At D1 Bullpen, we offer training for young pitchers and catchers in the Southeastern Pennsylvania area.
Our programs are designed to help promising young baseball players achieve their goals of being successful varsity pitchers and catchers at both the high school and college level. Through continuous drill work and professional instruction, the program enables players to gain velocity and learn techniques to improve their performance and avoid injury.
PITCHING COACH AT D1 BULLPENS
EJ Moyer is the pitching instructor at D1 Bullpens. He has been the pitching instructor for the baseball program at Malvern Prep for the last 25 years. Throughout his career, he’s helped to develop major league draft picks, and even watched a former pitcher make his major league debut. EJ is committed to helping young pitchers develop their skills throughout their baseball careers.
CATCHING COACH AT D1 BULLPENS
A product of Malvern Prep, Chris was a four-year starting catcher at the University of Richmond before being selected in the 2012 draft by the Colorado Rockies. Over the past five years Chris has trained and developed some of the top catching prospects in southeastern Pennsylvania including multiple division 1 players.
“Using customized programs based on an initial evaluation of each player, it is my goal to maximize the potential of every catcher I work with.”
The purpose of D1 Bullpens is to develop promising young pitchers by improving arm strength, increasing arm whip, and to improve mechanics with core velocity drills. It is my belief that by creating improvement in these three areas, young pitchers will increase velocity, improve the ability to locate their pitches in the strike zone, and increase the distance of their long toss. Through constant repetition, pitchers will develop a strong sense of how their bodies feel when they are working more efficiently to throw a baseball. This practice reduces the risk of incurring significant arm injuries.
Pitchers will work out with the D1 Bullpens training program twice a week for 1.5 hours every other day. All three programs mentioned below are essentials of the program for each workout. However, during the summer program season, each pitcher needs to be aware of their workload with their summer programs. Long toss and full length bullpens can be adjusted to touch pens, (flat ground 46 ft pens) grips tossing (changeup or two and four seam grip throwing) or pickoff throwing. Improvement in the areas mentioned in my purpose are the focal point. However, maintaining health and still being able to compete in summer pitching activities at full strength is most important.
Let’s be honest, this is the key to furthering any catcher’s career whether it is at the high school, college, or professional levels. Through a combination of drill work, video analysis, and arm strengthening programs it is my belief that my clients can expect to significantly lower their current pop times.
As catchers enter the upper levels of baseball, it is crucial to be able to receive high velocity pitching. Major League Baseball has seen a drastic increase in velocity within the past five years that has had a trickle down effect on the amateur levels. Through the use ATEC pitching machines (have the ability to produce 100+mph fastballs) along with a variety of receiving drills I have developed through both my playing and coaching experience, my catchers can expect to feel relaxed and comfortable regardless of the velocity they will see throughout their catching careers.
Now the real fun starts! For any player looking to be a complete defensive catcher, blocking must be a staple of their work behind the plate. An effective blocker not only saves runs for his team but makes his pitchers better knowing they can throw their breaking pitches in the dirt with confidence. Using both mechanical and reactionary blocking drills, catchers will develop effective posture and technique to maximize their blocking ability.
Sessions will be held at the Newtown Edgemont Little League facility on Bishop Hollow road in Newtown Square in the morning. For the first time, we will offer an early afternoon to early evening session at West Chester East High School just off of Paoli Pike. Each session will meet twice a week for an hour and a half for five weeks. Each five week session will cost $500.00 for pitchers and $450 for catchers. This five week program format has a full week built in to accommodate a week of vacation or travel baseball commitments. However, pitchers and catchers are welcome to attend all five weeks if they have no other commitments. Sessions are scheduled for Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. There will be 8-10 pitchers and 4 catchers per group.
“My son Josh has been working with EJ Moyer for a few years now. EJ’s attention to detail of the proper pitching mechanics as well as his ability to coach and explain everything so the young adolescent brain can understand it is second to none. EJ has been able to get Josh’s mechanics in sync and has transformed him from an average high school pitcher into a division one prospect. EJ has established a personal connection not only with my son but with all of his baseball students. EJ’s disciplined, yet encouraging approach teaches the importance of proper warm ups, throwing mechanics, nutrition, and mental focus. He preaches good habits for longevity to make the most of each pitcher’s potential, while helping to prevent injury. EJ believes in the abilities of all his players and never gives up on anyone. His commitment and interest in each individual player has ensured my son is in a much better position to succeed not just on the baseball field but in life. Working with EJ has greatly improved my son’s pitching and deepened his appreciation for what it takes to play baseball at the next level. It is rare to find a coach with this combination of attributes.”
– Marty P
“My son Jordan has had the privilege of working with Chris Cowell since July 2016. I have no doubt in my mind that without Chris’s guidance and mentorship, Jordan would not have been able to excel at a nationally-ranked high school program like Malvern Prep, nor would he have received a four year scholarship offer to play Division 1 baseball at the University of Richmond. Chris’s attention to detail, customized training plan, and catching experience at the college and professional levels have been invaluable towards Jordan’s development. Thank you Chris! (And thank you EJ for introducing us to him!)”
– Corey D
“EJ’s experience and knowledge as a high school pitching coach transformed my son from an average high school sophomore pitcher that by junior year was a 1st Team All League selection who was recruited and signed as a D1 pitcher for a University that will provide him a first class athletic and academic experience. To top it off, all of this happened without injury thanks to EJ’s “healthy arm” commitment. I wish I knew EJ many years earlier.”
– Neil D
“EJ has the knowledge and motivation to take pitchers to the next level. His pitching program and teaching concepts are like nothing I’ve experienced before and I’m forever grateful that he explained and demonstrated these to me early in high school. As I prepare to enter my senior high school season, I feel that I am more than prepared to attack a college lineup thanks to what EJ has taught me.”
– Liam D
“Since I started working with Coach EJ I have seen a jump in my velocity as well as an end to arm injuries that use to be a constant bother. Two years ago I could not see myself pitching in college, but now I am doing just that.”
– Alex Ei
Coaches of D1 Bullpens; Chris Cowell (Left) and EJ Moyer (Right)