This is a program that Mitch and his staff developed over the last 16 years which has helped produce multiple MLB draftees, Division 1 College Players, NAIA, Division 2, Division 3, and Junior College players. Historically, players make the most gains during our off-season training programs (Nov. - March). The 18 Week VELO+ Off-season Training program consists of two phases: the practice/training phase and the Game (live pitching and live at bats) phase. The Practice/Training phase will start mid-November and end late January.  This program includes professional instruction on hitting, fielding, pitching, arm care and new for the 2023/2024 off-season the VELO+ program with Nick Belzer!  The game phase is a critical part of off-season gains for pitchers and hitters.  Pitchers throw live to hitters which increases the pitchers intensity during their bullpen sessions. Hitters also get a chance to see live pitching for 6 weeks prior to the first high school spring league games in late March.  Over the years injury rates have been significantly reduced for players who have participated in the 18 Week Training Program.  Most injuries happen early in the season because players are not properly prepared for game play. 

VELO+

VELO+ is now part of the 18 Week Program. VELO+ will meet two days a week Nov. 12th - March 31st. One day will be in a larger group setting (on Sundays) and players will work on VELO+, pitching, hitting, and fielding and the second day/ week will be in a small group of 4-6 players focusing on VELO+.  VELO+ is a complete mobility and core strength development program (not just for pitchers) that includes mobility exercises, increasing power through learning hip-shoulder separation, post throw/flush recovery, and nightly mobility exercises.  Hip and shoulder separation is one of the most important movement patterns for pitchers and hitters.  Hip and shoulder separation has a direct correlation with throwing velocity and exit velocity.  The Velo+ program is designed to increase your hip shoulder separation, allowing for better truck rotation resulting in increased arm and bat speed. 


Weekly Schedule (Sunday practices are full practice workouts including pitching/VELO+, fielding, and hitting and weekday time slots are for small group VELO+ workouts only; additional weekday time slots are available upon request).  

Option 1: Sunday 1:30 - 3:00 Nov. 12th - Dec. 17th & Jan. 7th - March 24

Option 2: Sunday 3:00 - 4:30 Nov. 12th - Dec. 17th & Jan. 7th - March 24

Option 3: Sunday 4:30 - 6:00 Nov. 12th - Dec. 17th & Jan. 7th - March 24

*Option 4: Tuesday 5:30 - 6:30 Nov. 14th - Dec. 19th 

*Option 5: Tuesday 6:30 - 7:30 Nov. 14th - Dec. 19th

*Option 6: Thursday 5:30 - 6:30 Nov. 16th - Dec. 21st 

*Option 7: Thursday 6:30 -7:30 Nov. 16th - Dec. 21st 
                                  *weekday time slots for Jan - March may be added/purchased at a later time; additional time slots available upon request

Cost:

Sundays Nov.12th - March 24th...........................................................................$190/month x 5 months

Sundays Nov.12th - March 24th and 1 weekday VELO+ time slot per week Nov. 14th - Dec. 19th ..........$250/month x 5 months 

 

Meet the Instructors:

 

Mitch Wylie: Played a total of 11 years of professional baseball with the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Saint Paul Saints organizations, along with seventeen years of providing instruction, and one season of professional coaching. 

    

Tanner Buenting:  Graduated from Ankeny High School in 2013. He was the starting shortstop on the 2012 4A High School State Championship Team earning the MPV award for the Championship game.  Tanner graduated from Iowa Central Community College where he earned first team All-Region his freshman year. Tanner went on to play Division 1 baseball at Morehead State University. 

 

Nick Belzer - Graduated from Ankeny High School in 2013. He was on the 2012 4A High School State Championship Team and earned pitcher of year in the state. Nick went to Kansas State out of high school and then transferred to DMACC. After graduating from DMACC he went on to play two years at Minnesota State Mankato. Nick also played 3 years in the Northwoods college summer league. 

 

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Cole McDonald - Selected in the 15th round by the Houston Astros in the 2019 MLB Draft (2.25 career ERA).  Cole attended the University Iowa and threw Iowa’s first nine inning no-hitter since 1965 against the Czech Republic in the World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan. He is 5th All-Time in career strikeouts (203), 7th in single-season strikeouts (89), made 45 career starts. In 2019 he was Iowa's Friday night starter and finished the 2019 season with a 6-3 record and a 3.54 ERA. He was the 2019 Team Captain and received Academic All-Big Ten (2017-2019). Cole attended New Hampton High School and was rated as a Top-500 Prospect Nationally by Perfect Game, 3-time All-State selection, 4-time All-District, and All-Conference selection. He was an All-State selection in football, All-Conference selection in basketball, and State place winner in track.

 

Peyton Long: Graduated from Vally high school in 2016. He went on to attend Kirkwood Community college for 2 years and Central Methodist University for 1 year. At Central Methodist he is 2nd it single season strikeouts with 118. In 2019 after his one year at Central he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 30th round and has spent 3 years with them

playing his first full season in 2021 with the Carolina Mudcats. 

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Cody Wolfe - 2019 graduate of Ballard High School where he was a two time All Conference and All District player.  Additionally, in 2019 he was the Ames Tribune Player of the Year and shares the Iowa State High School record for most hits in a single game at 6.  Cody went on to pitch at John Wood Community College for two seasons and following graduation played at Lincoln College for a season.  He played one season in the MINK College Summer League and coached this past summer at Ballard at both the middle school and varsity levels.  Cody wants to share his experiences taking the JUCO route while developing players to be the best they can be as he pursues a career in coaching baseball at the college level.   

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Kevin Richardson: Graduated from Ankeny Centennial in 2014 and has three years of College playing experience with the Grand View University Vikings. Kevin has been involved in the program since he was 12 years old, and has been providing baseball instruction the past 3 years. He coached USSSA teams for four seasons. His 2017 14u AAA Game Ready team finished 3rd in the State Tournament.      

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GR staff is looking forward to a productive Off-season Training Program. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call, text, and/or email. 

See you this off-season,

 

Mitch Wylie

Game Ready Training Center

c: 563-340-7023  

email: mitch@gamereadytc.com