A variety of current and former professional baseball players will come together Feb. 4-5 for the International Youth Baseball Coaches Association Summit at Transylvania University.
That will be preceded by the Cincinnati Reds Cararvan, Jan. 26-29. The Reds’ annual visit to Lexington is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 29, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Lexington Center (more details below).
Leading off this blog, though, is the clinic at Transy. The program, intended for coaches, is marketed as a “30-day guide to developing a dominate baseball player.”
Feb. 4 speakers are: Willie Blair, on common delivery flaws and fixes; Keith Madison, on mental domination on the mound; Robbie Ross, on developing nasty pitches; Jeff Parrett, on pitcher: No. 1 defender; Keith Vorhoff, on catching: throwing more people out; and Aaron Sciascia, on building a bulletproof arm.
Feb. 5 speakers: Andy Green, on hitting: it’s not one size fits all; Collin Cowgill, on hitting: approach, vision, preparation; Brian Green, on infield: molding Gold Glovers; Jim Hinerman, on where do leaders come from?; Brad Bohannon, on recruiting: what college coaches look for; Josh Anderson, on base-stealing automation; and Miles Noland, on building explosive power for baseball.
Pre-registration costs are $25 a day or $40 for two days. Prices at the door are $35 and $60. For pre-registration only, two coaches can be signed up for the price of one. For more information, contact Miles Noland at (859) 221-7715 or email iybaseballca@gmail.com.
Blair is a 12-year Major League veteran, now a minor-league pitching coach for the Padres.
Madison, who reached Triple-A as a player, coached the University of Kentucky 1979 through 2003.
Ross, a 2008 second-round draft pick out of Lexington Christian Academy, is the Texas Rangers’ minor-league pitcher of the year.
Parrett, a 10-year veteran of the big leagues, is now head coach at Woodford County High School.
Vorhoff, University of Kentucky catching coach, has had three catchers drafted in five years.
Sciascia is UK’s Shoulder Center of Kentucky coordinator.
Andy Green played four years in the big leagues and is a minor-league hitting coach for the Diamondbacks.
Cowgill, recently traded to the Oakland Athletics, made his Major League debut in 2011 and was named player of the year in the Pacific Coast League.
Brian Green is UK’s offensive and infield coach.
Hinerman is the former long-time coach at Georgetown College.
Bohannon is UK’s recruiting coordinator.
Anderson, who played three years in the majors, set base-stealing records at Eastern Kentucky University and with the Lexington Legends.
Noland is an assistant coach at Transylvania.
The Reds are coming! The Reds are coming!
The Reds Caravan will again consist of three separate tours moving simultaneously through Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.
Lexington is the final stop on the Southern Tour.
Scheduled to appear at Southern Tour stops are: all-star second baseman Brandon Phillips; Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman; assistant general manager Bob Miller; broadcaster and former pitcher Chris Welsh; Reds Hall of Famer Lee May; minor-league catcher Tucker Barnhart, and team mascot Gapper.
Southern Tour stops:
Jan. 26 – Huntington (W.Va.) Mall, 3:30-6 p.m.; Charleston (W.Va.) Town Center, 7-9 p.m.
Jan. 28 — Great American Ball Park “select-a-seat” event, Cincinnati, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Greenwood Mall (Bowling Green), 3:30-5:30 CST.
Jan. 29 — The Shops at Lexington Center, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
The Northern Tour cast includes broadcaster Thom Brennaman, catcher Devin Mesoraco, president of baseball operations and general manager Walt Jocketty, chief operating officer Phil Castellini, Reds Hall of Famer Tom Browning, minor-league outfielder Ryan LaMarre and mascot Mr. Redlegs.
The Western Tour has broadcaster Jim Kelch, broadcaster and former pitcher Jeff Brantley, Manager Dusty Baker, infielder Todd Frazier, Reds minor league player of the year Billy Hamilton, vice president of baseball operations Dick Williams and mascot Rosie Red.
Northern Tour stops will be: Athens, Ohio; Parkersburg, W.Va., Columbus, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; and Dayton, Ohio.
Western Tour stops will be: Hamilton, Ohio; Muncie, Ind.; Indianapolis; Bloomington, Ind.; and Louisville. The latter, at Louisville Slugger Field, is set for Jan. 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Visit reds.com/caravan for more details.
