ALBERT ALMORA - Outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks

• World Series Champion (2016 Cubs)

• Parts of 7 seasons in Major League Baseball

• Played in MLB w/3 teams (Mets, Cubs & Reds)

• Known for ELITE defensive skills in Center Field

Today I'm joined by one of the coolest dudes I've ever shared a locker room with. Truly one of the most elite Center Fielder's in the game

Al dives into the mental & physical grind to get back on the field after missing 2023, what winning a World Series feels like, and what his mindset is like in the outfield and at the dish.

There are some serious tips in here about WORK ETHIC, pre-pitch routine and separating yourself from the pack that any athlete at any level of their career can learn from.

Those who have done it, helping those who are next...

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

EMILIO PAGÁN - Entering his 8th Season in the MLB

• Has pitched for: Mariners, A's, Rays, Padres & Twins

• 400 Innings Pitched over his 7 year career so far:

• 3.71 ERA | 456 Strikeouts | 32 Saves | 22-18 Record

When you think of a player in Major League baseball who has had over 7 years of success, has made the type of money people can only dream of, and is only getting better with time - you think of a 1st rounder, a dude that is 6'8 - or someone that throws 102 MPH with elite movement.

Emilio is somebody who takes that narrative and turns it upside down. Drafted in the 10th round as a SENIOR SIGN out of a D-2 school for $5K - pitching wasn't even what he wanted to do, he wanted to be a 3rd basemen in the league, with his sweet left handed swing.

Throwing 88-91 at Belmont Abbey, and with a mindset/attitude that was unbreakable - scouts for Major League baseball teams saw more than what his velo and his numbers portrayed.

Emilio's story is ridiculously motivating, and he's somebody that I've looked up to as inspiration along my own journey.

• The success he's found in the Major Leagues

• His underdog story and the challenges he's conquered to get here

• His M.O.A.M. (Man on a Mission) Mindset

• How his new pitch (cutter) has changed the game

Thank you for tuning in - it absolutely FIRES ME UP to be able to have Emilio tell his story on The 9-Hole.

Those who have done it, helping those who are next...

IM

MICKEY BRUECKNER - Founder & CEO of Annex Sports Performance (Chatham, NJ)

Mickey is the premier sports performance coach in the state of New Jersey, with a variety of top tier athletes relying on his expertise ranging from Cy Young Award Winners, to Junior Olympians - all the way to starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

I personally trained with Mickey to make sure that I was battle ready during my last two off seasons heading into Spring Training - and my only regret is that I didn't utilize his services sooner.

Please listen to this man share his knowledge & experience from YEARS of working with some of the most successful people in MULTIPLE industries, across multiple sports - whether you are a 10 year vet in the Show, or a young athlete hoping to one day make your varsity team - you can LEARN SOMETHING in these 80 minutes. I promise!!!

• What YOUNG ATHLETES should be focusing on

• What SUPPLEMENTS are necessary in sports development

• What exercises baseball players should focus on/stay away from

• What the most successful people in business/sports do that others don't..

Check him out:

https://www.annexsportsperformance.com/

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

KYLE ATTL - The Director of Professional Baseball joins me from Blast Motion, which is a sensor that goes on the knob of your baseball bat and helps track the metrics of your swing.

Blast Motion was INSTRUMENTAL in helping me get to the Big Leagues, and I'm so excited to not only share MY story and how it changed my career - but have him explain how it could potentially change yours.

In this episode, we dive into:

• WHAT Blast Motion is, and the metrics it tracks

• WHAT understanding those metrics can UNLOCK for you

• WHY I gave it a chance, and HOW it changed everything for me

• HOW the biggest names in baseball utilize Blast

Those who have done it, helping those who are next...

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

CAMERON RUPP - Assistant Coach at Blinn College

• Parts of 5 Seasons w/the Philadelphia Phillies ('13-'17)

• 2023: Assistant Coach at Texas (Alma Mater) while finishing his degree

• 3 years playing at Texas: 25 HR's & led team to College World Series

MLB: Played in almost 300 career games, totaling 240 hits, 39 HR's and 124 RBI's playing a PREMIUM position

• His advice on standing out & winning the recruiting game

• What thinking positive did for HIM and his career

• Tips for the next generation that want to catch in the Big Leagues

I'm joined today by two young men who are both committed to go play baseball at the Division 1 level.

Matthew VanOstenbridge (PSU, Left Handed Pitcher)

Tyler Huzzy (NJIT, Catcher)

The amount of High School players that go on to play D1 baseball are minuscule, and the game is constantly changing year after year. So I wanted to ask them HOW they got seen, what worked for them - and how the next generation of players that want to play D1 baseball can get seen.

• How they dominated the recruiting game

• What they had to sacrifice (that others wouldn't) to get here

• What playing multiple sports has done for them athletically

Those who have done it, helping those who are next.

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

JUSTIN STEELE - MLB All-Star & Cubs Starting Pitcher

2023: First All-Star Appearance & 5th place finish in NL Cy Young

• 30 starts: 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA // 176 K's vs. 36 BB's in 173.1 innings

• 3 seasons w/Cubs: 3.30 ERA in 349.1 innings pitched (24-16 record)

• His journey

• Advice to the next generation of baseball players

• What his routine looks like and how he gets away from baseball

• If he could do it all over again as a pitcher, what would he do different..

CARSON VITALE - Mariners Major League Field Coordinator

• Entering his 5th year in the position

• Mariners Minor League Field Coordinator (2 yrs)

• Dodgers International Field Coordinator (2 yrs)

• Manager of the DSL Angels (2 yrs)

• Hitting Coach for Orem Owls & AZL Angels (2 yrs)

• Professional Player in the Rangers Org (2 yrs)

• 3 Different Schools in College

• His Unconventional / International Grind in Getting to the MLB

• Mental Skills Training - Grounding, Meditation & Visualization

• What separates those that get to the MLB from those that STAY

BRET BOONE - 14 Year MLB Veteran

• 3-time All Star

• 4-time Gold Glover

• 2-time Silver Slugger

• Hitting Approach MASTERCLASS

• How the Best Hitters SET UP Pitchers

• Advice to those who are next

Awesome conversation with one of the best to do it.

1775 hits, 252 HR's & 1021 RBI's over the course of 14 seasons.

Please listen to how he talks about hitting. It's the GAME within the GAME!!!

And don't forget his glove...Gold x4!

Thanks for tuning in,

IM

David & Ian hit on:

• The KC Royals making Bobby Witt Jr. the FACE of the franchise

• Jose Altuve's new deal & being an Astro for LIFE

• Kershaw coming BACK to the star-studded Dodgers

• The Oakland A's are a turtle without a shell

DONNIE WALTON - Entering his 3rd season in the Giants system

• Parts of 4 Seasons in MLB with the Mariners & Giants

• Drafted in the 5th round out of OK-State (2016) | MLB Debut in 2019

Career: .282 AVG | .371 OBP | .420 SLG | .791 OPS (247 BB to 313 K)

Career: .962 Fielding % in 2,300 innings at SS

Career: .979 Fielding % in 1,900 innings at 2B

TREVOR HOFFMAN - MLB Hall of Fame Closer (2018)

• 18 Year MLB Career (15 w/Padres)

• 1st Player to reach 500 & 600 save milestones

• All-Time saves leader from 2006-2011

• 11th Rd. Draft Pick as a Shortstop (U of Arizona)

• His Journey from College Shortstop to HOF Closer

• Playing the Game the RIGHT WAY | Being a Professional

• Getting Seen | Getting to the NEXT Level | Standing Out

SHOUTOUT to our Sponsor of the Live Stream with Trevor Hoffman:

• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Student Visionaries of the Year

Check them out as they raise funds for the fight against blood cancer!

https://events.lls.org/noh/nohsvoy24/cstudentvi

COREY MUSCARA - Pitching Coach for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons

• D1 Baseball's Assistant Coach of the Year (2023)

• Entering his 3rd season with the #1 team in the NATION

In 2023, his pitching staff led the NATION in: Lowest ERA | Lowest WHIP | Lowest hits per 9 | Strikeout-to-walk ratio | Strikeouts-per-9

• The Secrets Behind his Staff's Pitching DOMINANCE

• Tracking Competitiveness & Statistics in PRACTICE

• Throwing Programs, Disrupting the Hitter & Standing OUT

Josh Shiffman (js9innings on IG & social media) & Ian talk about:

Meet the man, the myth, the legend behind the 750,000+ follower Instagram account - you may know him as a baseball account that provides breaking news and top stories from around the league - but tonight, he's getting spicy & personal. Hear about his story, his love for baseball - and who he's got for his 2024 picks.

• How Yamamoto's first year goes in the MLB

• WHO stands a chance against the Dodgers

• HOT predictions on who is going to stink & who will stand out in '24

Thanks for tuning in.

Zach Vincej was drafted by the Reds in the 37th round, and AGAINST ALL ODDS, played for 2 teams & has coached in the Big Leagues. Check out Zach's story to be inspired and hear about his obstacles he overcame.

ZACH VINECJ - Manager for the Modesto Nuts (A Ball / California League)

• Won the Cal League championship in his first season as manager (2023)

• Played in the Major Leagues w/Reds & Mariners

• Drafted in the 37th round out of Pepperdine (2012)

• 2012 Brooks Wallace Award Winner (Top defensive SS in Nation)

• Defying the odds (Takeaways, Challenges & Best Moments)

• What the best players in the world do differently & why

• Tips on recruiting process & getting drafted

ELLIOTT AVENT - Head Coach for the NC State Wolfpack

• Entering his 28th season as Head Coach for the Wolfpack

• 35 Year Head-Coaching Career - 1,222 wins overall

• Has led NC-State to the NCAA Tournament last 20 out of 27 seasons

• 127 Players Drafted under his guidance

• Won a gold medal w/Team USA National Collegiate Team in 2004

• The KEY to his Longevity as a Coach

• The Most Talented Players he has Coached & What Made them Special

• Work Ethic, Confidence & Tradition