7 - Joey Miller; Crucible Performance "Individualizing the whole hitter"

Joey Miller Notes

 

Bio

• Current trainer for Crucible performance in Frederick, MD
• Has a full time (40 hour) hitting lesson schedule full of loyal clients
• Played and graduated from Frederick Community College
• National Player of the year runner up while at D2 Concord University
• Set individual records at Concord University 28 HR’s and 140 RBIs
• Played professional independent baseball for 4 years from 2014-2017
• Overcame knee surgery after second season to become a 2X All Star 
• Played independent ball for:
  • Roswell Invaders
  • Washington WildThings (frontier league)
  • Trois Riveries Aigles (Can Am) “Twa Rivi-air Egg-lays” - French for 3 Rivers Eagles (Quebec)
  • Windy City Thunderbolts (Frontier League)
  • Salina Stockade (American Association)
• Check out his ‘Heavy Hitter” Podcast
• Player made career!! Knows what it takes to get better!!

How are you encouraging your clients during the quarantine?

• Group Zoom meetings - up to 60 kids
• Tuesdays and thursdays
• Indy zoom meetings based on the hitters needs
• Making us better coaches, and players opportunities to connect with other people

 

What is your process when taking on new clients?

• 5 tools to develops 
• Interview - What do you want to do with this game?
• 2 years ahead of the age level
• What does that athlete need 2 years from now?
• Create hitting logs and personal logs
  • 6 questions at beginning of the month
  • Calendar where player writes down notes of how they got better each day
  • Log the results of their game
• Some video analysis based on the person needs

 

What is your program all about?

• Don’t rush growth
• Trust their coaches, but be a person clients can lean in
• Want to give that kid inspiration to go dominate it!

 

How do you assess your hitters?

• Figure out the mindset I can help develop

What is something you used to do that you no longer find value in?

 

What is something you have done since your first lesson?

 

What mechanics of the swing you try to teach?

 

Do you teach your clients about approach?

• Know your job and be prepared to do your job
• External goals based on the kids
• Internal goals based on the kid
• On deck, in the hole, this is how we prepare

What is the mentality of a great hitter?

• Based on where they are developmentally and then grow that need

 

How do you challenge your clients?  

• Present challenges through the adjustments we are trying to make
• Work through feel and exaggeration

 

How do you teach kids to play one pitch at a time?

What trait have you seen in the best players you have played with or clients you have helped?

• Perseverance - kids who have dealt with a challenge and be able to keep moving forward

 

What is the best way for people to contact you?

• Social Media - Facebook and Youtube - @CoachJoeyMiller
• Instagram & Twitter - @CoachJoeyBats
• Crucibleperformance.us
• coachjoeybats@gmail.com
• joey@crucibleperformance.us