09/16/2026
We are getting closer! I’ll be giving lessons on Monday and Tuesday nights 5-9 each night in the month of October. Then I’ll probably add some weekend times in November-Feb. That’s the plan and will keep everyone posted when sign-ups go public. It’s personally going to be hard to fit in everyone as this continues to grow. But we have a plan at Ark Baseball & Softball I’ll be training some great trainers over there and recommend all of them. We will be overseeing it to make sure each session we are working on the same fundamentals and have the same hitting philosophy. The other bonus is the other instructors will be bringing new prospective and drills as well.
Hitting isn’t a one size game. Different things work for different players! I look forward to seeing everyone in the tunnels soon!
Ryan Barrett — Director of Hitting Development
HS: Evansville Central
- All-Metro Player of The Year
- All-County Team
- North/South All-Star
- Multi-record holder
College: University of Evansville
Q: What’s one thing you want every athlete to learn from you?
A: Work ethic will always outlast natural talent. Talent can open doors, but consistent effort is what creates long-term success.
Talent × Effort = Skill�Skill × Effort = Success
The athletes who are willing to put in the work, day after day, are the ones who separate themselves.
Q: What separates good players from great players?
A: Mentality.
The best players believe in themselves. There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, but great players have confidence in their preparation and abilities. In a game like baseball or softball, where failure is part of the process, mental toughness often becomes the difference between being good and being great.
Q: What lessons from your playing career do you bring to athletes?
A: I bring perspective.
I wasn’t always the best player on my teams. I was cut from my 8th-grade travel baseball team and didn’t make my 8th-grade basketball team. I’ve experienced setbacks, disappointment, and being overlooked.
I know what it’s like to have ability but be undersized. I know what it’s like to be the underdog. Those experiences taught me that talent alone doesn’t determine success. Heart, resilience, and perseverance matter just as much.
Q: What would younger you have benefited from learning sooner?
A: Strength training.
I wish I had been introduced to proper weight training and athletic development at a younger age. Learning how to build strength and move efficiently would have helped me become a more complete athlete earlier in my career.
