright Background
8:18 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
11:30 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition (Reflecting on his Youth)
16:48 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition (Parent Perspective)
20:10 Professional Journey
27:00 The Importance of a Support System + Mentorship
31:45 Facing Rejection + Staying the Course
34:40 When Did You Know You Wanted to Be a Scout?
36:50 How the Opportunity with the Red Sox Presented Itself
38:25 Perfect Timing
40:48 What Does an Area Scout Do?
42:35 What Does a Scouting Hierarchy Look Like?
44:45 What Qualifies a Player for a Follow or a Report?
49:21 Being an African-American in the Game of Baseball + The Future
54:25 Efforts in the Amateur Space to Grow the Game with Diverse Athletes
56:19 Diversity at the Top of the 2022 MLB Draft
59:00 The Importance of Reading
1:02:05 Conclusion + Where to Next?
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports
On December 2, 2021, our guest was Corbin Carroll, an Outfielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks Organization and one of the top prospects in baseball today. A few things Corbin touched on:
What ignited his interest in baseball at a young age ...
His college process and his experience as an amateur ...
How he takes care of his body + optimizes his performance + life ...
How he adapted in 2021 after losing most of his season to injury ...
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:27 Corbin Carroll Background
6:55 LTAD: Foundational Element - Emotional Well-Being
9:35 LTAD: Pillar - Ignition
16:32 Gaining Exposure to Colleges and Choosing UCLA
21:02 Exposure to the Pro Scouting Community
23:55 The High School Junior Summer
36:58 Adapting After Injury + Finding Ways to Get Better Off the Field
44:34 Being a Full-time Student + His Daily Routines
49:30 Exploring Food and Finding the Ideal Diet for Corbin
59:35 Favorite Food to Make
1:02:30 Philosophy of Happiness Class
1:08:15 Conclusion + Something Small to Start Forming Good Habits
The Loden Sports Outlier Sessions are designed for aspiring players and parents to gain direct access to the people impacting the game at the highest levels of the sport. Hosted by Matt Pajak, a Co-Founder of Loden Sports.
Loden Sports is the affordable human performance data provider.
Website / Blog / Socials: https://linktr.ee/lodensports