MD&I Baseball Academy

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

From Baseball Dudes:

Dear Parents:

We all know many coaches can be better at how they plan and utilize team practice time. But let’s make sure we are clear about something, your athletes development is not solely on them. In fact, they are just a small piece. To blame them for your athletes lack of production, is a big mistake. Before even second guessing your athletes coaches, answer these questions:

• How much does your athlete really love their sport(s)?
• How much time do they spend on their own daily/weekly practicing their sport(s)?
• What is their attitude like when with their team and things aren’t going well?
• Are they a good teammate?
• How’s their focus?
• Are they able to apply what they are learning?
• Are they in the right situation for their ability level?
• Are they accountable for their mistakes or do they have a habit of blaming and excuse making?

Great coaches can make a huge difference for players BUT they are temporary. Check your athletes habits before anything else.

06/11/2026

This is a awesome video and interview with Tori Vidales...Players this is how you "talk the game" and communicate with your teammates. Baseball players can learn from this video also.

Listen to how Tori and the shortstop (Sis Bates) communicate.
PARENtS/COACHES, show this video to your daughters and players...You will know if they LOVE THE GAME, or LIKE THE GAME, if you go to practice or a game and their talking/communicating with their teammates.

Truthfully, it starts at home!

06/10/2026

All (3) players are teenagers

06/10/2026

I forgot to attach these photos. They go with the post below.

06/10/2026

Hey Dad's,

If you have a player that's starting to pull his head, or just hitting with no power, try this drill: "Self Toss or Fungo Drill"

During this hitting session, I let the player use my "Fungo Bat"...your player might have to choke up. The dad and myself played outfield sh****ng fly balls or sometimes ground balls 😂

1. Start with 1st round 10 swings, and make sure the player doesn't rush, bc he needs to gather himself to develop power and rhythm. They might struggle during the 1st round.

2. 2nd Round...10 swings, they will notice more balls driven with back spin. This is where the this player (AJ/Sluggers Baseball 14u) started to drive the ball in the gaps.

3. During the 2nd Round...see if your player can drive ball "backside/oppo". This is where players start to surprise themselves and really find out that they have the power to hit "line drives" to the opposite field.

4. We did a Round of 10...front toss, with "Fungo Bat" and last round, AJ used his game bat. You can hear the difference! Immediate feedback.

5. Live BP (7 -10 swings) sometimes about 5...I say this bc during a game, a player might only get 3-4 pitches per AB, so train to be aggressive and attack pitches in the their hitting zone during positive counts: 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-1, and challenge your player and see if they can be consistent hitting in a 3-0 count.
That's the beauty of experimenting 😆

Throw changeups, slider/curve, 4-seam/ 2- seams/sinkers etc... in different hitting zones.
Players today have so much anxiety/stress bc they don't hit enough. AND parents when you work with your player (son/daughter) know what type of hitter they are. Stop trying to compare to another player, bc ALL these players are growing at different stages "mentally and physically". That's what is forgotten!

06/08/2026

Yesterday was a little bit warm!
My guy Brystin, I haven't seen him since last summer, got in to get some swings. He had major surgery on his finger of his throwing hand...he's a sidewinder/submarine pitch

So while I was working with Brystin, his parents (Casey and Amanda) was sh****ng fly balls for us. On the other field another group of parents were working with their kids...probably about age 8-10. The dad put on catching gear, and the mom was the batter, while their son worked on pitching.

It's funny that I haven't seen Brystin in a year, and really it's like he didn't miss a beat! Working with a finger that's still healing, he did well....Great job Brystin

I forgot I had Gabe's picture in this post. He was before Brystin 😆

All players get: tee work and the players get great feedback on doing any type of hitting from: tee work,.front toss, Live BP.

We go hard and talk a lot of stuff during "Live BP". That's how you train and play the game.

06/08/2026

I like watching the TBR Rankings starting at 13u/14u...since I've been in Travel Baseball (since 2001) the one organization, that I don't see is the Cincy Flames and there's probably another organization that's been around for awhile and I don't see.

Anyway, I talk about a lot of programs, but this particular organization (Cincy Angels 13u) I like what they do...See at 13u, you should test your players against 14u (older players)" iron sharpen iron". Looking at the Angels 13u schedule they have played a lot of 14u teams I love it! That's development and also these players are feeding off their coaches, bc their not afraid to play anyone. That's development and the players mindset. That's preparing them for high school. That's what I remember (travel baseball) being about. Tough competition!

Great job Cincy Angels and all the local/Cincy teams in the area.

06/08/2026

Ken Griffey, Jr is keeping it 💯

https://x.com/i/status/2063744559847227561

06/08/2026

Coaches and Parents,

Check out this (4 pitch) at bat...by watching college baseball alot can be learned and taught. This all about the hitting/pitching approach.