Meet Former Pro Baseball Athlete and founder of MADE Baseball, Coach Isaac Hess. MADE Baseball is a baseball development program that offers lessons in the Greater Los Angeles area. Coach Isaac is a dedicated baseball coach with years of experience and passion working with players of all ages and skill levels.
Describe your experience with your sport.
I have been playing baseball since I was 9 years old, and coaching since I was 23 years old. Baseball has been a driving force in my life that has taught me how to overcome adversity and how to be vigorous in my pursuit of excellence. I feel incredibly blessed to have baseball in my life and to have the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with those who desire to achieve their own excellence.
What is your coaching philosophy?
At MADE Baseball we have two clear rules that span across our entire organization -
Rule 1 - Always have fun. No matter what it is that you do in your life, be it baseball or doing the dishes, it is a personal responsibility to find enjoyment in your activity in some way, shape, or form. This is a fundamentally positive attitude that is necessary to succeed in anything; it takes practice to always see the light, whether you are running 100-yard wind sprints or getting the grease off of a pan, you need to find something you enjoy about it.
Rule 2 - Always do your best. We only ask for 100% of our players' effort, every single day. Effort is 90% of success, the rest normally takes care of itself.
How do you structure a typical session?
It always depends on how many players I am working with, how old the players are, and what their focus is. I normally start with a quick jog to loosen the legs, followed by a calisthenics routine to focus on footwork and agility.
Next, we start with a throwing program focused on specific drills that help to build a player's throwing and catching mechanics.
From there, we go into specific skill work, be it hitting, fielding, pitching, or catching. Often times, for younger players, I incorporate all of these aspects over a series of sessions in order to give them a comprehensive understanding of the game and help them build their overall baseball IQ.
We finish up with a quick review of what was learned and an actionable drill or homework assignment that I encourage the player(s) to work on until I see them again.
What do you see as your greatest strength?
Discipline. I have been very fortunate to be mentored by some of the top coaches and teachers I could have ever asked for. They have always guided me towards a path of discipline and an every single day mindset. I feel blessed to help encourage my players to take a similar path in order to co-create the results they desire.
Did you participate in your sport in high school and college (if so, where)?
Yes, I played all four years of baseball in high school and one year in college before having to get a total hip replacement at the age of 19 years old. I came back from the surgery to play 7+ years professionally in the minor leagues and in Mexico as a left-handed starting pitcher.
If someone has never played Baseball or trained, how can they get started?
Contact me and let me know what you desire to achieve. The clearer you are about your goals, the more likely you will achieve them. Once we identify what you are looking to achieve, we will create a plan with actionable steps to help you get there.
What are some things you enjoy outside of sports?
I enjoy spending time with family, going to the beach, traveling, and working on my day to day entrepreneurial journey. I am also actively working on a marketplace to rent backyard batting cages called CageList.com.
What is your favorite quote?
“Champions aren’t born...they’re MADE.”
MADE is...
•Motivation
•Appreciation
•Dedication
•Everyday.
Coach Isaac is offering private baseball lessons for 1 on 1, 2-player lessons, and small group lessons (3-5 players) through Final Drill. Check out his available training session. Masks are used during lessons in order to keep players and staff safe during this time.
Contact Coach Isaac here: https://www.finaldrill.com/en/madebaseball
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