EPISODE 13 - AJ LEWIS COLORADO ROCKIES

In this conversation, Curtis Pelletier and AJ Lewis catch up and discuss their experiences in baseball. Curtis shares his journey from being a bullpen coach to becoming a general manager and eventually transitioning to mental performance coaching. AJ talks about his path from high school to college to playing in the Cape Cod League and eventually signing with the Colorado Rockies. They also discuss the importance of family support, the challenges of the baseball industry, and the need for realistic expectations in player development. AJ Lewis discusses his experience playing professional baseball with the Colorado Rockies. He talks about the challenges and grind of playing in the minor leagues, including the language barrier and living conditions. Lewis emphasizes the importance of embracing the process and finding your role on the team, even when not playing every day. He also discusses the catching development with the Rockies, including the use of different arm slots and the benefits of the one-knee stance. Lewis shares his offensive approach, focusing on being on plane and not chasing pitches. He encourages players to fall in love with the work and embrace the journey.

Keywords

baseball, coaching, mental performance, college, Juco, Cape Cod League, signing, Colorado Rockies, family support, player development, professional baseball, minor leagues, grind, language barrier, living conditions, process, role, catching development, arm slots, one-knee stance, offensive approach, work ethic

Takeaways

• The baseball industry can be challenging, especially for coaches and players who have families and want a better work-life balance.
• Trying different roles and experiences in baseball can help individuals gain perspective and learn what they truly enjoy and excel at.
• Support from family, especially parents, can be crucial in maintaining a positive mindset and enjoying the game.
• Having realistic expectations and understanding the journey of player development is important for young athletes and their parents.
• Playing in the Cape Cod League can provide valuable experience and confidence for college players aspiring to play at higher levels.
• Transitioning from college to professional baseball can involve tough decisions and weighing the benefits of education and playing opportunities. Playing professional baseball in the minor leagues is a challenging and demanding experience.
• Embracing the process and finding your role on the team are crucial for success.
• Catching development in the Rockies involves using different arm slots and the one-knee stance.
• Having an offensive approach focused on being on plane and not chasing pitches is important.
• Falling in love with the work and embracing the journey are key to staying motivated and enjoying the game.

Titles

• The Importance of Family Support in Baseball
• The Impact of Playing in the Cape Cod League Catching Development with the Rockies
• Embracing the Process and Finding Your Role

Sound Bites

• "I've just been working on the mental performance side of everything now with baseball players, soccer players, golfers, all kinds of people."
• "The expectations are very unrealistic here. You know, I work with a lot of kids. First thing we do is we go over goals. And okay, what's your goal, 13-year-old little Johnny? The same answer is always, I want to go to Vandy."
• "You belong."
• "It's the grind you love."
• "When you can do your routine every single day, that's when you won."
• "I am a primary catcher, but literally the utility spot is what I got."