“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.“
Tons more pitchers signed & drafted, despite the ever increasingly competitive landscape.
College commitments galore, and dozens of incredibly smart and talented people who joined our team from every corner of the country.
Let's dive into what made 2024 a year to remember, and what Tread has in store for 2025.
1. We added another 41 members to the Tread team 👏
In 2023, we added 14 members to the Tread team.
This past year, we decided to go ahead and flip that number around, adding 41 new and talented members.
With almost every hire relocating away from home to come join our team in Charlotte, we don't take their decisions for granted – and we've made a commitment to each and every one of them that Tread will do everything it can to foster their personal and professional growth.
These new members include:
- 30 Performance Coaches: (Angus Adams, Tyler Averitt, Thomas Bednarski, Brock Begesha, Nash Bryan, Zach Cable, John Cheatwood, Ciaran Devenney, Ethan Dyer, Ryan Flippo, Nathan Florence, Trey Goodrich, Sam Grace, Sean Johnson, Matt Jordan, Jonathan Kaiser, Austin Lawson, Welinton Mariano, Declan Morrissey, Justin Nicolino, Benjamin Nuss, Vincent Riggio, Pat Robles, Landon Schirer, Julian Chabot, Carsie Walker, Zach Warren, Cody Whitten, Isaac Wiley and Matt Young).
- 3 Data Analysts: (Evan Borberg, Keenan Hodgkin, and Zachary Houghtaling).
- 4 Content Specialists: (Rob Dixon, Sarah Flynn, Ryan Jares, and Gavin Montgomery).
- 1 Content Marketing Manager: Ben Brown, joining us with prior experience at MLB and VaynerMedia.
- 1 Lead Biomechanist: Courtney Semkewyc, PhD.
- Plus, a Facilities Manager (Hunter Hoopes) and Executive Assistant (Mikayla Goodall).
A few honorable mentions:
From Pro Ball to Tread
Quite a few of our coaches have now made the jump from coaching in pro baseball to Tread, including John Lantigua (Pirates), Pat Robles (Astros), and Matt Jordan (Giants), in an industry where the opposite is expected.
The feedback we have gotten is that this is a result of:
- Increased coaching autonomy
- The ability to impact large numbers of athletes at scale
- The ability to continue to be around elite-level talent & work with state-of-the-art tech
- Increased compensation & growth potential
- Limited travel requirements and more stable daily and weekly schedules
We're working hard to continue making Tread an even better place to work where coaches can build mid to long-term careers.
From All Corners of Baseball
Both Declan Morrissey and Ethan Dyer joined us after starting their coaching careers at Cressey Sports Performance, while both John Cheatwood and Victor Sanchez left career paths as College Pitching Coaches to join Tread.
We have continued to add bilingual coaches to better serve the Latin community (John Lantigua, Pat Robles & Welinton Mariano).
Breaking the Internet – Hunter Hoopes
Hunter Hoopes was hired as a Performance Coach, but 2 weeks after starting, he hit an all-time high velocity, sitting 98-100 mph in a bullpen and nearly set the world record for the fastest baseball ever thrown, shuffling 107+ MPH in his warm-ups for that bullpen.
Needless to say, he signed a minor league contract with the Twins shortly thereafter.
He was shifted to a part-time Facilities Manager for the offseason as his playing career continues this Spring.
You could say that the video of this bullpen went viral. Here it is if you missed it:
In all, the team is now eclipsing 75 members – and we're excited about the extremely impressive level of talent relocating to Charlotte to start their Tread careers and help athletes re-write their stories.
2. Tread Rehab: A Huge Success ⚕️
Last year, Dr. James Werner joined us as our Director of Rehab here at our headquarters in Charlotte, NC.
He's had his plate full, serving as a point of contact for both in-house and remote athletes and helping revamp our return to throw & rehabilitation protocols.
Dr. Werner's one-on-one sessions have remained 100% included with our training and in-house fees, providing a unique amenity that few other training facilities offer.
We also invested in additional tools that will allow us to level up rehab within the baseball world.
Specifically, we added a Diagnostic Ultrasound, allowing us to get real-time, dynamic imaging and functional measurements of athletes' ligaments (i.e. UCLs), tendons, fascia, nerves, and more.
Not only have we begun using it to monitor athletes' UCL health and function, but here's a cool case study of how Dr. Werner was able to use it to diagnose and fix an athlete's arm pain.
Check that out here:
If you're interested in rehabbing with Tread, contact us here to learn more.
3. Show Me The Data
In 2023, we purchased and set up a Biomechanics Lab and got to work collecting data.
This year, we added a key piece in Courtney Semkewyc, PhD, who is our lead biomechanist and helps run our Data department.
We also added Mound Force Plates to our Pitching Lab to assess ground forces in the delivery, weight room Force Plates to assess lower body power output (and more), as well as other strength testing equipment to better understand how our athletes move, how they produce force, and to identify any injury red flags when they visit Tread HQ.
Why Does All This Data Matter?
As we continue to collect 1000's of unique Motion Capture sessions per year and pair this with relevant performance data, injury history, UCL screening, pitch metrics, and more, we will be uniquely positioned in several years with what will likely be the largest and most comprehensive data set on elite baseball pitchers in the world (including Major League Baseball).
I discussed my thoughts on MLB Elbow Injuries on Twitter/X and in an interview with MLB Network Radio.
One of my conclusions was that we simply need more data – and lots of it – to better understand as an industry exactly where the risk/reward tradeoffs lie from a training, workload, and preparation standpoint.
Expect this data set – and the insights we will be able to derive from it – to have massive implications for the baseball world as a whole over the next decade.
As the game works to continue increasing player performance—while also limiting arm injuries—Tread expects to remain at the forefront of this conversation.
4. 14 pitchers drafted, 48 free agent signs, 8 debuts & 3 All-Stars
Here he is describing what his first big league start meant to him, in which he struck Shohei Ohtani out…twice.
In addition to these MLB Debuts, we also had 3 remote athletes selected as All-Stars – Cole Ragans, Tanner Scott, and Clay Holmes (2x), all of whom have radically transformed their careers with Tread to become some of the best pitchers in baseball.
Since starting with Tread:
- Holmes has accumulated +5 WAR (valued at ~$30 million)
- Ragans is up from 92-94 to topping 101 mph & +5.3 WAR (~$32m)
- Scott has recorded a 2.02 ERA & +6.2 WAR (~$37m)
Before Tread, the three had a combined 0.1 career Wins Above Replacement (WAR), meaning they had been performing like average and replaceable big league pitchers.
After Tread, they have combined for +16.9 WAR, a cumulative estimated value in free agency of $99 million.
Pitching development is cool.
(Clay Holmes just signed a 3-year, $38 million dollar contract, with Scott projected to get an even bigger deal this offseason, so these numbers are very real).
5. Many (Many) More Athlete Transformations
While there are too many to recount here, we post weekly stories on our social media throughout the year.
Here are a few that stand out:
- College RHP Gilberto Torres-Reyes went from an amateur Boxer who had thrown mid-80s in high school to deciding to pursue pitching again. He is now up to 97 MPH.
- Erubiel Candelario went from median nerve surgery and throwing 88 mph to pain-free and topping 98 mph.
- High school pitcher Bryce Meccage threw a no-hit season (yes you read that right) and was drafted in the 2nd round. He progressed from 88 to 98 mph over multiple years of training with Tread. Check that out here.
- Luke Thelen went from 91-93 topping 95 mph to 94-97 and topping 100. He was selected in the 15th round by the Rockies out of Western Michigan.
- Maizen Price went from Low 80's to 95+ MPH in 1.5 years.
- Carson Ritola, a Walters State sophomore, went from 79-82 mph to 88-90 mph.
- Tyler Sileo went from 77 to 90 mph.
- Evan Myers, a Western Carolina lefty, went from low 80s to 90 mph.
- High school pitcher Jordan Taylor went from 81-82 mph to topping 93 mph.
- Raygan New went from 86-89 mph to 90-92 T93 in 4 months.
- Riely Hunsaker, a Lamar University righty, went from 91-93 to sitting 94-95, touching 96.6 mph.
- Davin Kolter went from 86-89 mph with recurring arm pain to sitting 90-91 and pain free.
- Gavin Seebold went from 89-91 to 93-95 mph in 5 months.
- Dalton Mall is back up to 99+ mph in house and looking to get signed at this upcoming pro day.
- 17 year old LHP Ryan Press went from 85-87 to touching 95 mph and committing to West Virginia University.
- Max Moore went from sitting 80 mph topping 83 with a sprained UCL to 87-90 mph and pain-free.
- Blake Smith, a Seattle University righty, went from sitting 87-88 mph to 90-92 mph with a nasty sinker.
- Randy Guzman went from 88-90 mph to 94-96 in just 5 months.
- MLB Pitcher Will Vest dominated this year, finishing with a career best 2.82 ERA and a top 10 most valuable reliever fastball in baseball (by Run Value).
- High school pitcher Wyatt Barnoski gained 13 MPH, going from 74-75 to 87 MPH.
- Jacob Jones went from 70-73 to 88-90 mph after an elbow fracture.
With over 2,000 athletes, this list is just the tip of the iceberg, so make sure to follow our social media accounts for weekly updates of many more athletes.
6. The Kick-Change 🔎
This thread by Tread's Assistant Director of Performance Leif Strom sent shockwaves through the baseball world earlier this year, as he described what Tread calls the “Kick Change.”
While studying slow-mo film of some of the best changeups in baseball, he happened across a slo-mo clip of Tread's Shaun Anderson, who appeared to spike the middle finger and create incredible movement without pronating the pitch.
While some pointed out that Spiked Changeups have been thrown before, it is an exceptionally rare grip that is virtually nowhere to be found at the higher levels of baseball, largely because nobody had described the why (why would you want to spike it?) or the how (how to consistently teach and throw it).
I mean, just take a look at this Kick-Change from remote athlete Michael Forret, which reached -10.9″ of vertical break (that's more depth than most curveballs).
For reference, Devin Wiliams' changeup, dubbed “The Airbender“, and widely regarded as one of the best of all time, only reached below -10″ of break twice in 2024.
These are absolutely unheard-of numbers for a changeup, much less one that can be taught in a couple bullpen sessions, and few are able to emulate how Devin Williams throws his, which requires outlier pronation to pull off.
It didn't take long for the pitch to catch on.
- We received word that some MLB orgs began to have their entire staffs try the pitch in Spring Training.
- Remote athlete Daniel Blair showed the pitch to fellow SF Giants minor leaguer Hayden Birdsong, who rode the pitch to a Big League Debut and one of the best changeups among starting pitchers this year.
- Soon after, Davis Martin of the white sox picked up the pitch, taking it into his following start with success.
This is a pitch that has had tons of success with current Tread athletes, and we expect it to continue gaining popularity into 2025 and beyond.
Not only can it add 6-12 inches of depth to many pitchers' existing changeups, but it can be thrown without forcing pronation, making it easier to teach and throw, especially for pitchers who struggle with pronation.
You can learn more about the pitch here.
7. Top Content from 2024
If you missed any of it, here are some of the most viewed posts and videos from 2024:
Top General Educational Content:
- Does Mass=Gas?
- Drop & Drive? Tall & Fall? Do This Instead.
- How To Customize Your Pitching Arsenal (Pronation vs. Supination)
- What is the Death Ball and How Do You Throw It?
- Tips to Increase Carry On Your Fastball [Without Sticky]
- What is the Kick Change and How Do You Throw It?
- Throw Harder by Mastering the Lead Leg Block [Full Routine]
- Which Pitches Should You Throw? (Every Arm Slot)
- Should You Hook The Rubber?
Top Around the Mounds / Podcasts:
- How Mobility Can Help You Throw Harder
- Everything You Need To Know About Changeups & Splitters
- Arm Action For Pitchers | Everything You Need To Know
- How To Use Weighted Balls To Throw Harder
Top Breakdowns:
- Switch Pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje
- How I Would Transform a College Pitcher to a Pro in 12 Months [Step by Step]
- How Mason Miller Throws 104
- How Aroldis Chapman Is Beating Father Time
Top In-House Content:
- Hunter Hoopes Throws 100 MPH
- Thomas Bruss Sits Upper 90s in a Bullpen
- High School Senior Throws Unhittable Offspeed Pitches | Alex Sobol
- Blue Jays Prospect Throwing 98 A Little Too Easy
- Troy Watson, Bradford Webb Velo off
- Summer Intern Throws A “Kick Change” | Mike Sarhatt
- High School RHP Bryce Meccage Throwing 96 In A Bullpen
8. Transfer Portal Showcase 💡
Another big first this year was the addition of our first annual Transfer Portal Showcase this past summer.
College pitchers who train with Tread are eligible to throw in this event, where we collect professional video and data to be shared with college coaches, who either physically attend or opt-in to receive this info online.
It was a huge success.
Between attendees and opt-ins, over 90 schools were represented at the event.
All in all, 61 out of 65 participants found a school by the fall.
Schools that physically attended had a huge advantage, with some players setting up visits before leaving the building.
As the Transfer Portal continues to be a bigger and bigger piece of College Baseball, we only expect this event to grow and be a destination for both College coaches looking to land talent and Tread's growing list of college arms.
Take a look at some of the highlights from the event here:
9. Mo-cap, Less Problems
This fall we did something unprecedented, offering FREE Motion Capture Analyses to Pro Pitchers (Indy, MiLB and MLB) following the end of the pro season.
Up until this point, other facilities have always charged anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 for this service.
We decided to instead make our entire in-house assessment process free for Pros.
This created waves through the baseball world, with dozens of players scrambling to reschedule their early offseason plans to come to Tread
This included Force plate and dynamometer reports, Biomechanical reports, body composition testing, UCL imaging, arsenal reporting with slow-motion video and follow-ups to discuss the results with our staff.
In all, over 50 pro pitchers took us up on the offer, saving them an estimated $100,000 – $200,000 on Motion Capture fees elsewhere.
One of my favorite reactions was a message from a AAA coach to our staff:
“What's the catch?”
Our response: there is no catch.
Sure, many players were so impressed that they chose to begin training with Tread, but for those who were already comfortable with their training programming, we happily ran them through the process – no questions asked.
As the word continues to spread, we expect more and more athletes to come see what we have going on in Charlotte, NC, and who knows?
We may even extend this offer to college players in 2025.🤔
Where are we headed for 2025?
What do we have in store for 2025? While there are some projects we can't announce yet, here are a few goals we can discuss:
- We will be releasing multiple courses and resources – for free. We love free stuff. That's why we're planning a number of resources that we can release to the baseball community – 100% free. Ideas that have been floated around – a comprehensive Pitch Design course, a Pitch Grips Library, a Pitch Grading Tool, a Biomechanics 101 course, a Nutrition for Baseball course, and more. We will be asking for feedback in the coming months to gauge which ideas have the strongest interest.
- Improving our Free Content. If you were paying attention, you may have noticed that our content took a big step forward (especially on YouTube) towards the middle of the year, as we doubled the size of our Content Team. We will continue to prioritize providing the best educational, in-house & athlete stories content to highlight all things Tread.
- Doubling down on our Core Events. Over 200 of our athletes applied to throw in our upcoming 2025 Pro Day. We expect many more athletes to take part in our Transfer Portal Showcase this coming year. Our goal is to continue to make Tread a destination for athletes, scouts, and college coaches alike.
I also wanted to take the time to thank our team – and especially our Co-Founder and CEO, Coan McAlpine, for everything he does behind the scenes to help make Tread what it is today.
Tread exists to help athletes re-write their stories. Now it's time to double down on that mission in 2024.
Here's to reaching your potential,
Ben Brewster
