6/8/25 : Using Experience to Teach

Written by Steve Potter

Adversity and times of struggle are elements of most everyone’s life no matter how trivial such matters may or may not seem to others - a wise young man (my son) once told me “Ya never really know what someone else is thinking”.  Baseball is a profession that often mirrors life, at times there are periods of struggle inclusive of poor performances, injuries or just the daily grind of the process itself, especially so for those in the developmental stages of their careers.

That’s why having good coaches is imperative for a successful system. In December of 2023 the Phillies hired Jarrod Parker as FCL Pitching Coach/Assistant Rehab Pitching Coordinator. This is his second season in the role. Jarrod was the first round draft selection (9th overall) of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2007 MLB draft from Norwell High School in Indiana. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics in 2011 and pitched two full seasons in the majors with Oakland making 62 starts and going 25-16 with a 3.68 ERA in 384 IP and also pitched in the 2012 ALDS. During his career he had multiple injuries which required subsequent surgeries (TJ surgery twice, elbow fracture, two right medial epicondyle surgeries) and was forced to retire as a player at the age of twenty-nine. At the time he said he'd look to work in the health industry, potentially serving as a rehab coordinator for players returning from injury. Jarrod opened Parker Sports Performance in Nashville, TN that year which served as a "home base for clients and athletes to train, learn and recover. Creating not only a healthy athlete but an educated one. Executing a training program to reach peak physical and mental toughness. Promoting positive attitudes towards sports performance.”

With the Phillies he has applied that platform and his experiences to teach the young pitchers he now works with. The FCL pitching staff is almost entirely a Latin American crew, communication is a challenge when a language barrier exists - it’s why Parker was motivated to expand his Spanish speaking skills - he said in an article written last summer on indianaRBI.com that “To be the knowledge and the trust factor with the player, it obviously helps to speak the native language. I also encourage them to speak as much English as they’re comfortable with. It’s a good give-and-take.” Alex Concepcion also serves as FCL pitching coach and often times it’s him that makes the mound visits however this week Alex was at the Dominican Academy to assist with their DSL season kickoff - Jared handled the full allotment of FCL duties - I watched as he navigated the week of interactions when visits were needed - seemed smooth as silk 🤓.  I think he’s a damn good coach, the feedback I receive from players aligns with that.

But it’s not the game day stuff that tells the story, it’s the daily practice work where coaching acumen has the most impact. Each day at the Complex there are also multiple pitchers working back from injuries in rehab assignments. There’s a daily schedule and regimen of work assigned to each dependent upon where they are in the steps of their progressions. From my observations the grind of injury recovery may just be the most monotonous and difficult thing any player experiences. I’ve been fortunate to watch two very good coaches lead the process in my time in Clearwater as a writer - Ray Burris and Aaron Barrett - both former big leaguers.  It’s also been my observations that Coach Parker is just as well regarded by the players and staff in this endeavor. From the early morning warmups thru the time driven progression of eventuality throwing bullpens, then live BP and game rehabs the motivational import coupled with the teaching lessons of how to learn to reintroduce and sometimes re-invent mechanics and pitches delivered by the coaches is essential. In my mind it truly helps to have coaches in these particular roles that have been thru the experience themselves, it shows in the interactions.

Eventually those players most often make their game day returns in the FCL. This year’s FCL squad is a very young team, they have taken their lumps in game losses although this past week was a good one including two shutout wins. Each day they are anxious and eager to play - I watch Manager Shawn Williams (the most energetic coach in the system) go thru pre-game pump ups with each player and coach on his staff whether they be arm bumps, head rubs, high fives or individualized unique hand shakes to get em going (quite honestly I would have loved to play for a guy like him!) with the energy on which they take the field.  It’s again using experience to teach - can’t attempt to play well without the “want to” 🤓.

Each month of May is dedicated as Mental Awareness Month. Major League Baseball joins in the recognition with their “You’re not Alone” campaign as they have done for many years. I watch Phillies minor league backfield baseball often, sit quietly and observe most times and watch the interactions embedded in the routine. It’s the repetitive efforts like those of Coach Parker and Skipper Williams along with the full support staff and the players themselves at Carpenter Complex that keeps the people there motivated and upbeat letting each other know that they’re not alone in the journey. That is often a thing overlooked, it’s taken for granted by most of us simply because it’s not an individual moment but rather a collection of interactions, it’s life, it’s coaching and mentoring at its finest because it’s sincere, it’s protecting a standard - a pride in the truism of pro baseball.

It is something this observer wholeheartedly appreciates as one who has felt alone in my mind many times - it’s why I love pro baseball and watching it played/coached by such talented folks and the interactions within it. My writing makes me feel as if I’m part of the Phillies process even though I’m truly not - doing so at the least incorporates the feeling. Inclusion and team spirit is something we all should honor. It’s good stuff, it’s the teaching of experience.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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