The PBSCCS Podcast

Megan Pierro is in her 3rd year as a Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Tampa Bay Rays organization (seasonal in 2024, full-time in 2025 and 2026). She is originally from Lutz, FL and attended the University of South Florida, where she played 5 seasons as a D1 softball player (2019-2023). She graduated with a B.S. in Biomedical Health Science and a Minor in Nutrition. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the NSCA and will be playing professional softball this summer for the Florida Breeze in the Professional Softball League (PSL).Topics covered in this episode:-Her journey to the Rays organization-Participating in the "Spanish Immersion Program"-The value of using the textbookQuotes:-"I learned very quickly that speaking Spanish is a huge part of working in baseball, especially at the complex level" (4:43)-"I think it's easy to get caught up in wanting to always try new and different things, but at the end of the day, especially at the level that I work at, I think sometimes simple can be better" (14:39)-"I started to realize that this was actually something that we might be able to make work, and turns out that we are, so I will be playing this summer" (18:49)If you would like to learn more from Megan, you can connect with her on social media:Instagram:@meganpierro

Blaine Taylor is a strength and conditioning coach currently working in Lake Tahoe, California. Prior to his current role, he has had stops with both the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies organizations, working in various roles throughout their Minor League systems.Topics covered in this episode:-Life outside of professional baseball-Ikigai-Finding successQuotes:-"Some jobs don't always work out in certain phases of life" (3:09)-"We have free will, but there is this divine path we are supposed to walk. And we have the choice to not walk it" (11:14)-"You have to truly experience it yourself to speak the language and to know you're gonna deliver the right product to the right person" (21:38)If you would like to learn more from Blaine, you can connect with him on social media:Instagram:@blainepatricktaylor

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on Spring Training. This is Part Three of the interview.Speakers:-Logan Jones (Chicago White Sox)-Grace Cullen (Tampa Bay Rays)Questions/topics covered in this episode:-Ways to stay sharp in the off-season-Collaboration amongst departments-Ways to improve Spring TrainingQuotes:-"I need to be coaching or doing something and working with athletes to get better" (10:38) - Grace Cullen-"The prep work needs to come from how the athlete is moving when they're throwing or hitting" (11:27) - Grace Cullen-"Whatever it is, how can we speak some of those common languages across disciplines to show the player we really are truly invested into their growth and development" (17:25) - Logan Jones-"I think, by nature, we're problem solvers" (22:09) - Logan JonesIf you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:Instagram:@logan_jones95 - Logan Jones@coachgracecullen - Grace Cullen

This episode of The PBSCCS Podcast is a group discussion on Spring Training. This is Part One of the interview.Speakers:-Logan Jones (Chicago White Sox)-Grace Cullen (Tampa Bay Rays)Questions/topics covered in this episode:-Daily responsibilities during Spring Training for the strength and conditioning coach-Intake testing and assessment during Spring Training-Programming and individualization for players upon arrivalQuotes:-"Upon arrival, on the Major League or Minor League side doesn't matter, most organizations have some form of intake" (3:07) - Logan Jones-"I think the most important piece of this puzzle is closing the feedback loop with the player" (12:24) - Logan Jones-They're obviously here to play baseball. It's our job as strength and conditioning professionals to help them prior to going out and make them stay on the field" (15:10) - Grace Cullen-"I think the biggest thing we work on is the running progression. I feel like we do a really good job as a department in making sure we're not just having guys jump into really high yardage weeks or really high intensities" (17:06) - Grace CullenIf you would like to learn more from the guests on this episode, you can follow them on social media:Instagram:@logan_jones95 - Logan Jones@coachgracecullen - Grace Cullen

Alexa Garcia, the Lead Florida Complex Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Houston Astros. Now entering her fifth season in professional baseball, Alexa has specialized in elite athlete development, a touch of rehabilitation, and long-term performance optimization. Prior to her current role, she served two seasons as the Rehabilitation Strength & Conditioning Coordinator with the Astros, was the Director of Strength & Conditioning at Barry University, where she helped lead multiple programs to NCAA national championships, and also spent time as a strength coach in the Baltimore Orioles organization.Alexa holds a Master’s degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Performance from Louisiana Tech University, is a CSCS with RSCC distinction, and is a Colombian native, which allows her to bridge the communication gap with Spanish-speaking athletes.Recognized as the 2021 MiLB Strength Coach of the Year, and most recently named the Strength Coach for Team Colombia for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Alexa is known for blending high-level strength & conditioning principles with traditional baseball “feel,” and for her passion in mentoring the next generation of coaches.Topics covered in this episode:-Her journey to her current role-Valuable lessons in leadership-Her best baseball storyQuotes:-"I love strength and conditioning. I love baseball. But I also love leadership and helping develop the people around me" (6:36)-"One thing that I will always keep neat and clean is my LinkedIn" (17:59)-"I really pride myself when it comes to leadership on preparing those underneath or learning from me" (20:05)If you would like to learn more from Alexa, you can connect with her on social media:Instagram:@alexaa_garciaa

Steven Thayer enters his fifth season in the Athletics organization and third year with AAA Las Vegas as sport performance coach. He spent 2023 in High A Lansing and 2022 in Low A Stockton in the same role. Prior to joining the Athletics organization, he served as sport performance coach in the DSL with the Giants in 2021. Before his time in professional baseball, he oversaw strength and conditioning programs for multiple varsity sports at Mater Dei High School. Additionally, he spent time as an assistant strength coach for Michigan State basketball and volleyball teams and as an intern with Cal football and Apple Wellness. A native of San Ramon, CA, he is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has a master’s degree in kinesiology from Michigan State University. He holds nine certifications in the strength and conditioning field.Topics covered in this episode:-His journey (including working in the DR and corporate wellness with Apple)-His best professional baseball story-Current trends in the field-Working in AAA Pacific Coast LeagueQuotes:-"Baseball's my first love" (6:30)-"A lot of the foundational stuff is the same. Everybody needs to squat, hinge, lunge, push, pull" (8:05)-"It starts with the rapport. It starts with that getting to know the guy, getting to know that you care about them" (35:48)

Luis Cervantes was born in Mexico City, Mexico and was raised in Montrose, CO. He graduated in 2016 from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs with a Bachelors in Sports Training and Conditioning. After spending 3 seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Cervantes accepted an opportunity with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021. Prior to his career with Minor League Baseball, Cervantes was with the United States Airforce Academy and a few private training facilities. Luis currently resides in Mesa, AZ.Topics covered in this episode:-Effectively coaching athletes of different ages and cultural backgrounds-Working the Arizona Fall League-Finding success-Advice for others-Continuing education resourcesQuotes:-"You're dealing with kids who don't know what it means to be an adult yet, so you're showing them more than just strength and conditioning X's and O's. You're trying to teach them how to be just an adult and a good human being" (5:26)-"Maybe you know your X's and O's, but if people don't like you it's gonna be really hard to convince them to do things" (13:17)-"I do use audio a lot, that's like a hack right there. Just put on some audio and listen to it right before you go to bed or when I'm walking the dog" (19:22)If you would like to learn more from Luis, you can connect with him on LinkedIn!

Jake Kistaitis is a strength and conditioning coach in the Oakland A's organization. Jake has been with the organization since 2022, where he has worked multiple levels from the DR up to AA. Prior to joining the A's, Jake spent time in 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Jake is a former college baseball player who grew up in the Omaha, Nebraska area. He was named the Texas League Strength Coach of the Year this season.Topics covered in this episode:-His professional baseball journey (including entering pro ball during the COVID chaos of 2020, time spent coaching in the DR, and working his way to AA)-His best professional baseball story-Being named the Texas League Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year-Advice for others and continuing education resourcesQuotes:-"Trying to pick up as much as I can. Kind of getting overwhelmed, because your first few weeks in pro ball, as you know, it's crazy" (2:49)-"I would say building relationships is probably the most important because once you have that relationship built with a player, them buying into your program or buying in to you as a human is gonna allow that relationship to move onward and upward because they know that you're in it for them, not for yourself" (16:56)-"I think every off-season you find something that you're interested in and then you just try and learn as much as you can and then figure out how to utilize that on the day-to-day" (21:35)If you would like to learn more from Jake, you can follow him on social media:Instagram:@jake_kistaitisAnd a special thank you to xcelerated recovery for sponsoring this episode!

Grace is a Minor League Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, where she works to support athlete performance and development throughout the organization. Before joining the Rays, she served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Queens University, working with baseball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s tennis. Grace has also spent time in professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals as a Player Development Strength & Conditioning Coach and previously interned with the Cleveland Guardians. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Kinesiology and Physiology from the University of Florida, and a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Sports Psychology from the University of Evansville.Topics covered in this episode:-Her best professional baseball story-Being a younger coach in the field-Axial loading for baseball players-Learning how to coach effectively without technology-Working with unfamiliar sports and athletesQuotes:-"Their spine is so mobile and gets put in such crazy positions that I'm not really a huge fan of putting a bunch of weight on their back" (7:28)-"I just think people need to hammer the basics when they're coming up and they're interning" (10:04)-"I think whenever a coach writes a new program they probably modify it like five times" (19:39)If you would like to learn more from Grace, you can follow her on social media:Instagram:@coachgracecullen

Joe Hudson is in his first year as a Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Major League level with the Boston Red Sox organization. He has previously spent multiple seasons at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A within the organization and another 4 years managing private sector sports performance facilities in Massachusetts. He received his B.S. in Exercise Physiology from Plymouth State University (’12) and his M.S. in Exercise Science from Springfield College (’15). Joe and his wife Meghan currently live in Springfield, MA with their twin boys Callan & Griffin and their daughter Maeve.Topics covered in this episode:-Being in the Big Leagues vs. being in the Minor Leagues-In-season programming adjustments-Media pressure on players and staffQuotes:-"The biggest difference between the Big Leagues and the Minor Leagues is really in the travel schedule and the game schedule" (1:15)-"If there's still performance and physical development gains on the table still, we want to chase those" (20:05)-"Everything here is under a microscope, for sure" (24:41)If you would like to learn more from Joe, you can follow him on social media:Instagram:@hudson_jr12Twitter:@Coach_JoeHudson

This is a celebration of the 8-Year Anniversary for The PBSCCS Podcast. The episode is a "Year in Review" episode discussing all of the interviews over the past year:-Max Miller - Working in the Arizona Complex League and how to maximize relationships-Adam Decker - Working outside of baseball and physical literacy-Joe Leo - The value of good internships and programming for in-season athletes-Ryan Harrel - Microdosing a daily training regimen and his family ties in professional baseball-Phil Wilson - His company (Relax Saunas) and the value of far infrared saunas-Chris Frosch - Strength and skill development and working the Arizona Fall League-Joe Scire - Helping elite athletes connect the dots and the role of the dietitian in professional baseball-Kirby Retzer - The value of training with machines and life during and after professional baseball-Spring Training Roundtable (Joe Leo and Logan Jones) - All things Spring Training-Ben Loftis - Training youth athletes and owning and operating a training business-Nate Kolb - Being a coordinator compared to being at an affiliate and a deep dive into force plates-Goldy Simmons - Working in the NBA vs the MLB and training basketball players compared to training baseball players

Goldy Simmons is currently a Head Strength and Conditioning Coach in the NBA. Prior to joining the NBA, he worked his way through the ranks in professional baseball. He spent one year in the AZL with the Kansas City Royals organization before joining the Chicago White Sox organization. He worked multiple levels with the White Sox, including three years as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for the Major League club.Topics covered in this episode:-Life in the NBA vs. life in the MLBQuotes:-"We set it up to where if we need to adapt we can adapt and get guys what they need on a nightly basis" (11:52)-"The cultural norm, in basketball, is like 'what do I need for the game?'" (20:22)-"Sticking to the basics will drive the objective outputs that we seek as performance coaches" (22:25)If you'd like to learn more from Goldy, you can find him on LinkedIn.

Nate Kolb is currently the Assistant Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the Seattle Mariners organization. Prior to his time with the Mariners, he was a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for three years.Topics covered in this episode:-Force plate testing and metrics-Finding success and advice for others-Continuing education resourcesQuotes:-"I think there's so many different avenues with force plate testing specifically that you can go in all sorts of different rabbit holes" (3:12)-"If we're trying to create a robust athlete then we need to have as many degrees of freedom available within a safe bandwidth for us to move through" (6:09)-"Find ways to continue staying curious" (21:47)If you'd like to learn more from Nate, you can find him on social media:Instagram:@kolbnate