Head Coach @ Rock Island HS & RI Post 200 • MiLB WSH Nationals • K-State Alum • IWCC 2014 National Champion •
Rock Island, IL
Joined June 2011
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I'd like to thank everybody who has allowed me to get to this point in my career. Beyond ready to get going with the @Nationals organization
Jake Scudder retweeted
Many of you asked for the context of the quote I shared yesterday. It's one of my favorite parts of the book. Here it is:
"Caring is cool. Nonchalance is a cop-out. Pour your heart and soul into what you love. You don’t get unlimited chances. Try hard. Give your all. Give a damn.
When you hold yourself back because you fear failure or looking ‘uncool,’ you sacrifice growth and potential (and mastery and fulfillment and richness and love and all the other good stuff in life) for short-term safety and comfort. It’s a trap. Get over it.
Fear and insecurity are part of human nature. You can either go through the motions and be superficially cool (but actually boring). Or you can step into the arena, lay it on the line, care deeply, make yourself vulnerable, and fully live your one and only life.
The world doesn’t need more mediocrity or going through the motions. The world needs more people putting themselves out there and giving it their all. The world needs more people who have the guts to care.
The best athletes care deeply.
The best artists care deeply.
The best leaders care deeply.
The best coaches care deeply.
The best teachers care deeply.
The best doctors care deeply.
The best writers care deeply.
The best scientists care deeply.
The best parents care deeply.
Caring deeply is the cost of admission to a big and textured life.
Try hard and give a damn."
—The Way of Excellence
If you find this sort of thing resonant, you'll love the book: bit.ly/4uCzeQ7
Jake Scudder retweeted
"The standard creates the culture." @ChristianYelich
When coaches enforce it, it's a rule.
When players own it, it's a standard.
When everyone lives it, it's a culture.
Culture isn't built by what you preach.
It's built by what you practice.
Jake Scudder retweeted
JUCO SOPHOMORE
5’6 170
2026 Spring/Fall Highlights
FB 79-82 T84
CB 68-70
SL 70-73
CH 73-75
@Dakotabacus33 @JakeScudder23 @Coach_JClark
Jake Scudder retweeted
Coaches want to help you get recruited. They want to see you succeed. But they also want to invest in athletes who are willing to invest in themselves. They want players who embrace challenges, respond to adversity, and compete when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
Jake Scudder retweeted
I don’t have all the answers but I love baseball because of the ups and downs and constant grind. So here’s some thoughts for the “X hitting” war that is going on right now.
Jake Scudder retweeted
Excited to announce my commitment to the University of Illinois. Extremely grateful for this opportunity. #emall
Jake Scudder retweeted
The number that ends the JUCO debate: during Marc Rardin's twenty seasons at Iowa Western, 142 of his players signed with NCAA Division I programs. That figure is published by the school, not claimed by the coach. His program was also named national academic team of the year nine times. The junior college route is not where baseball careers end. For 142 of his players, it is where Division I began.
Jake Scudder retweeted
It’s becoming impossible to ignore the physicality of Division I baseball.
The average D1 roster is around 198 pounds.
Does a high school recruit need to be 198 pounds? Of course not.
But he needs to show that he’s trending toward the physicality required at that level.
With only 34 roster spots, coaches have less room to recruit players who are years away. They need players who can compete and contribute sooner.
Skill will always matter. Projection will always matter.
But strength, movement and physical development have become a major part of the recruiting conversation.
You don’t have to look like a college player yet.
But coaches need to be able to see one coming.
Jake Scudder retweeted
Marc Rardin won three national titles at Iowa Western and now runs Western Kentucky, and he put his finger on the whole youth baseball problem in one sentence: kids have to love to work more than they like to play, and what we are doing right now is just playing. Off Monday through Wednesday, tournament Thursday through Sunday, then off again. Nobody works at getting better. The showcase circuit measures. It does not build.
Jake Scudder retweeted
Cain Dekeyrel ('29,IL)⬇️
Athletic LHH w/ controlled hover for timing. Shows adjustability, able to keep weight back + LD RBI 1B to RF.
#WorldInviteQualifier | @dekeyrel_cain9 | @TopTierIA
👤play.ps-baseball.com/player-…
Jake Scudder retweeted
BASEBALL GETS REAL QUIET WHEN YOU’RE NOT THE GUY ANYMORE.
Last year everybody knew your name.
You hit third.
Played every inning.
Got the pictures.
Got the praise.
Then you moved up a level.
And suddenly…
nobody cares what you did last year.
There’s another shortstop.
Another center fielder.
Another dude who throws harder.
Another kid who can flat out hit.
Good.
NOW WE GET TO FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE.
Because eventually every good baseball player walks onto a field where being good isn’t special anymore.
Nobody owes you the three hole.
Nobody cares about your old stats.
Nobody’s impressed by the logo on your bag.
You’ve got two choices:
Spend the season reminding everybody who you USED to be…
or shut up and become somebody they can’t ignore.
Baseball has a beautiful way of introducing talented players to reality.
THE NEXT LEVEL DOESN’T CARE WHO YOU WERE.
SHOW IT WHO YOU ARE NOW.
⚾️ 3 LEFTS BASEBALL
Jake Scudder retweeted
The kid made his SCC debut last night. 2.0IP, 0H, 0BB, 0R, 2Ks on 21 pitches.
@JakeScudder23
@TopTierBaseball
@RRBaseball2024
@jackrschreck
@TopTierIA
@AC_CoachJHauer
Jake Scudder retweeted
Nearly 100% of MLB, MiLB & D1 baseball players are on formalized strength programs.
If you’re a HS athlete who “wants to play at the next level” and you’re not training at least 3x a week…
You think you want it, but your actions prove you don’t. It’s a harsh reality, but better to admit to yourself you don’t want it now or actually make a change to reach your goals.
Jake Scudder retweeted
Sometimes joy doesn’t disappear.
It gets buried under the weight of everything you’re carrying.
then one day, you feel it again.
A reminder to be present.
To be grateful.
To let yourself enjoy the good when it comes
Life is heavy sometimes. Don’t forget how to feel light
Jake Scudder retweeted
Tryouts for the 2027 Summer Roster will be Saturday, August 8th @ Alleman Sports Complex.
Position Players: 11:00AM-12:30PM
Pitchers/Catchers: 12:30PM-1:30PM
Come be apart of this storied program - your experience will be unmatched!!
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F…
#HigherStandard
Jake Scudder retweeted
Want to separate yourself on the ⚾️ field?
Master the 5 C's:
Character.
Competitiveness.
Coachability.
Consistency.
Confidence.
None require elite genetics.
Every one requires a choice.
Jake Scudder retweeted
I worked with a D1 player and a D3 player this morning.
On paper...
They looked almost identical.
6'4 200 pounds...
Both had elite bat speed. Both had power. Both were physically gifted.
But there was one difference.
Every time the D3 player mishit a ball...
He complained.
He got frustrated.
He pouted.
Then he'd struggle for the next 3 or 4 swings.
Pop-up.
Ground ball.
Weak contact.
The D1 player?
He'd mishit one.
Make an adjustment
...And move on.
No emotion.
No drama.
Just the next pitch.
It reminded me of something I learned playing professional baseball...
Sometimes the biggest difference between two players isn't their talent.
It's the conversation they're having with themselves in their head after they fail.
Your bat speed matters.
Your swing matters.
But the operating system between your ears matters just as much.
The best hitters I've been around don't waste energy explaining why they failed.
They spend their energy figuring out what to do on the next pitch.
- Jermaine Curtis
P.S. The next time you mishit a ball, don't ask, "What's wrong with me?"
Ask, "What's my adjustment?"
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