Hit Chat Chit Chat Conner Reynolds

Conner Reynolds and Connor Burns, former college teammates at Garden City Community College,
discuss the changes in player development in college baseball over the past 5-6 years. They reflect on
their own experiences as a hitter and pitcher, respectively.
When they played, the team had limited hitting technology, such as a couple of Hack Attack
machines. The hitting philosophy varied between their two years, with one year focusing on getting to
second base through doubles, walks, and dirtball reads, and the other year emphasizing hitting to
certain areas of the field. Despite the lack of a consistent hitting philosophy, their team performed
well offensively.
On the pitching side, there was minimal player development. Pitchers had limited time to warm up
and throw, and received little to no mechanical feedback. The introduction of plyo balls and velocity
programs was new at the time, and often poorly implemented, leading to arm soreness among
pitchers.
The two discuss the mental toughness and team-building aspects of their head coach's style, which
included intense practices and motivational tactics. While unconventional and sometimes harsh, they
believe it contributed to their success as a team.
Overall, the landscape of player development in college baseball has changed dramatically in a short
period. The two plan to continue the discussion in a future episode, delving into the specific changes
and advancements that have been made.






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This episode of Hit Chat Chit Chat, Conner Reynolds Driveline_RBI and Victor Martinez @HaltoHell, an
18-year-old high school senior who runs a popular baseball analytics Twitter account. Victor started the account in early 2022 and has gained a significant following, especially among Yankees fans, for his data-driven tweets and analysis. Victor's interest in baseball analytics stems from his love for math and numbers. He discovered sites like Fangraphs and Baseball Savant, which opened up a "Pandora's box" of data for him to explore. Despite jokes about "stat nerds," Victor finds the information fascinating and believes more people
should pay attention to it.
To create his content, Victor manually searches Fangraphs leaderboards and Baseball Savant, exports
the data to Google Sheets, and then crafts his tweets. He also uses MLB Video Vault and Baseball
Savant for video clips. This year, he's focusing on being more professional and stat-heavy in his
tweets as he pursues his goal of working in the baseball industry. Victor plans to attend college next year, majoring in journalism and minoring in statistics. He hopes
to land an internship in the sports field and eventually become a writer. He acknowledges the
competitive nature of the industry but is excited for the future. Some of Victor's most popular tweets include a recent one about Stuff Plus that gained him many new
followers, and a controversial tweet about Bo Jackson that garnered 20,000 likes despite some
backlash. Last year, he wrote three articles, including one about Yankees minor league pitcher Will
Warren. This year, Victor wants to expand his horizons beyond just Yankees content, covering the entirety of
MLB. He's considering starting his own podcast, doing more guest appearances, and creating more
video content. SPEAKER_01 invites him to come on his show anytime to discuss exciting hitters or
disappointing performers.




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In a recent episode of "Hitchat Chitchat," co-hosts Connor Reynolds and Connor Burns delved into a
variety of topics ranging from personal fitness routines to the evolving landscape of college baseball.
The discussion began with personal anecdotes about weightlifting and the risks associated with
certain exercises, such as deadlifting. Both hosts shared their experiences and preferences regarding
their favorite lifts, highlighting the importance of maintaining a balanced and sensible approach to
physical training.
The conversation then shifted to the significant changes observed in college baseball over the past few
years. The hosts discussed the impact of the Transfer Portal, the reduction in MLB draft rounds, and
the effects of COVID-19 on the sport. These factors have collectively led to a more competitive
environment in college baseball, with a notable increase in talent staying within the college ranks. The
hosts also touched upon the challenges of accessing college baseball games due to limited
broadcasting options and the potential benefits of improving accessibility to grow the sport's
audience.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the mental and physical preparation of athletes,
particularly in the context of hitting training. The hosts emphasized the importance of developing a
consistent routine, understanding one's approach at the plate, and the value of mental preparation.
They shared insights into how athletes can optimize their performance through focused practice and
mental game meetings, underscoring the need for players to be adaptable and self-reliant, especially
as they transition to college baseball.
The episode concluded with reflections on the importance of being a good teammate and the role of
perseverance and adaptability in overcoming challenges. The hosts shared personal stories to illustrate
how attitude and effort can influence opportunities and success in baseball and beyond.
Action Items:
- Connor Burns to focus on recovery and rehabilitation for his back injury.
- Athletes encouraged to develop and refine their pre-game and in-game routines, with an emphasis on
mental preparation and adaptability.
- Coaches and players to explore ways to improve accessibility and viewership of college baseball
games, potentially advocating for changes in broadcasting practices.
- Continued encouragement for athletes to engage in self-coaching and take proactive steps in their
development, recognizing the importance of being a supportive teammate regardless of individual
playing time.






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In the latest episode of Hit Chat Chit Chat, co-hosts Connor Reynolds and Connor Burns delved into a variety of topics surrounding baseball training, player development, and their transitions
within Driveline Baseball and beyond. The discussion kicked off with Burns sharing his offseason
coaching strategies, emphasizing the integration of in-game scenarios into practice sessions to prepare his team for the upcoming season. He highlighted the importance of challenging hitters with a mix of fastball and slider drills to enhance their bat speed and adaptability to different pitches. Reynolds, on the other hand, shared insights into his new role as the Team Development and Recruiting Coordinator for Driveline Academy, overseeing practice plans and college recruiting for athletes aged 10 to 18. He underscored the significance of leveraging technology, such as field level platforms, to enhance recruitment efforts and player development. Both hosts expressed excitement about their roles in shaping young athletes' careers and the potential to discuss broader topics related to youth baseball in future episodes. A notable point of discussion was the challenges faced in athlete recruitment and communication. Reynolds highlighted the frustration of dealing with unresponsive athletes and the importance of maintaining professionalism in interactions with schools and coaches. Burns echoed these sentiments, stressing the value of good character and responsiveness in securing opportunities in baseball. The episode also touched upon the achievements of OSU players who trained at Driveline, showcasing the tangible results of their training programs. Additionally, the hosts lamented the difficulties in tracking junior college stats and the varying levels of engagement from coaches in the recruitment process.
Action Items:
- Connor Burns to continue integrating in-game scenarios into practice sessions, focusing on
challenging hitters with a mix of pitches.
- Connor Reynolds to enhance recruitment efforts through field level platforms and improve
communication channels with athletes and coaches.
- Both hosts to explore broader topics related to youth baseball in future episodes, potentially inviting
guests to share their insights.
- Address the issue of unresponsive athletes in the recruitment process, emphasizing the importance of
professionalism and communication.

Twitter: @Driveline_RBI
https://twitter.com/Driveline_RBI
Instagram: @Driveline_RBI
https://www.instagram.com/Driveline_rbi/
Tik Tok: @Driveline_RBI
https://www.tiktok.com/@driveline_rbi?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Youtube: Driveline RBI
https://www.youtube.com/@Fast_RBI
Twitch: @Driveline_RBI
https://www.twitch.tv/fast_rbi
Podcast: Hit Chat Chit Chat w/ JP Fasone
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/WgdIm5kg2ub
Fieldlevel: Driveline Acadmey https://www.fieldlevel.com/app/coach-profile/conner.reynolds
www.reynoldsbattinginstruction.com




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The Boys Are Back


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We back baby


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