Mike Epstein Hitting

Rising Stars
2005-2007
2008

"Mike,

I cannot believe it. I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, but I am still in a state of disbelief.

My son attended your camp in Virginia at the Pinkman Academy a couple weekends ago. It was his introduction to your teaching system and he has been working on the drills diligently and is excited and enthusiastic about his learning.

He is playing in an indoor winter league and had practice tonight. One of the coaches is a college coach from our area of PA. It was the first time he had seen my son hit trying his new technique. His words included: "You are swinging up at the ball when you must swing down to hit it," "You need to stride forward into the ball," and "Your back elbow must be up to start your swing." Why don't these so-called "coaches" know what's currently going on in the hitting world?

My son, who just 12, and happened to be wearing his Mike Epstein camp shirt, very calmly said to him, "I worked with Mike Epstein and am trying to hit the way he showed me.” The next thing I hear the coach ask is - "Who is Mike Epstein?" (Really, I am not making this up). My son says he learned about hitting from Ted Williams. The coach says to him, "Well, you are not a major leaguer and you should not be swinging that way.” My son then attempted to do things the coach’s way. He eventually left and my son went back to the things you taught him.

I know you mentioned this could happen, and we believed you, but never did I think it would play out like a written script!! I just wanted to say Thank You! for preparing him for it - he handled it well.

Hope you have a great holiday season.

Sincerely,

Alan Megna"

Hi Mike,

I just wanted to inform you of my son's progress after using your system for a little over a year. We purchased your Hall of Fame package by the way.

My son, Dustin, and I began using your system last fall. You may remember Dustin was already a rotational hitter but we had no system to troubleshoot and diagnose problems, nor did we have cues that meant the same thing to both of us.

We started using your drills during the Fall Ball season and saw improvement in just a few days. Dustin stayed inside the ball and was so much quicker to the ball that we had to literally lay the bat on his shoulder in his game stance because he was in front of everything - he wasn't used to waiting so long on the ball. He had a very productive fall season.

Over the winter we used your drills and hit B.P. when the weather permitted. His swing looked better by the week. We didn't perform the drills as much as I wanted to but we still got in three sessions a week.

During the summer league we continued the drills and hit a lot of B.P. while focusing on technique. Dustin did very well; he hit .485 and was the only 11 year old to homer in the league (11 & 12 yr. olds).

During the All-Star and travel season once again Dustin was an excellent hitter with a .419 average and the most RBI on his team.

We kept working on the drills and hitting B.P. all this time.

Then about a week before our Fall Ball season started something just happened inside his head. It was like everything we had worked on, including the info in "The Mental Side of Hitting,” made sense. He started hitting 10 plus home runs per session in B.P.as well as homering out of the Torque Position regularly.

We just finished our Fall Ball league last Saturday and Dustin dominated. His last hit of the season was a grand slam. Another home run he hit was with a 3-0 count; he knew he was getting a fastball down the middle because of the info in "The Mental Side of Hitting.”

Here are his fall stats: .652 Avg., 23 AB, 15 H, 13 BB, 5 SO, 19 RBI, 16 Runs, 8 1B, 2 2B, 5 HR, .778 OBP, 1.391 SLG, 2.169 OPS.

A few of the tidbits of the fall season:

Dustin had a mini-slump for a couple of games; he was over-swinging and struck out four of his five times. He told me we need to work on your drills and get the Swift Stick going. He homered the next game.

People were asking why the pitchers weren't throwing as hard to him as the other batters. He stays in the back of the box and is so quick to the ball that it seems like he has forever to swing.

After the game last Saturday, in which Dustin hit the grand slam, the umpire said, "He hits homeruns with no effort.” Or as you say, "Effortless power versus powerless effort.”

Dustin is the only player in the league swinging a 32 inch bat (22oz.).

I just can't thank you enough for what you are doing. The knowledge you share is invaluable.

Sincerely,

Marvin Meuser

     “Hey Jake - It’s been a while but I wanted to drop this line to congratulate you and your dad on the amazing number of hitters in the Playoffs and World Series that are using rotational methods of hitting. When I see 5’6” Dustin Pedroia hit the ball the way he does, I think of you guys every time and what you have done for all of us who didn’t know better. From Youkilis, Drew, Holliday, Helton, Atkins, Hawpe, Ramirez, Ortiz, Tulowitzki, Lowell – well, the list just goes on and on.
      On a personal note, my son Joey, who you taught in September 2003 at a Virginia hitting camp, now has an excellent chance to play college baseball! Thanks Jake.”   - Jimmy Schenk.

Dear Mike,

I don't know i you've followed Adam Heether's season this year, but it has been great!  He has been invited to the Arizona Fall League in October and his team is in the championships this weekend.  Thanks for the private lessons in 2006.

Thanks,

Teri Heether

Ryan Mulhern, 26, is excelling in his first season at the Triple-A level. He leads all active Buffalo Bisons in each triple crown category with a .308 batting average (12th in the IL), 11 HR (T6th in the IL) and 42 RBI (T9th in the IL). He is also tops on the team in doubles (22, T4th in IL), runs scored (37) and slugging percentage (.536, 5th in IL). He drove in a Bisons season-high six runs on April 16 in Columbus and homered in consecutive games, April 24 against Syracuse and April 27 in Pawtucket.

The Cleveland Indians' 11th round selection of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Mulhern has hit 70 home runs in 463 career minor league games. He hit 32HR at Single-A Kinston and Double-A Akron in 2005 and was given the Lou Boudreau Award for the Player of the Year in the Indians farm system. Last season, he hit 15 HR and drove in 69 for the Aeros in an injury-plagued season.

Hey Jake -  This was a omerunJustin hit gaint Legacy High School on Saturday.  Maybe we should put him in your hitting camp more often. - Rick

Mike and Jake:

Just thought I'd update you on Brttany Burgess, who worked with you guys last summer in Denver and also went through your course with your certified instructor, Sparky Parker, the summer before. Brit just finished her first season at South Puget Sound Community College. After batting  more than .400 and hitting 9 home runs she was named First Team All Conference as an outfielder.

Here are her season numbers:

Hi Mike ad Jake,

Just in case you missed it, Greg was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 10th round.  He will be playing for the Hudson Valley Renegades in the New York/Penn league.  See you in a couple of weeks when we come to Denver for softball.

Warren Sexton 

2007 All-Colorado High School Bsebll eam

Pos Player School Yr. HR RBI Avg.

C C.J. Gillman Columbine Sr. 3 27 .386

1B Dexter Price Air Academy Jr. 2 32 .517

2B Drew Marquez Rocky Mountain Sr. 4 22 .476

SS Andy Burns Rocky Mountain Jr. 13 43 .532

3B Everett Altman Wheat Ridge Sr. 9 32 .431

OF Danny Beck Mountain Vista Sr. 4 26 .450

OF David Fox Faith Christian Sr. 10 48 .656

OF Garret Houts Fort Collins Sr. 7 31 .453

DH Curtis Cunningham Columbine Jr. 10 35 .493

UT Matt Presley Cheyenne Mtn. Sr. 5 27 .502

Greg Seton Honored as a Quarterfinalist for the Broks allce Player ofthe Year Award

Sexton is one of the nation’s top 20 players in contention for the award

06/04/07 9:30AM

Greg Sexton Honored as a Third-Team all-America

5/3/07 2:20PM

ttp:/ww.tribeathletics.com/story.php/5895/

Ryan Mulhern went 4-for-4 as the Buffalo Bisons held on to a 76 vctoy over host Ottwa in a Class AAA International League game. After 35 games, the slugging first baseman leads the Bisons in virtually every offensive category.

Dear Jake,

I aw Max and Bryce’s clip on your webste.Thaks or including it. They both ad great high school seasons thanks to their work with Mike, Joe (Espinosa) and you.  Bryce was second in the Journal News reading area (Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties) that includes New York Section 1 (public high schools), the privates and Catholics in OPS.  He batted .481 and had a .942 slugging percentage.  Max was 41^st in OPS (out of hundreds of players) and 2^nd in home runs with 7.  (Click here to see attached OPS ranking.)

There is no way they would be hitting like this, with wood no less, had it not been for their introduction to rotational hitting.   

Best regards, Scott

Note: Brothers Max and Bryce Einhorn attended our 3-day camp in Ridgefield, CT this past winter. Since then, they have continued to work hard with Epstein Certified instructor Joe Espinosa (Ridgefield, CT). Here is a clip (left) of their back-to-back home runs from one of their latest high school games.

Hey Jake,

Just wanted to let you know I hit my 10th home ru fo th year in ou finl dubl-heder today. Thi ties the Hamline single-season record.  Wouldn't have been possible without your help.  My average finished at .366 - next project is to get that up to .466 next year :)

Thanks again, Andrew

Andrew Bennett hit his 10th home run of the year, tying school record.

 

Greg Sexton Selected to
2007 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Awar Wach Lis

Greg Sexton Selected to 2007 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List

Sexton currently has a .49 batting average

05/02/07 4:50PM

Lubbock, Texas - William and Mary senior third baseman Greg Sexton continues to garner consideration for national player of the year honors, as he has been selected to the 2007 Brooks Wallace College Player of the Year Award watch list. He is among 112 of the nation’s best collegiate players who are being considered for the award, which is presented annually to the country’s top performer.

The recognition marks the second player of the year watch list for which Sexton has been selected, as he is one of 50 finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy.

Entering the week, Sexton led the CAA in batting average and hits, while ranking among the conference’s top 10 in eight other categories. Additionally, his .434 batting average ranked 10th nationally, and he had the 30th-best slugging percentage in the country (.698). With a 5-for-5 effort in the 13-5 victory against George Washington on Tuesday, Sexton improved his average to .449 and extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Updated national rankings will become available early next week.

One of the top players in the program’s history, Sexton is the W&M career record holder for hits (302) and doubles (69). Additionally, he is closing in on the Colonial Athletic Association record for career doubles (72) that was established by former East Carolina standout John Williamson (1998-01).

The Wallace Award will be presented on July 3 on the campus of Texas Tech and will be televised on the Fox Sports Network.

"My daughter attended your hitting camp last year in Fort Worth and she contnue toget better every day. I thougt that you would enjoy this article in the Fort Worth Telegram. Thanks!!! Jesse & Brie"

[Our hitting camps are perfect for newcomers to rotational hitting or for those who have already purchased our products and have a "head start" on my drills. The hitting camps are the most inexpensive and quickest way to learn correctly. Check our "Upcoming Events" page for a camp in your area.

Today, there's just too much at stake not to get the right information; it's too competitive with far too many hitters vying for the scholarships available.

Posted on Friday, Apr. 13, 2007

Two years ago, Susan Waters didn't look like much of a hitter.

As part of a program-wide change in the way North Texas softball players swung their bats, Waters struggled, hitting .209 with 20 RBI.

Now a senior, Waters has mastered the "rotational" bat swing that more resembles baseball. She leads UNT in most offensive categories and has set 11 career offensive records, including 45 career home runs (13 this season).

WILLIAMSBURG, a. - Senior third baseman Greg Sexton became William and Mary’s all-time career hits leader with a 3-for-5 effort in the Tribe's 11-1 victory against Liberty Tuesday evening at Plumeri Park. Sexton recorded his record-breaking hit with a bases-loaded RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. The Suffolk, Va., native entered the contest with 278 career hits and tied with Michael Brown (2000-03) for the school record.

Sexton said the turning point of his collegiate career came between his sophomore and junior seasons.

After a strong freshman year, he struggled through a prolonged slump in his sophomore campaign.

The summer before his junior year, he went to Denver for week-long, one-on-one batting instruction from former major leaguer Mike Epstein.

Sexton had lapsed into some bad swing mechanics and Epstein got him back on track.

“He helped me establish a consistency that I hadn’t had before,” Sexton said. “It’s taken a good while, but I’m really comfortable with it now.”

Hey Mike!

I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing. Last week as our first week of leagu gaes or colleg, we played eight games. I had 2 homeruns, one triple, 3 doubles, 7 singles, 9 RBI's, 3 BB's, and 1 HBP. My batting average was .614 for the week and my slugging percentage is crazy. I started out kind of slow, but my batting average is up to .372 for the whole season, and still rising!

Thought you might like to see my HR swing from my last game.

Thanks so much for all of your help! I'll keep you posted on the rest of the season!

Brittany Burgess
Olympia, WA

pril 3, 2007

SUWANEE, Ga. -- After taking 3 of 4 games from Trinity University in a crucial 4-game series at Twenty Field this past weekend, junior outfielder Hunter Owen has been named the SCAC Co-Player of the Week along with Rhodes College's Richard Hurd.
 
Owen batted an even .400 (10-for-25) in a 4-2 week for the 11th-ranked Majors, grabbing 24 total bases, 10 hits and nine RBIs off four homeruns and two doubles.

Owen carried a 1.294 slugging percentage and a .529 average in the huge series against SCAC Western Division foe Trinity University, blasting all four of his homeruns on the week against the Tigers.

For the season, Owen is batting .407 (seventh in the SCAC) and slugging .805 (second) with a league-best 51 runs driven in. He also has 13 doubles (t-second in the SCAC), a league-high 10 homers and has crossed the plate 33 times (tied for seventh).

Mike:  Hope all is well with ou and Jake. Here are Rory's early stats. He hits the bal at adiferent mpat lvel then the rest f the players:

An Oakland A's scout talked with him before the game yesterday. He asked Rory to tell him what would it take to pass on college. Rick Aguilera is his head coach, and that helps in this process.

Thanks for getting Rory on the right track several years ago. It was the smartest move we could have made!!!

Kevin Sullivan

We're looking for great things from him this year. I also want to thank his dad, Gary, for bringing him to me. Parents like him always want the best for their kids; by the time they're 13 they should be well on their way to learning this. The "window of opportunity" closes in a hurry and rarely re-opens for those that can't hit line drives OVER the infielder's heads....

 

Jake,

Just wanted to say thanks for your help.  It has definitely paid off!  The season is off to a great start a I avebeen swingig very well.

Thought you would enjoy this picture of one of the two home runs in my first nine at bats at the Metrodome in Minneapolis).

Andrew

Greg Sexton Honored as the CAA PlayEr of the Week

Sexton was also selected to the College Baseball Foundation Natona Hoor oll

02/20/07 5:50P

(Greg went through our Seven-Day Hitting Program in 2005!)

2/12/07 San Luis Obispo, Calif. – Catcher Konrad Schmidt hit two three-run home runs and drove in seven as the Nvad3-6 deeated Cal Poly(-6) 10-6 in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday. Schmidt (4-for-5, 3R, 7RBI) led the Pack offense with four hits and seven RBI.  All for of his hits went for extra bases: two doubles and two three-run homers. 

2/18/07 Stockton, Calif. - Konrad Schmidt (3-for-4, 2R, 5RBI) was the offensive star for the Pack collecting three hits and drove in five runs in the game. He blasted two home runs and his third hit was a double. (Another one of our students, 2005 Freshman All-American, Justin Baum, homered for the University of Pacific in the same game.)

"Jake,

Hunter was named SCAA Offensive Player of the Week: http://www.millsaps.edu/athletic/baseball/021307story.shtm.

ast night: 3 for 5, doble, and 3 RBI. He came up in the bottom of the 8^th with the bases loaded, down 7 to 5. He hit a double to the wall in right center into a stiff wind. On a regular night it's a HR.

http://www.millsaps.edu/athletic/baseball/0213_02_07story.shtml

If this keeps up it won’t be long before lots more people in Mississippi know about Epstein hitting.

Doug Owen"

Lincoln -- Nick Sullivan...went 3-for-6 and provided the game's bigget blow, a three-run homer off Red starter Drew Schwab.... Sullivan also had a three-run double in the ninth...to blow open a one-run game.

(Nick went through our Seven-Day Hitting Program™ before his freshman year at Nebraska.)

 
Justin Byrd - Mountain Vista High School Freshman (Hghlnds Ranch, Colorado)

(April 4, 2006) – ete Mcuiness wn -for-4 to lead Fordham University (12-15) to an 8-7 win over New York Institute of Technology on Presidents Field.

Way to go, Pete!

Note: Pete went through our 7-Day Hitting Program in 2003.

Here's a picture of Peter taken four years ago learning the "The Epstein Hitting System" whenhe as  late"10/early 11" y. old.

David Towarnicky named All-State in North Carolina

Dave ha anther terrific year in 2005. 

All-Conference Big East again, All-Area, Rivals All-State, Carolina Prep ewshashim listed s ne f top 25 high school juniors in state.  Hit .390, slugged .787, OPS over 1.200, led team in HR's, BBs, HBP, and Intentional Walks. OBP over .500. Hit .450 with runners in scoring position.

Hit a home run with a wood bat at the National Wood Bat League Championships in Atlanta a week ago over the centerfield fence.

Note: Dave went through our 7-Day guaranteed hitting program three years ago.

Congratulations, Dave, from all of us at Mike Epstein Hitting!

From the Clevelan lai Dealer(8/14/05)

"Mulhern entered Friday on a ridiculous tear, batting .467 (35-75) with 11 doubles, 10 homers, 22 RBI and 18 runs during a 19-game hit streak Hewent 4-4 with four doubles Tuesday and, after a day off, was 4-5 with a double and homer.

In 42 games with the Aeros (AA), he was batting .331 with 13 home runs and 35 RBI. He had a .400 on-base percentage and a .681 slugging percentage.

Combined with his output at Kinston (A) - .321 average, 17 homers, 48 RBI, .711 slugging percentage in 45 games - Mulhern's numbers place him among the most productive hitters in the minors."