Baseball Program

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The IMG Academy baseball program offers student-athletes the best environment to succeed. With seventeen national tournament wins in program history—including High School National Championship titles in 2019 and 2023 —IMG Academy has a proven track record for guiding student-athletes to great success as they continue to compete at the highest levels. The program has seen over 180 baseball student-athletes find their right college fit over the last five years, including 100+ Division I placements. There have been 64 alumni drafted into the MLB across 27 teams with 37 selections directly from IMG Academy.

IMG Academy’s baseball program offers a holistic methodology for developing the total student-athlete. Players gain access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, unmatched coaching, guidance, and support, along with a like-minded community filled with passion and motivation. Featuring multiple teams based on age and skill level, dedicated student-athletes of all types have the opportunity to maximize their potential.

Baseball Program

overview
athletic development
facilities
methodology
coaching staff

Overview

Program Structure

IMG Academy's baseball program prioritizes each student-athlete's development, ensuring growth is both comprehensive yet individualized. Our experienced coaches tailor their focus to each player's position, needs, goals, and current level. The progression of the entire year mirrors that of an MLB instructional league, allowing student-athletes to focus on what matters most each season and feel confident well before competing at the collegiate level.

College-preparatory environment

Our student-athletes follow a schedule that mirrors a college program, meaning they’re able to focus a portion of their day towards on-field or holistic performance training and development while the other portion is completely dedicated to academics and college recruiting placement led by a dedicated college placement advisor.

Home Away From Home: Hear directly from our families

Teams

IMG Academy's baseball program provides the nation’s most effective training environment for student-athletes, offering a variety of teams for various levels and age groups.

National

IMG Academy’s National team competes against some of the nation’s top programs while gaining exposure at national tournaments. Many past National team student-athletes have committed to top D1 programs while others have received draft interest from MLB organizations. Training consists of intensive workouts and team development that mirrors that of an elite collegiate program.

Varsity

IMG Academy 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 Academy’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 Team

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 Academy’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.

Athletic Development

IMG Academy baseball student-athletes have access to coaches and trainers that are focused on more than their on-field performance, including crucial areas such as vision training, strength & conditioning, nutrition, sports medicine, and more. Our Athletic Development team plays an integral role in the overall development of each baseball student-athlete. They integrate into the program's larger support system, ensuring that each student-athlete feels confident and prepared off the field, so they understand what it takes to succeed in college and in life.

Strength & Conditioning

Outwork and outlast the competition with IMG Academy’s Strength & Conditioning program. Our team of performance experts design a program that supplements sports training to help student-athletes reach their potential.

  • Speed, agility, and movement
  • Endurance & conditioning
  • Strength and power
  • Flexibility, mobility, balance, and core

Sports Medicine

IMG Academy’s Sports Medicine program educates and helps student-athletes keep their bodies healthy during demanding training and competition schedules. Our team promotes athlete availability through preventative and corrective exercises, holistic injury evaluation & treatment and movement quality assessments.

  • Athletic training
  • Physical therapy
  • Injured athlete program
  • Corrective exercise work
  • Recovery
  • Education on injury management
  • Return-to play management
sports medicine

Nutrition

At IMG Academy, we understand how important it is for student-athletes to fuel their bodies to meet their high-level lifestyles and sport demands. Our Nutrition program maximizes student-athlete performance by equipping them with the nutrition knowledge and resources to fuel and hydrate themselves for academic, athletics and long-term health.

  • Optimal everyday nutrition
  • Performance Plate
  • Nutrient intake and timing
  • Hydration strategies
  • Supplement education
  • Pre and post-competition fueling
  • Travel nutrition
  • Energy balance
nutrition

Visual Training

Vision Training is not just about seeing – it’s about doing. Student-athletes will train their eyes to perform more quickly and efficiently through eye muscle and visual system development.

  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Peripheral vision
  • Reaction time
  • Depth perception
  • Vision strength
visual training
Learn more about Personal Development

Facilities

IMG Academy’s baseball program trains and competes on the following fields and facilities on campus:

6-plex baseball complex

  • Baseball stadium for showcase games and tournaments
  • Six fields, all recently equipped with lights for nightime games and artificial turf for the infields
  • 3 practice infields
  • 16 practice mounds
  • Four indoor batting cages
  • 12 outdoor batting cages

Field House

  • Field House with professional-style locker rooms, coaches' offices, and meeting rooms for game and practice analysis and team training

Other Facilities

Explore our housing and amenities here

  • Dorms
  • Campus Center
  • Academic Center

Take a virtual tour >

Technology

Rapsodo 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

ProPlay AI

  • Markerless motion capture system that analyzes the kinetic sequence of the pitching motion and used for biomechanic feedback

PlaySight

  • Video and streaming technology used to live stream all home games as and produce on demand game content

High Speed Insight Camera

  • Used to capture pitching and swing mechanics for in depth video breakdowns

Annual Training Schedule

Fall Semester

WEEKS 1-4: Testing / Evaluation & Individual Foundational Growth

  • 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

WEEKS 5-9: Team Competitive Growth / Fall League

  • 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

WEEKS 10-12: Intensive Individual Growth / Offseason

  • 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

WEEKS 13-15: Individual Skill Work / Athleticism / Competition / Strength & Conditioning

  • Individual development: 5 days/week
  • Emphasis on strength & conditioning, speed, arm strength: growth phase
  • Maintain flexibility and athleticism
  • Post fall evaluation report
  • Team building

Winter

WEEKS 1-2: Individual & Team Development / Spring Training

  • 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

WEEKS 3-5: Competitive Preparation / Spring Training

  • 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

WEEKS 6-15: FHSAA SEASON

  • 25 game schedules
  • 2-3 tournaments (Varsity)
  • Mid-season evaluation report
  • National exposure
  • Application of mental training
  • Strength & conditioning: maintenance phase

WEEKS 16-20: Intensive Individual Growth / Post-season Development

  • 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

Baseball Director, Dan Simonds

A former collegiate and professional player and coach who most notably spent eight years as Miami University’s head coach, Dan Simonds is a proven leader with a history of developing student-athletes to reach their full potential. Simonds has more than 14 years of D-I baseball coaching experience, producing 32 MLB draft picks, 24 All-MAC selections 5 MAC freshman of the year and 17 Academic All-MAC student-athletes during his tenure at Miami.

“Dan has a great understanding of what it takes to get to the next level,” said Adam Eaton, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder, and a student-athlete of Simonds at Miami. “He’s a driven leader who is never satisfied and, in knowing what it takes to be a professional, will put you in a position to be successful.”

Joe Girardi, former New York Yankees Manager, and former teammate of Simonds with the Cubs organization, said, “I’m excited about Dan…as Director of Baseball at IMG [Academy]. His passion and dedication to the game will be great assets in doing everything to be successful."

Experience

  • BA in History, Davidson College
  • Head Coach – Miami University (2005 – 2013)
  • Head Coach - Xavier University (2004-2005)
  • Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator – Miami University (2000-2004)
  • Manager – Class A Fort Wayne Wizards (1999)
  • Hitting and Catching Instructor – Clinton Lumber Kings (1997-1998)
  • Roving Instructor/Coach – Baltimore Orioles (1995-1996)
  • Asst Coach Bullpen Catcher (1992-94)
  • Catcher – Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs organizations (1987-1992)
  • 8th Round MLB Draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles (1987)
  • Starting catcher and captain – Davidson College (1987)
Coach Title
Dan Simonds Director of Baseball
Nick Phelps Assistant Director
Tyler Shirey Director of Baseball Operations
David Turgeon Field Coordinator
Dee Brown Varsity Head Coach / Outfield Coach
Kason Gabbard National Team Head Coach
Mark Morawski Varsity Head Coach
Richard Sauveur Varsity Head Coach / Pitching Coach
Paul Poplin Head Coach / Pitching Instructor
John Pawlowski Head Coach
Joey Terdoslavich Head Coach
Shaun Wood Head Coach / Outfield Instructor
Robert Herold Head Coach / Infield Instructor
Justin Zinkovich Camp Director
Carlos Mendez Head Coach / Catching Coordinator
Daniel Hadra Pitching Coordinator
Dylan Elber Baseball Analyst / Assistant Pitching Coach
Mike Triller Assistant Coach / Baseball Operations
Edgar Caceres Infield Coordinator
Ben Chajet Infield Instructor
Rich Pasquale Infield Instructor
Joe Jordano Head of College Placement
John-Ford Griffin Hitting Coordinator
Roman Rodriguez Catching Coordinator
JK Bong Pitching Instructor
Roger Cedeno Outfield & Base Running Coordinator
Steve Frey Pitching Instructor
Tony Ferreira Pitching Instructor

Program Achievements

Some impressive highlights of the IMG Academy baseball program include:

College World Series
College World Series

2023 Max Preps National Champions

Undefeated Season

2023 National Team Undefeated Season 25-0

Undefeated Season

2019 USA Today Super 25 High School National Champions

2019 National Champions

35 Student-Athletes Selected in MLB first-year players draft

MLB Draft

6 Alumni and counting have made a major league 40-man roster

MLB Draft

180+ baseball student-athletes placed in college over the last 5 years, including 100+ DI placements

17 national tournaments won in program history

View Our Stories

Take an inside look at IMG Academy student-athletes and their unique journeys on campus. While each student-athlete has a unique background and story, their shared passions and goals are clear as they strive together to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.


Three Years in the Making - Davion Hickson

Who's Elijah Green - On Deck

Tuition

IMG Academy boarding school is built for dedicated and passionate student-athletes. We provide the tools and resources for our student-athletes to achieve their goals in the classroom, in their sport, in college and beyond. IMG Academy tuition rates are based on the comprehensive nature of our programming and resources available to student-athletes.

2025-2026 full year boys baseball tuition ranges from $71,500-$96,500 depending on age and program enrollment.

Download Baseball Tuition

Academics

Offering grades 6-12 as well as post-graduate options, IMG Academy provides baseball student-athletes with a robust academic curriculum, unmatched academic support, and resources that prepares them for the rigors of university life and beyond.

Inside Academics

Personal Development

IMG Academy places an unparalleled emphasis on intentional personal growth and athletic progression through sessions that develop a high-performance mindset to build up their confidence and determination to train.

Learn the Process

College Placement

It’s critical for baseball student-athletes to feel confident and equipped to find the best college fit. IMG Academy’s proven, industry-leading college placement services and technology have placed more student-athletes on college rosters than any other program in the world

Learn more

Campus Experience

IMG Academy provides student-athletes with a comprehensive foundation for maximizing their potential, including pro-quality facilities, customized programs, and athletic professionals, all located on one campus, as well as a supportive community of like-minded peers.

Explore Campus

Now Accepting Applications!

IMG Academy Admissions and Enrollment representatives will be in CT, MA, and NH from April 28–May 1. For all inquiries, please contact David Valbuena or Lance Tackett.

Apply online

IMG Academy Boarding School Application

IMG Academy is the world leader in sports education and the boarding school admits a limited amount of students annually from a large pool of qualified applicants, so we encourage interested student-athletes to submit an application as early as possible. Submit your online application to get started today.

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