What are the top three essential skills and attributes of elite level hitters? What is attention to detail and why does it matter? Where should you focus in your preparation? What leads to effortless power as a hitter? Why does approach matter at the plate? What is the compete factor and why could it be the more important than anything else in hitting? 

We cover the answers to all of these questions and so much more with this week’s episode, Committing to YOUR Journey as a Hitter ft. Ross Kivett (Univ. of Houston). Coach Kivett is a former Big 12 Player of the Year at Kansas State University, former 6th round draft pick and professional baseball player, and College World Series coach as part of the University of Tennessee coaching staff in 2021. 

Coach Kivett drops knowledge bombs all throughout this episode that are sure to help EVERY hitter who wants to play college baseball. Tap play, take a listen, and get ready to take some notes on Committing to YOUR Journey as a Hitter ft. Ross Kivett (Univ. of Houston). 

What are the top three metrics that college baseball coaches look for in a player? How did a bootcamp mentality help Texas go from the bottom of the Big 12 to the College World Series? What matters more - metrics or talent? What can players learn from former MLB Glove Glove outfielder Alex Gordon? 

Ben Johnson was a standout on the University of Texas baseball team that went to the 2014 College World Series, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2015, and is now the Head of Sales and Strategic Partnerships at Virtual Combine. Ben hops on the BUS to discuss what helped him succeed at the highest level of college baseball and ultimately led him to professional baseball, what metrics matter, the role your mindset plays in winning, and much more on this week’s episode of Riding the BUS. 

Tap play, take a listen, and get ready to take some notes on everything from winning to metrics to a bootcamp mentality as Ben Johnson gets the BUS rolling with tons of knowledge bombs for anyone who wants to play college baseball. 

What are the top three most important things for a pitcher? Why do you need to be able to throw a breaking ball in any count at any time? What exactly is “recovery” and why is it so important? Does every throw matter? Can you compete and get better during catch play? What’s the first thing you should do if you’re struggling with your breaking ball? 

This week on Riding The BUS we have a conversation with the Dylan Belanger, Pitching Coach at Division 1 Stephen F. Austin, where we cover all of those questions and much more! Coach Belanger has built his career through the Junior College ranks into Division 1 baseball through a combination of expertise and relationship building. Tap play, take a listen, and get ready to take some notes because this episode has great insight for every player on the field, not just pitchers. 

On this week’s edition of Riding The BUS we bring you a Foundations Megasode - a combination of the first three Foundations Episodes of this podcast. These Foundations are essential to any player who wants to make the most of every opportunity on and off the field, in tournaments and in showcases. 

Starting at the beginning, the first episode is on True Belief, and it's the first for a reason. Everything starts with True Belief. 

Then, after True Belief comes Controlling the Controllables. Controlling the Controllables is a two step process: 1) identifying the controllables you have within competition and 2) investing your time, effort, and energy in controlling them. 

If you want to make sure you have the mindset that is going to help you maximize every opportunity ahead of you this summer, then tap play and take a listen to learn how True Belief and Controlling the Controllables will help you keep your DEVELOPMENT BUS rolling at top speed. 

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00: #1: True Belief
• 14:48: #2: Controlling the Controllables, pt. 1
• 40:57: #3: Controlling the Controllables, pt. 2

What is more important to catching than any of the actual physical skills? How are hitting and catching related? What is an adjusted pop time and why should you know what that is? What is one very common throwing technique that is wrong? What roles do mobility and nutrition play in being a great catcher? How can perseverance make or break your career? 

This week’s episode covers all those questions and more in #20. Catching & Perseverance ft. Brock Bennett (Univ. of Georgia). Coach Bennett has extensive experience coaching catchers at extremely high levels. If you are a catcher, or want to understand the ingredients of a great catcher, then this is a must listen for you. 

Tap play, take a listen, and get ready to take some notes as Coach Brock Bennett from the Univ. of Georgia talks Catching and Perseverance. 

What should be your #1 goal above all else at a showcase? What should you do before, during, and after your showcase to make the most of your experience? What are the things you can control to give yourself the best chance to get noticed at your showcase events this summer? 

Summer showcases are right around the corner and these are just a few of the many questions we answer in episode 19. Checklist for a Great Showcase: 15 Tips to Perform, Stand Out & Get Noticed. Riding The BUS host Trey Fowler has 20+ years of NCAA coaching & showcase experience, and he walks you through these 15 tips that take you from parking lot to parking lot so that you can make the most of any and all possible opportunities. 

No matter what showcase events you choose to attend, our hope is that you stand out and get the exposure you’ve been working so hard for. Tap play, take a listen, and get ready to take a bunch of notes as this episode is all about helping you perform, stand out, and get noticed at your showcase events this summer.  

Do you have to believe in yourself to be a champion? What do championship teams have more than other teams? What does an approach look like for championship level hitters? What role does batting practice play in your approach? What do all great infielders have in common? Are feet actually more important than hands for infielders? How can you use MLB hitters to help your hitting development? What is toughness in baseball and why does it matter? 

This week’s episodes answers all those questions and so much more with Coach Scott Wingo (Univ. of South Carolina). Coach Wingo played at South Carolina and was a back-to-back National Champion with the Gamecocks, including the 2011 College World Series Most Outstanding Player. Coach Wingo didn’t roll out of bed with the physical tools to be a champion. Instead, he developed the mindset and character and used those to fuel his skills on the field. 

Tap play, listen up, and take some notes as we learn about the Championship Traits for Hitting & Infield from 2x NCAA D1 National Champion and current coach at Univ. of South Carolina, Scott Wingo. 

Why should you stay in the midst of adversity? Does self-talk really help? What does it take to stick to a routine that helps you succeed? What leads to being an elite defender? How do you erase doubt from your mind? What is the best book you should read for your mindset? 

Join us for the answers to these questions and so much more on this week’s episode, #17. College Player Series ft. Alex Carballo (Kennesaw State Univ.). Alex was an elite player at the NCAA Division 1 level, but he didn’t start that way. Alex worked his way to the top of college baseball and his journey through ups and downs, highs and lows, is packed with knowledge bombs that will help any player navigate the adversity he is guaranteed to face and come out better in the end. 

Tap play, listen up, and get ready to take a bunch of notes on what it takes to thrive through adversity in this latest installment of our College Player Series featuring Alex Carballo, former star outfielder from Kennesaw State University.