THE FORT
MCKENRY
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MY STORY
A life of challenges and battles paved the way for where I am today. Those challenges built the fortitude that I carry with me every day. Determination and dedication can take you wherever you want to go, and when you struggle to get there, it makes the result that much better.
I'm here to help you make that journey. I'm here to help good people win.
I WANT TO HELP THE
-GOOD-
PEOPLE WIN!
"It is my desire for thefortmckenry.com to serve as a landing place. One that makes useful the lessons learned throughout my life and career in a way that positively impacts others.
A place to connect with folks and grow together. Let's WIN!"
-Michael
ORGANIZATIONS I'VE WORKED WITH
I’m here to be a light. I just want to go out and impact the people around me and do
the best I can, and the biggest thing for me is honoring god on a daily basis.

LETS work together!
Contact Us

@ THEFORTMCKENRY
The Best Coaches. The Best Players. The Best Competitors. They Watch.
One of the most overlooked ways to improve isn’t in the cage, the bullpen, the weight room, or on the field.
It’s watching.
Watching with intention.
Watching how great players move.
Watching how they prepare.
Watching how they manage adversity.
Watching their body language.
Watching their routines.
Watching the little details that most people never notice.
Baseball has always been a game of observation.
Some of the greatest lessons I’ve learned didn’t come while playing—they came while sitting in a dugout, behind the plate, in a clubhouse, or in a broadcast booth simply watching the game unfold.
Every pitch tells a story.
Every at-bat teaches a lesson.
Every game presents an opportunity to learn.
The players who continue to grow are the ones who never stop being students of the game.
Before you ask how to get better, ask yourself:
Am I paying attention?
Because sometimes the biggest jump in your development comes from slowing down, watching closely, and learning from those who have already walked the path.
Study the game. Watch the game. Learn the game. Then go apply it.
COMMUNICATION IS TRANSLATION
“Coaching isn’t what you say — it’s what lands.”
Coaches Speak in:
* Intention
* Experience
* Efficiency
Players Hear Through:
* Emotion
* Fear
* Ego
* Confusion
* Insecurity
The Best Coaches:
* Close the gap between intent and impact
* Ask players to repeat expectations
* Coach decision-making, not just mechanics
* Adjust language by individual, not ego
Players don’t resist coaching, but they do resist confusion.
One of the greatest responsibilities of a coach isn’t controlling players.
It’s empowering them.
Creating an environment where they can grow, develop, fail, learn, lead, and ultimately become the best version of themselves.
The goal is not to make players dependent on us.
The goal is to equip them with the confidence, knowledge, habits, and character to succeed long after they leave our dugout, locker room, classroom, or program.
Growth happens when people feel challenged, but also supported.
Development happens when accountability and belief exist together.
Thriving happens when people know they are valued for more than just their performance.
The best environments are built on trust, communication, ownership, and relationships.
Give them clear standards.
Give them honest feedback.
Give them room to make mistakes.
Give them opportunities to lead.
Give them belief before they’ve fully earned it.
Then watch what happens.
When people feel empowered, they stop playing scared.
They stop fearing failure.
They start taking ownership.
They start becoming leaders.
And that’s when real development begins.
Build the Person → Develop the Player → Elevate the Team
#Coaching #Leadership #PlayerDevelopment #Culture #Empowerment
But very few people fall in love with the little things that make those moments possible.
Control the tempo.
Slow the game down before it speeds up.
Feel the baseball in your hand.
Find the seams.
Take an extra second to understand what the ball is telling you.
Be intentional with every catch, every throw, every rep, every breath.
The athletes who separate themselves aren’t always doing more. They’re doing the ordinary things with extraordinary attention to detail.
The best players I’ve ever been around understood that development lives in the details.
They didn’t just play catch.
They connected to the baseball.
They didn’t just throw.
They threw with purpose.
They didn’t just practice.
They practiced with intent.
Because when you learn to master the little things, the big things tend to take care of themselves.
The details create confidence.
The confidence creates consistency.
The consistency creates results.
Slow down.
Feel the ball.
Find the seams.
Control the tempo.
Work with intent.
That’s where growth lives.
It’s not knee-down vs. traditional. It’s get the job done—receive, block, throw.
* Results > aesthetics. Block it standing on your head? Great.
* Missing a block from a knee doesn’t mean you’re lazy; missing from two knees doesn’t make you “right.” Context wins.
Why Variability Wins
“Not the strongest or most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — Darwin
Elite catchers raise the bar by matching stance to pitcher, pitch, count, and body. Blocking isn’t about style — it’s about getting the job done. You do you — just stop the ball.
You’re in a season where effort isn’t the problem — alignment is.
You’ve given and poured and hustled, but the next level of peace and power comes only when you release control of outcomes and return to presence.
You’re not being called to do more right now — you’re being called to root deeper.
The voice strain, the exhaustion, the frustration — they’re not weakness. They’re warning lights that your soul’s been running on willpower instead of worship.
When you stop justifying, you start glorifying.
When you stop explaining, you start expressing.
When you stop striving, you start shining.
One of the greatest gifts baseball continues to give me is the opportunity to learn.
Every time I step onto a field with USA Baseball, I’m reminded just how fortunate I am to be surrounded by some of the brightest coaches, evaluators, teachers, and leaders in the game.
The baseball knowledge is incredible, but what stands out even more is the willingness of these men and women to share it. Conversations about player development, leadership, culture, communication, preparation, and mentorship happen daily. Every camp, every meeting, every practice provides another opportunity to grow.
I’ve been blessed to spend time in Major League clubhouses, broadcasting booths, college dugouts, and youth fields, and one thing remains true: great coaches never stop learning.
I’m grateful for the relationships, the friendships, the challenges, and the opportunity to continue sharpening my craft alongside people who care deeply about developing players and people.
The uniform is an honor.
The mission is bigger than baseball.
And the wisdom gained from being around this group is something I never take for granted.
Thank you, USA Baseball, for continuing to invest in the next generation and allowing me to be a small part of it.
🇺🇸⚾️ #USABaseball #PlayerDevelopment #Leadership #Coaching
Baseball has given me so much throughout my journey from my years in Major League Baseball, to leadership opportunities in clubhouses, to my work in media and player development. The game has taught me humility, resilience, communication, teamwork, and the value of servant leadership. I genuinely feel a responsibility to pour those experiences back into the next generation.
Attention to Detail: The Shortcut Nobody Wants
Everybody wants the results. Not everybody wants the work that actually produces them.
In hitting, attention to detail is the difference between “I’m close” and “I’m dangerous.” It’s the difference between a guy who looks good in batting practice and a guy who can compete when the lights are on, the pitcher is nasty, and the game is speeding up.
Because the truth is: the game doesn’t reward effort.
The game rewards clarity… and then it rewards execution.
And clarity is built through detail.
For me, the opportunity to coach is rooted in helping to build something meaningful: a culture centered around accountability, toughness, relationships, identity, preparation, and development both on and off the field. I want to be a part of an environment where young men are challenged, supported, developed, and ultimately prepared for life long after playing baseball ends.
After much prayer, reflection, and consultation with my agent (AKA my wife).
I have officially entered the NCAA Assistant/Associate Coaching Portal.
✔️ Retired MLB Catcher
✔️ College All-American
✔️ Player Development Experience
✔️ Broadcasting Experience
✔️ USA Baseball Experience
✔️ Still catches bullpens
✔️ Avid sunflower seed consumer
✔️ Elite fungo BP & shagging potential
•Years of eligibility remaining: Plenty.
•40-yard dash: Declining.
•Wisdom: Increasing.
•Ability to help young men become better players and better people: At an all-time high.
•Not looking for a special job title.
•Not chasing a certain uniform.
✔️Answering a calling that’s been on my heart for a long time.
If you’re building a program centered around culture, accountability, player development, relationships, toughness, and preparing young men for life— let’s talk.
Until then, I’ll be in the portal...
Watching film.
Drinking coffee.
Talking baseball.
Cage Dwelling!
Honored. Grateful. Fired up.
Anytime you get the opportunity to put on “USA” across your chest and pour into the next generation of players and young men, it means something bigger than baseball.
Extremely thankful to be named the Grey Team Manager for the 2026 NTDP USA Baseball Coaching Staff alongside so many people I respect in this game. The older I get, the more I realize this journey isn’t just about developing better players… it’s about helping build better men.
This game gave me purpose, relationships, toughness, perspective, and a platform. It’s my responsibility to continue giving it back.
Build the Person → Develop the Player → Elevate the Team.
Let’s get to work. 🇺🇸⚾️ #USABaseball #NTDP #Coaching #PlayerDevelopment #TheFort Baseball Leadership
To all the seniors headed into tournament time… this is it. The last ride. The last bus trips, the last stretch with your brothers, the last time putting that jersey on with this group.
So leave it all on the field. Empty the tank. Play free. Play fearless. Compete with passion and gratitude. Don’t walk off that field wishing you would’ve said more, worked harder, trusted yourself more, or enjoyed it deeper.
Take in every moment…the nerves, the laughs, the dugout chatter, the dogpiles, the pressure, the crowd, the silence before first pitch. One day you’ll miss all of it more than you can imagine.
The game owes you nothing, but it gives you memories, relationships, and lessons that last forever.
So walk tall. Trust your preparation. Love your teammates hard. And when it’s all said and done… make sure there’s nothing left inside you.
No regrets.
Gonzo made some significant adjustments heading into 2026—and it’s showing.
He’s simplified his early movements to get loaded sooner and more consistently. He’s pre-set his hands and is more stacked in his setup, which allows him to get to his load quicker. That creates more space, more time, and ultimately puts him in a better position with greater adjustability.
On top of that, he’s moving more athletically than ever.
I love seeing guys like Gonzo win—he works his tail off, and it’s paying off in a big way:
• .330 AVG
• 8-game hitting streak
• .440 AVG / .997 OPS with RISP
• 4 BB
This is what it looks like when preparation meets opportunity.
For a long time, I’ve felt this pull.. this calling to full-time coaching. To lead, to pour into the next generation the way so many poured into me.
And the truth is…
it’s about time I started listening.
•We’re coming with purpose. •We’re coming with standards. •We’re coming to impact lives.
Build the Person →
Develop the Player →
Elevate the Team!
Coaching World…
College Baseball…
NCAA…
Here we come!
—Michael
A baseball rundown, also known as a “pickle”, occurs when a baserunner is stuck between bases and at risk of being tagged out. The defensive team aims to force the runner into an undesirable position by limiting their time and space on the basepath. The goal is to get the runner out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Brother I’m so proud of you! Hitter of the Week!! Let’s goooo!!!
This past weekend… that was a glimpse of what’s coming, and Not by luck or accident but because you have been relentless and went to work on yourself and your game when life kept punching you. The maturity to trust the process… and more importantly, you owned it, and trusted yourself enough to make real changes.
Then you did what you always do:
You worked. You worked. You worked.
Until you could feel it. Repeat it. Own it.
And we’re just getting started.
We’ve got big goals. Big vision. Big belief.
I’m proud of you in a way that goes way beyond performance. This is about who you’re becoming. And I truly believe God has something special in store for your life, and I’ll be right here in the background… doing my part.
Trust the unknowns of your future to a known God. Continue to Fall in love with your journey not the destination. And never let anything ordinary dim what is extraordinary inside of you.
Braxton Ashcraft had a great showing in 2025 how will this powerful righty show up in 2026. I know the stuff is real with a mid to upper 90s FB a New Weapon he introduced last year in the sinker and the breaking-ball combo of feel & finish. Although he has leverage traits you would often see in a bullpen arm. He has not shown he is capable but at times in a short sample size he showed he can be dominant. The 2026 jump isn’t about “more stuff” he has stuff it’s about execution and intent early and punching tickets late!!
The Bible emphasizes that giving back is an act of worship, trust, and love, encouraging believers to give cheerfully, generously, and without compulsion. It teaches that God is the owner of all things, and we are stewards who should share resources with the needy, the church, and the community.
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Key biblical principles on giving back include:
Cheerful Giving: God desires that giving comes from a willing heart, not out of obligation or reluctance (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Generosity Reaps Blessings: The Bible teaches that “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
Helping the Needy and Weak: Scripture highlights the duty to support the poor, widows, orphans, and the weak (Proverbs 19:17, Acts 20:35).
It is More Blessed to Give: Jesus stated”It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Trusting God’s Provision: Giving, even when resources are scarce (like the widow’s mite), is an act of faith that God will provide (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 6:38).
My dude has been the Franchise Cornerstone for nearly two decades. He was the Face of the Pirates’ modern resurgence. The absolute Central figure in ending the 20-year losing streak. He is Culture-changer. He brings presences with real accountability, persistent preparation, and enthusiasm.
2013 NL MVP
5× All-Star
4× Silver Slugger
Gold Glove (OF)
2018 Gold Metalist
Top 5–10 all-time Pirate in:
Hits
Home Runs
RBIs
Runs Scored
Extra-Base Hits
Walks
@cutchtwenty2 didn’t just put up numbers… He revived a franchise, energized a city, and though he has already earned his place next to the greatest names in Pirates history!! His story is still being written. Thank you for being you and all you have done in the Burgh. Time to Ranger up brother. #Jobsnotfinished YA DIGG!!!!
You will have a variety of days small wins, big wins, fails, and days it’s going to be a bar fight. The goal is to narrow the gap between what you want, what you think, and how to get it. You have to come up with an adaptable plan that allows you to have days where you work through something or even fail forward. Especially when your teammates are looking at you as the leader..
There are only patterns, patterns on top of patterns, patterns that affect other patterns. Patterns hidden by patterns. Patterns within patterns.
If you watch close, history does nothing but repeat itself.
What we call chaos is just patterns we haven’t recognized. What we call random is just patterns we can’t decipher. what we can’t understand we call nonsense. What we can’t read we call gibberish.
There is no free will.
There are no variables.
Chuck Palahniuk
The uncertainties in life are so uncertain for us to determine the kind woe we shall be entangled in in the next future. When you stay dormant, your life is at risk; when you dare to take a step, you take a step to take a risk. We have a choice. Yes! a choice to choose to dare to get to our real reasons on earth or to choose to live in mediocrity and conformity, but, we ought to note that, it is riskier to risk nothing when the life we live is always at risk.
Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
Utilizing ground reaction forces (GRF) to create, transfer, and amplify energy through the kinetic chain (legs, hips, core, arms) to the bat. Hitters generate force by pressing into the ground, leading to a rotational, powerful swing, often maximized by torque, hip-shoulder separation, and a stable, balanced foundation. Staying Grounded: Maintain ground connection throughout the swing for better balance and adjustability.
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THOSE WHO TRUST IN THE LORD WILL renew their STRENGTH...
ISAIAH 40:31















































































































