Unlocking Elite Youth Baseball: Insights with Eric Cressey on Long-Term Success and Injury Prevention

The game has changed, and so have the risks. Today, we dive into a topic that every parent, player, and coach must be aware of - how to prevent early injuries and build a foundation for long-term athletic success. I sit down with Eric Cressey, the Director of Player Health and Performance for the New York Yankees to talk about all things youth baseball development, the athletic development pyramid, and what is leading young athletes to burnout and injuries so we can avoid them. We discuss everything from building a strong mental approach to nutrition, sleep strategies, and MORE. Tune in to create a balanced, healthy, and fun approach to the game. HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Meet Eric Cressey, President and Co-Founder of Cressey Sports Performance. 04:00 What trends are you seeing in youth baseball development? 09:15 The "athletic pyramid" and how young athletes should prioritize strength and mobility first. 13:45 How Cressey Sports Performance helps players nationwide. 17:45 The dangers of having a "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality. 27:45 How overspecialization affects young athletes. 30:00 The role of nutrition and sleep in athletic performance. 33:30 The Japanese study on UCL damage in young athletes and its implications. 41:15 How can we protect young athletes from getting injured? 43:30 How the shift toward college baseball affects player development and injury rates. 51:00 Lessons about pitching durability from Verlander, Scherzer, and others. 01:01:00 The biggest mistake young players make. 01:03:00 Eric's most important advice for young athletes. RESOURCES + LINKS Learn more from Eric Cressey HERE Learn more about High School Athlete Nutrition HERE Learn more at aligndsports.com Book a 1:1 Consultation HERE FOLLOW Eric Cressey: @ericcressey Matt Hannaford: @mfhannaford