In this episode, we sit down with one of college baseball’s premier hitting minds — Dallas Baptist Head Coach Dan Heefner. We dive deep into DBU’s offensive philosophy, the role of challenging training environments, and why hitting machines are a non-negotiable in their development process. Coach Heefner also breaks down how movement-focused drills shape a hitter’s swing, improve adjustability, and prepare players to perform under game pressure.
Whether you’re a coach, player, or just a baseball junkie, this conversation is packed with actionable insight you can take straight to the cage.
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0:00 - Intro
0:25 - DBU's Offensive Philosophy
2:25 - Building a Culture for Offense
4:00 - Create Good Hitter, not Good Swingers
6:10 - Balancing Data w/ Performance
8:30 - Importance of Challenging Environments
11:10 - Guardrails to Ensure Hitters Stay Mentally Ready
13:00 - Difference Between Fall & Spring in Development
16:35 - Creating Adjustability for a Hitter
18:40 - Building the Engine
21:25 - Traits of Elite Hitters
23:30 - Importance of Individualized Routines
25:55 - Real vs. Feel
26:45 - Utilizing Video for Development
31:20 - Drill Work
32:40 - Importance of Vision for Hitters
35:25 - Trial & Error for Hitters