James Young

Director of Sports Performance

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

Crazy performance/recruiting unlock:

At very LEAST do quick YouTube search before you throw 5 wheels on that back squat, take that thing for a quarter rep, post it as a PR and tag every coach in a Power 5 conference.

[Natalie Ruechel @coach_ruechel]

Working on some over speed drills to drive more force through the lead leg block with 2028 RHP @sofia_kateeb

[Natalie Ruechel @coach_ruechel]

Expecting kids to be at MAX VELO all year round at every camp and tournament is crazy.

If you’re recruiting a kid, game velocity during the season should be one of your highest considerations.

That’s the velocity that matters when they’re competing.

Athletes need phases of throwing.

They need weeks where they build.

Weeks where they push intensity.

Weeks where they compete.

Max velocity isn’t supposed to be the goal every single week of the year.

The goal is to build an athlete who can access high velocity when it matters most.

Development ≠ constantly proving what you can do.

[Coach Swit @CoachSwit]

Recently talked to a D1 coach who’s a friend of mine about a camp invite 1 of my players got. The letter was from him, so I asked him. He said, “I had no idea that even went out” They send them under my name all the time.”

An invite doesn’t always mean you’re being recruited.

[Eric Cressey @EricCressey]

Don't overvalue intense individual training sessions, but undervalue the cumulative impact of consistently showing up for years. Give me a consistent athlete with a long history of 7/10 intensity days over one that flashes some 9 and 10 displays, but often disappears for weeks.

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

😮‍💨

[Mariners Minors @MiLBMariners]

Ryan Sloan was unreal. He had everything working tonight. Matched his career high in strikeouts. Final line: 5IP, 1H, 1R, 0BB, 11K, 21 whiffs, 69 pitches, 50 strikes.

[Evelyn Blahnik 2029 @EvelynJBlahnik]

Today I joined BSF. Time to take it to new levels. Stronger is the goal. Faster is the goal. #golets @CheetahsLukasik @ChiCheetahsOrg @BoDomeBville @joshbaer24 @coach_ruechel @jamesyoungbsf @tagupSoftball @TopPreps @ExtraInningSB @D1Softball @DiamondAddicts

[Mackenzie Herzog 2028 @BigMack2028]

The best in the game!!! Custom plans, killer workouts, and so much support!!! I wouldn’t be where I am without @coach_ruechel and @jamesyoungbsf !!! 💪🫶🥎🏋️‍♀️

@SoftbalAmerica @Rule42sports @ExtraInningSB @DiamondAddicts @LineDsoftball @BradyVernon @THEWOWSB @PrepSoftball @StagSoftball @UnityCoachJosh @VAUnitySB @UnityJohnsonVB @AnthonyBocchin4 @AshVanBoxmeer4 @remeny17perez

[Logan Schmitt @loganschmitt88]

Awesome to see acouple of BSF athletes on this list!
@colindoyle34 @BradyBuenik

[Natalie Ruechel @coach_ruechel]

Lowest-hanging fruit for a pitching coach:

1. Manage workload.
Count every throw—not just pitches. Track volume and intensity. A 30-throw bullpen at 75% is not the same as 30 throws at 100%.

2. Don’t live in a silo.
Pitching development, physical development, recovery, and workload management should be one conversation, not three separate ones.

3. Use data to make decisions.
Don’t collect data just to collect it. Understand what the numbers are telling you and, more importantly, understand what makes each pitcher successful. Their strengths should influence how you train, develop, and manage them.

The best part? None of this is complicated.
It’s simply being intentional, communicating, and paying attention.

[Natalie Ruechel @coach_ruechel]

Whether you want to hear it or not:

It’s coming down to physicality.

Skill can only take you so far.

At the highest levels of softball, the athletes who separate themselves are the ones who can move faster, produce more force, throw harder, and hit the ball farther.

You can’t skill your way out of being physically overmatched.

Development takes time. Don’t be late.

[Natalie Ruechel @coach_ruechel]

Asked my 2028 RHP @sofia_kateeb to jump into our College Live ABs today…

She didn’t blink. 😤🔥

Fun watching her step in against college hitters, compete, and have herself a DAY.

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

👀

[Mackenzie Herzog 2028 @BigMack2028]

Had a great workout today at @HittersUniv !! Thank you @TylerOsik for letting me get some work in before the grand opening!! This place is 🔥🔥🔥!! I’ve been working hard on my mechanics & cleaning up my patterns, everything feels so much better thanks to the best @coach_ruechel and @jamesyoungbsf !!

@SoftbalAmerica @BradyVernon @LineDsoftball @ExtraInningSB @PrepSoftball @THEWOWSB @UnityJohnsonVB @UnityCoachJosh @AshVanBoxmeer4 @AnthonyBocchin4

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

Youth athletes with low training ages don’t have biases.

Pigeonholing them into a "motor preference" probably isn’t it.

Most movement variation at that age isn't fixed biology, it’s low relative strength and rapid growth.

That “terrestrial” 13 year old you’re coaching now might present completely differently a year from now.

Bucketing kids early is giving them less variability down the line.

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

👀

[Area Code Baseball @AreaCodeBSB]

SECOND K OF THE DAY

'27 Colin Doyle (@colindoyle34) gets Banks Addison swinging for his second strikeout of the day at the Area Code Games.

Royals - 0
White Sox - 0

Watch the action live here: https://t.co/6ciQ9Dlhgo

#ACGames26

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

@Emma_Jaras @coach_ruechel @CheetahsSimmons @joshbaer24 @TyMedina34 @GyreneSoftball @RacersSoftball @CoachGill_MSU @jenica_brown18 @MCScotsSB Been so consistent. 📈

[Emma Jaras 2028 @Emma_Jaras]

Got some great work in this week! 🔥
@CheetahsSimmons @joshbaer24 @coach_ruechel @TyMedina34 @GyreneSoftball @RacersSoftball @CoachGill_MSU @jenica_brown18 @MCScotsSB

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

Legends. @EllaCushing2024 @malartsik2023 @lilijaneczko

[GameDayUSA Softball @GameDayUSASB]

We teamed up with Easton to gift Lorelei Reith an early 13th birthday present! 🎁 Congrats on your new bat, Lorelei! 🥎

Let the All-Star festivities continue! 📣

#ASW2026 #GameDayUSA🥎

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

📈📈📈

[Shooter Hunt @ShooterHunt]

‘27 Brady Buenik (IL @PrepBaseballIL) clearly holds some unteachable.

FB: 92-97 🔥🔥(sizzle, +pot)
SL: 80-82 (2400)

6’4” 215 frame still holds proj. Untamed command but pure stuff has a chance to be big.

#MLBDraft || @PrepBaseballIL

[James Young @jamesyoungbsf]

Softball players:

The 5 for 5 rule means your dream school is about to allocate all their resources and roster spots to their stud 5th year seniors (grown women).

Meanwhile you won’t take the time to develop physically because you heard it’s “bad for your scaps” and you have camps to get ready for.

It might be time to start having more honest conversations with yourselves.