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Baseball Program Structure
IMG Academy’s baseball program focuses on complete, individual development. Coaches with extensive experience at the collegiate and MLB levels work closely with student-athletes on their athletic development and progress throughout their career. IMG baseball coaches focus on working grounds, position-specific training, and even 1-on-1 coaching sessions in the fall that mirror that of an MLB instructional league before competition begins in the spring semester.
IMG Academy student-athletes will train on the field or through performance disciplines like strength and conditioning and mental toughness for half the day before or after attending class for the other half of the day. This schedule mirrors that of a collegiate program, allowing student-athletes to develop a routine that transitions directly to the next level. A dedicated college placement advisor also works closely with each individual to identify programs that most closely match a student-athlete’s level and preferences.
Throughout the year, scouting days for both professional and college teams take place on IMG’s campus along with a series of other exposure events across the country. With options available at the national, junior national, varsity, junior varsity, middle school/freshmen, and post-graduate levels, student-athletes will compete against teams in local, regional, and even national tournaments, dependent on their team. Players have the ability to practice multiple positions throughout the year and develop through enhanced, internal competition as well.
IMG Academy Baseball Teams
With both a National and Varsity team, IMG baseball provides the nation’s most effective training environment for student-athletes.
National Team
IMG’s National team competes against some of the nation’s top programs while gaining exposure at national tournaments. Student-athletes within this team typically commit to top D1 programs and may receive draft interest from almost all 30 MLB organizations. Training consists of intensive workouts and team development that mirrors that of an elite collegiate program.
Varsity Team
IMG baseball offers several Varsity teams to accommodate student-athletes at various levels in their development and high school playing careers. Varsity teams compete against regional and national programs while also participating in regional tournaments. Varsity student-athletes have an opportunity to gain collegiate exposure during showcases and tournaments as well as on campus.
Junior National Team
IMG’s Junior National team provides 9th and 10th graders with an opportunity to compete at a high level against Varsity teams both locally and regionally. This team prepares student-athletes for the Varsity and National team through a full competition schedule, internal scrimmages, position-specific instruction, developmental opportunities, and more. Junior National student-athletes also begin to understand the college recruitment process in preparation for their next steps.
Junior Varsity & Freshman Teams
IMG Academy’s Junior Varsity and Freshman teams provide student-athletes with the chance to develop and prepare for their progression towards the National, Varsity, and Junior National teams. Student-athletes will be exposed to high-level skill development and training that builds a foundation for incremental growth opportunities. This team competes against other JV and Freshman teams locally and regionally.
Post-Graduate Team
IMG’s dedicated post-graduate teams competes against regional competition including Division II and III, NAIA, and Junior Colleges. Various showcase events, including those on campus, allow student-athletes to gain collegiate and professional exposure. Post-graduates do not jeopardize their NCAA eligibility while preparing for their next steps at the collegiate level both on the field as well as with a dedicated college placement advisor and academic staff. Post-graduates will develop through position-specific training while benefitting from an extra season to increase physicality as well as mental toughness and maturity.
Sample Baseball Schedule
Fall Semester
Testing / Evaluation & Individual Foundational Growth
Weeks 1-4
- Introduce philosophy and curriculum
- 2 week individual evaluation and assessment
- Skill and physical testing to include speed, arm strength, exit velocity, launch angle
- Individual position breakdown
- Introduce offensive/defensive team fundamentals
- Arm strengthening program
- Bat speed program
- College recruiting videos/pro style workout
- NCAA eligibility center registration
- Senior post-grad recruitment meetings
- Introduction of nutrition and mental training
- Introduction of movement & dynamic warm up
- Strength & conditioning: introductory & assessment phase
Team Competitive Growth / Fall League
Weeks 5-9
- Establish working groups
- 8-10 games
- Application of instruction in game setting
- Strict focus on development and not results
- Building of competitive team environment
- Exposure to showcase and tournament circuit
- Open practices for college recruiters/professional scouts
- Pro/college scout day
- Senior/post-grad college application process/common app finalized
- Initial evaluation report
- Identifying individual mental approach
- Introduction of strength & conditioning: maintenance phase
- Introduction of flexibility & speed training
Intensive Individual Growth / Offseason
Weeks 10-12
- Critical evaluation
- Extensive small group and individual development
- Maintain competitive environment
- Underclass college placement meetings
- Continued emphasis on team building
- Application of vision and mental training during practices
- Strength & conditioning, speed, arm strength: growth phase
Individual Skill Work / Athleticism / Competition / Strength & Conditioning
Weeks 13-15
- Individual development: 5 days/week
- Emphasis on strength & conditioning, speed, arm strength: growth phase
- Maintain flexibility and athleticism
- Post fall evaluation report
- Team building
Spring Semester
Individual & Team Development / Spring Training
Weeks 1-2
- Individual/team drills and practice routines to prepare for FHSAA season
- Extensive drill work covering team offensive and defensive fundamentals
- Team building: leadership training
- Strength & conditioning: growth phase
Competitive Preparation / Spring Training
Weeks 3-5
- Individual/team drills and practice routines to prepare for FHSAA season
- International pre-season competition
- Release game schedule to colleges
- Scrimmages and inters quads
- Identify roles within teams
- Strength & conditioning: growth phase
FHSAA SEASON
Weeks 6-15
- 25 game schedules
- 2-3 tournaments (Varsity)
- Mid-season evaluation report
- National exposure
- Application of mental training
- Strength & conditioning: maintenance phase
Intensive Individual Growth / Post-season Development
Weeks 16-20
- Critical evaluation
- Extensive individual development
- 10+ games ascender series
- Contact college coaches season stats & summer schedule
- Final player evaluation report
- Preparation for summer schedule
- Application of instruction in game setting
- Adjustments to mental approach
Athletic & Personal Development
APD plays an integral role in the overall development of each baseball student-athlete. APD instructors focus on crucial areas such as mental toughness, strength & conditioning, nutrition, leadership, life skills and character development, and more to ensure that IMG Academy baseball student-athletes not only have an advantage over the competition but understand what it takes to succeed in college, in the MLB, and in life.
Learn More about APD
Academics
Grades 6-12
IMG Academy’s collegiate-style schedule provides the ultimate preparation for student-athletes to succeed at the next level. Baseball student-athletes have the ability to select their courses and electives to identify their areas of interest ahead of enrolling into the collegiate program that best aligns with their academic and athletic goals.
View Grades 6-12 CurriculumPost-Graduate
Post-graduate baseball student-athletes will benefit from a gap year at IMG with available standardized test prep, college course credit opportunities, college placement and recruitment advisement, and more. Baseball post-graduates experience immense benefits by ensuring they’re prepared for their next steps as collegiate-student-athletes. Post-graduates will not jeopardize their NCAA eligibility by enrolling in this program.
Learn More about Post-GraduateTechnology & Facilities
- 6-plex baseball complex
- Baseball stadium for showcase games and tournaments
- Six fields
- 3 practice infields
- 16 practice mounds
- Four indoor batting cages
- 12 outdoor batting cages
- Field House with professional-style locker rooms, coaches' offices, and meeting rooms for game and practice analysis and team training
- HitTrax Technology inside our batting cages
- Captures swing metrics including launch angle, exit velocity, hard hit percentage and point of contact
- Utilized by our coaches to provide real time feedback during batting practice sessions
- Game simulator allows hitters to compete in a controlled setting
- K Vest
- Sensor based technology that analyzes the sequencing of the baseball swing
- Gives our coaching staff immediate feedback to help breakdown the hitter’s biomechanical movements and timing
- Blast Motion Swing Analyzer
- Sensor-based swing analysis with auto-edited video clips
- Analyze and improve swing plane, connection, and rotation
- Rapsodo
- Captures pitching metrics including velocity, spin rate, spin efficiency and vertical/horizontal break
- Utilized by our coaches to provide real time feedback during bullpen sessions
- WIN Virtual Reality
- Virtual Reality baseball training tool
- Develop strike zone awareness and pitch recognition through game speed repetitions
Performance and Sports Science Center
- Mind Gym for mental conditioning sessions and vision training
- Fit Lights, dynaBOARD, and cognitive perceptive technology
- Yoga studio
- Strength and conditioning equipment
- Classrooms for nutrition and leadership training
- Athletic training facility for recovery and regeneration, including hot and cold tubs
Baseball Academy Photo Gallery
Baseball Coaches & Staff
Notable Baseball Program College Commitments
Student-athletes receive individualized roadmaps for reaching their goal of playing their sport at the collegiate level. This work begins when a student enters upper school at grade 9 and above.
Testimonials
- Jake Fauske IMG Academy AlumnusIMG is a breeding ground for excellence in general, not just athletically. I love the game of baseball, and I want to stay around it as long as possible, but IMG has also been a tool for me to help me get to the next level academically and my career.
- LT Tolbert IMG Academy AlumnusIMG Academy takes pride in everything here – school, baseball, the workouts, nutrition – everything you do here, you’re doing it for a purpose, and they want you to get better, they want you to succeed and push you to be the best you can be in every aspect of life.
- Casey Mullholland IMG Academy AlumnusThe biggest thing I realize now that I didn’t know, is how many connections and opportunities those connections would open for me. As I moved my way through high school, college, and professional baseball, many of those same people I talked to when I was 13 that helped me grow as a person are still helping me today.
