In this episode of Patrick Jones Baseball, we focus on how college coaches evaluate high school catchers. I outline 7 key criteria that coaches consider, emphasizing the importance of receiving as the most critical skill. We discuss the nuances of receiving, including how catchers should present the ball to umpires and the impact of effective receiving on game outcomes.

Takeaways

1. College coaches look for seven key criteria in catchers.

2. Receiving is the most important skill for catchers.

3. Pop time, blocking, arm action, footwork, makeup, and stamina are also evaluated.

4. Effective receiving can turn balls into strikes, impacting game outcomes.

5. Catchers should present the ball calmly and quietly to umpires.

6. Sudden movements can lead to missed calls from umpires.

7. The best catchers make receiving look effortless.

8. Research shows that every 10 balls turned into strikes equals one run.

Are you a parent of a high school player hoping to get recruited?

Apply to work with me at:

https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

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On this episode of the Patrick Jones Baseball podcast, we welcome back Dr. Adam Maloof, a Princeton University professor and passionate baseball researcher with a unique insider’s perspective on the college game. As a former college catcher and a current contributor to the Princeton baseball program, Dr. Maloof blends scientific rigor with firsthand baseball experience to dig into some of the sport’s most intriguing questions.

Today’s conversation centers on Dr. Maloof’s recent wave of impactful research articles, touching on the art and value of catcher framing, the intricacies of evaluating pitching and hitting at the college level, and why traditional metrics might not be telling the whole story. We dive deep into why receiving is an underrated part of catching, how advances in data collection can help teams gain the Moneyball-style edge, and what simple statistical models like JOPS+ are teaching us about what really wins games in college baseball.

Whether you’re a coach, recruiter, player, or just a diehard baseball fan, this episode offers actionable insights and candid reflections on how the world of college baseball is evolving—and how smarter, more targeted analysis can shape success on the field. Buckle up for an engaging blend of science, strategy, and the irreplaceable human element of the game.

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Adam's research articles mentioned in this episode:

Catcher Framing

Evaluating college hitters

Evaluating college pitchers

Adam's contact information

Email: maloof@princeton.edu

03:53 Future of Automated Strike Zones

09:31 Catcher Recruitment Strategy Insights

12:56 "Evaluating Strike Count Impact"

16:13 Catcher Framing Outweighs OPS

17:13 Baseball Research Unbiased Perspective

21:58 Tracking and Improving Athletic Performance

26:12 Balancing Fit and Fitness in Science

28:51 Pitching Strategy: Efficiency Over Power

31:41 "Win Expectancy and Base Runners"

34:27 Simulated Player Performance Analysis

39:20 Evaluating Biases in Scouting Practices

41:21 Rethink Recruiting for College Success

44:41 Challenges of College Baseball Recruiting

47:43 Evaluating Athlete Intangibles and History

53:32 Overwhelmed Choices in College Recruiting

54:40 "JOPS. Simplifies Baseball Stats"

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Patrick Jones interviews Brett Wallace, the hitting coach for the California Golden Bears. They discuss Wallace's journey from a successful college player to a major league hitter and now a coach. Wallace shares insights on the role of a hitting coach, key techniques for hitters, the evolution of competition in college baseball, and the importance of building a routine and mindset for success. He emphasizes the significance of visualization and confidence in hitting, as well as the challenges and strategies in recruiting young talent.

00:00 Brett Wallace's Journey to Coaching

02:56 Offensive Strategy and Identity

06:00 Hitting Mechanics and Drills

08:59 The Evolution of Pitching

12:07 Routine and Mental Preparation

14:53 Visualization and Learning from Experience

20:00 Mindset and Gratitude in Baseball

21:00 Evolution of Hitting Techniques

24:00 The Cat and Mouse Game of Hitting

26:07 Adjustments During At-Bats

31:51 Recruiting and Developing Young Talent

36:02 Life at Cal and Campus Culture

Sign up for a 30 minute college baseball recruiting consultation with Patrick

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Patrick Jones Baseball, I sat down with Tyler Gillum, head coach of the Savannah Bananas, to talk about building a brand that puts fans first and creating impact beyond just wins and losses.

Tyler shares how he pivoted his coaching career to chase a bigger vision—impacting millions through baseball and entertainment.

We discuss setting audacious goals, leading with intention, and why every business needs to focus relentlessly on customer experience. It’s about energy, culture, and showing up every day to deliver unforgettable moments.

Timestamps:

00:00 "Chose Bananas to Impact Fans"

10:06 "One Million Fans Goal Achieved"

11:56 Morning Gratitude Rituals

19:32 "Finding Balance Amidst Life's Extremes"

26:23 Full-Day Fan Experience

30:06 "Banana Ball's Unique Characters"

34:21 Jesse Cole's Daily Ideation Habit

39:30 Creating Memorable Fan Experiences

48:14 "Winning Over Baseball Skeptics"

51:41 Banana Ball Trick Play Adaptation

54:07 "Parenting Through Gymnastics and Discipline"

59:42 Choosing Seminole Over Bigger Offers

01:05:05 Banana Ball's Winning Legacy

Follow Tyler on Social Media:

Twitter: https://x.com/Gillum66

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachgillum66/

Schedule a College Baseball Recruiting Consultation with Patrick:

https://patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Patrick Jones Baseball, the focus is on the mental game, which is often overlooked in favor of physical mechanics. Patrick discusses how understanding the brain's function can lead to improved performance, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, identity, and focus. He introduces the 'Core Five' strategies to enhance mental skills and addresses the unique mental challenges faced in baseball, including managing expectations and utilizing statistics effectively.

• The mental game is crucial for player development.
• Understanding how the brain works can lead to breakthroughs.
• Players at all levels experience similar fears and doubts.
• Automatic negative thoughts can hinder performance.
• Having a clear vision and identity is essential for success.
• Self-awareness helps players tune into their thoughts and feelings.
• Focus is a skill that can be trained off the field.
• Defining success by process rather than outcome improves confidence.
• Lowering expectations can reduce pressure during games.
• Statistics can inform better decision-making at the plate.
• 
  

• "The brain is wired to protect you."
• "70 to 80% of thoughts are negative."
• "You are not your thoughts."
• "What type of player do you want to be?"
• "Focus is a trainable skill."
• "Lower your expectations for yourself."
• "Statistics can guide your approach."

00:00 The Importance of the Mental Game

09:28 Understanding the Brain and Thoughts

18:51 Core Five Strategies for Mental Improvement

27:59 Navigating Expectations and Mental Challenges

32:48 Statistics and Counts in Hitting

Check out Patrick's new course

Swing Decisions: How To Master The Strike Zone

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Patrick shares the unfiltered truth behind what it really takes to get recruited to play college baseball in 2025. After talking to dozens of coaches, watching games across the country, and helping players from coast to coast, he breaks down the exact roadmap players and parents need to follow — including what most people get completely wrong.

Whether you're just starting the process or deep into your recruiting journey, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.

What You’ll Learn:

The only reasons to enter the transfer portal (and why most players shouldn’t)

Updates on roster size rules and how it impacts recruiting

The most important question every player must ask before starting the process

Key recruiting timelines for Power 4, mid-major D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO

Which showcases actually matter (PBR vs. Perfect Game)

How college coaches actually evaluate players (hint: it’s not just stats)

Why the best prospect isn’t always the best player

Position-by-position breakdown of recruiting priorities

What you should be doing from freshman to senior year

Social media strategy that gets attention — without hurting your visibility

Why cold emails to coaches almost never work (and what to do instead)

Resources:

Book a $60 Recruiting Consultation: https://patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Connect With Patrick:

Twitter: @pjonesbaseball

Website: https://patrickjonesbaseball.com

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jared Gaynor- founder of Pitching Coach U and former pitching coach in the Minnesota Twins organization. We dive into what actually matters in pitching development: fastball command, pitch design, identity, and the mental side of competing under pressure.

We talk about why bullpen success doesn’t always translate to games, how a pitcher’s mindset can make or break them, and why the recruiting landscape is more competitive (and confusing) than ever.

If you’re a player or parent trying to make sense of college recruiting, I offer 30-minute consultations to help you build a clear plan. You can book one at patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Follow Jared on Twitter

Jared's pitch design course

Follow Patrick on Twitter

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Patrick Jones Baseball, we welcome Victor Rojas, Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Ottawa University - Arizona (OUAZ). Victor has one of the most unique journeys in baseball—he played minor league ball, worked as a GM, became a broadcaster for ESPN and MLB Network, and now, he’s coaching college baseball.

In this episode, Victor shares:

• His path from broadcasting to coaching and why he chose the NAIA level.
• What recruits and parents need to know about NAIA baseball and how it compares to other levels.
• His coaching philosophy and how he develops players mentally and physically.
• 
  

If you're a player or parent looking to understand the college baseball recruiting process—especially at the NAIA level—this episode is a must-listen.

🔗 Follow Victor Rojas & OUAZ Baseball:

• OUAZ Baseball Website
• Victor Rojas on Twitter

🔗 Need help in the recruiting process?

Book a free 15-minute call

👉 PatrickJonesBaseball.com/recruiting

Check Out Patrick's Stuff:

• 📬 Patrick's Weekly Recruiting Newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

• ⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.