SMSC 25' Speaker Spotlight : Garrett Baker
In this episode, we’re highlighting one of our featured presenters for the 2025 Sport Movement Skill Conference — Garrett Baker, Skill Acquisition Specialist and Pitching Coach for the New York Mets. Garrett joins us to talk about the current state of skill development in baseball and why he believes coaches must move beyond traditional notions of “perfect mechanics.”
We dig into how Garrett blends theory and practice in the bullpen, what makes his learning environments unique, and how his approach helps athletes become more adaptable and attuned to the real problems they face in competition.
You’ll also hear:
Why skill development in baseball needs to move beyond “perfect mechanics”
How Garrett builds constraint-based bullpens that sharpen decision-making
Coaching intent and perception: why the why matters more than the how
The value of creating environments where athletes compete and adapt
Why “error” in skill learning is a gift, not something to avoid
What it looks like to coach with the athlete, not at them
Garrett’s approach to designing reps that mirror the complexity of real games
What to expect from his session at SMSC 2025 — and why it’s relevant across sports
Credits: Song- "Starstruck" by Freebeats.io