PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Swanson Baseball Off-Season Throwing Program has been developing pitchers since 2010, providing a comprehensive winter training experience that emphasizes arm health, mechanical refinement, and performance enhancement. With only 32 total spots available (8 pitchers per group), this exclusive program offers personalized instruction in a focused, small-group environment. 

• Program Dates: December 2nd – March 7th

• Total Sessions: 40 sessions | 60 minutes each | 3 days per week

• Investment: $1,200, payable in 3 installments of $400.  Installments will be due on or before Nov. 20, 2025,  Jan 1, 2026 and Feb 1, 2026. Additional information regarding payment plans will be sent out prior to the first payment due date.

• Student-to-Instructor Ratio: 4:1 

World-Class Instruction Team

Our coaching staff combines decades of professional playing experience with current industry expertise, creating an unparalleled learning environment where proven techniques meet modern training methods 

Dave Swanson – Program Coordinator

• Former 9th round draft pick, New York Mets (1991)

• Professional pitcher: NY Mets/Colorado Rockies organizations (1991-1996)

• Professional pitcher: Amarillo Dillas, Waterbury Spirit, Bridgeport Bluefish organizations (1996-2001)

• Gatorade Connecticut High School Player of the Year (1991)

• Gatorade New England High School Player of the Year (1991)

• Former Professional Pitching Rehab Coordinator, Cleveland Indians (2012-2014)

• Former Pitching Coach, University of Fairfield (2023)

• Current KZone Producer for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball

Alex Smith – Assistant Instructor

• Former professional pitcher: New York Yankees & Tampa Bay Rays (2012-2016)

• University of New Haven standout (2008-2011)

• South Atlantic League All-Star (2014)

• Arizona Fall League participant with Scottsdale Scorpions (2014)

• First SB program graduate to reach the professional level

John Slusarz – Assistant Instructor

• Current Pitching Coach, University of Hartford

• Drafted by Texas Rangers (36th round, 2006); Played 4 professional seasons (2006–2009)

• UConn baseball alumnus (2005-2006)

• Former Pitching Coach, Los Angeles Angels minor league system (2014-2016)

Brendan Ebert – Assistant Instructor

• Former pitcher, Southern Connecticut State University (2018-2022)

• Current Head Coach, East Windsor High School Baseball

• Current Head Coach, SB 15u CT Tides

• Current Assistant Director of Scouting, Prep Baseball Report (PBR) New England

PROGRAM SCHEDULE & TRAINING PHASES

Weekly Schedule

Designed for maximum flexibility, our three-day training schedule accommodates busy student-athlete schedules while ensuring consistent development and proper recovery between sessions. Each participant will attend one of the available time slots on each of the Throwing Program days:

• Saturday: 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM

• Tuesday: 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM

• Wednesday: 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM

Big Diamond Program Agenda

Our four-month program follows a scientifically-based progression that prioritizes arm health while systematically building strength, mechanics, and performance capacity.

December – Buildup Phase (12 sessions)

Foundation building with arm care, pitcher fielding practice (PFP), and strength development. No mound work during this phase.

January – Throwing Phase 1 (13 sessions)

Introduction of mound work alongside continued arm care and PFP. Rapsodo Technology integration begins for data collection and analysis.

February – Throwing Phase 2 (12 sessions)

Advanced mound work with continued emphasis on arm care and defensive skills development.

March – Throwing Phase 3 (3 sessions)

Final preparation phase focusing on arm care, mound endurance, and game readiness.

TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

Starting in January, pitchers will train with Rapsodo Technology, providing them with detailed data and analytics to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and optimize performance. Each pitcher will receive personalized data reports throughout the program.

A PROUD LEGACY OF DEVELOPMENT

Since 2010, the SB Off-Season Throwing Program has had the privilege of being part of many players' development journeys. While we're proud to have played a role in their success, the achievements belong to the dedicated athletes who put in the work:

• 100+ pitchers have advanced to compete at the collegiate level

• 11 former participants have reached professional baseball

Professional Alumni Include:

• Sal Romano – Cincinnati Reds, NY Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers (MLB)

• Brandyn Garcia – Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB - Active)

• Alex Smith – NY Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays

• Anthony Marzi – NY Yankees, Minnesota Twins (UConn)

• Mike Hepple – NY Mets (Eastern Connecticut State)

• Mark Bordonaro – Seattle Mariners (Fairfield University)

• Mike Gibbons – NY Mets (Wheaton College)

• Jack Wagoner – Cleveland Indians (Florida Gulf Coast University)

• Joey Donino – Arizona Diamondbacks (Columbia University)

• Thomas Girard – Baltimore Orioles (Duke University)

• Mike Castellani – Independent League (Bucknell University)

Why Choose Swanson Baseball Off-Season Throwing?

✓ Limited enrollment ensures personalized attention

✓ Experienced instruction from former professional players and current coaches

✓ Progressive training phases designed for optimal arm development

✓ Cutting-edge technology for objective performance measurement

✓ Proven track record with collegiate and professional player development

✓ Small group environment fostering focused learning and improvement