Instructors

Title/Position: Director of Pitching, Hitting Instructor, Co-Owner

Favorite MLB Team: San Diego Padres

• Pitcher at Oakton Community College (2010) 
• 6 year professional international pitcher/infielder: Slovakia (2012 inter-league champion), Czech Republic (2013), Switzerland (2014-2017, Swiss Champion)
• Assistant Coach for the Slovakian National Team in 2012
• Director of Pitcher Development at Play Ball USA
• Specializes in biomechanics, velocity development, pitch design, video (Rapsodo) analysis, injury prevention

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Hitting/Defense/Catching Instructor, Facility Manager

Favorite MLB Team: Chicago White Sox

• Four Year Starter at St. Patrick High School 
• Catcher at Adrian College (A top 20 DIII baseball program) 
• 6 Year Play Ball USA Alumni 
• Illinois Travel Baseball Club Alum 

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Pitching/Defense instructor, Facility Manager

Favorite MLB Team: Chicago White Sox

• 4-year baseball player at Ridgewood Highschool (all conference 2016) 
• 4-year pitcher at Concordia University-Chicago (CUC), the #1 DIII team in the nation in 2018/2019 
• 2x College World Series appearance for CUC 

Location(s): Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Pitching and hitting instructor

Favorite MLB Team: Chicago White Sox 

• Pitcher at Waubonsee Community College 2013-2014 (1st team All American, 1st team All-Area, 1st team All-Conference, Pitcher of the Year 2014, National-bound 2013-2014)
• Pitcher at Judson University 2014-2016 (1st team All American, 1st team All-Area, 1st team All-Conference)
• Assistant Coach for the Illinois Slammers in 2017 

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Hitting/Infield Instructor

Favorite MLB Team: San Diego Padres

• Play Ball USA and Illinois Travel Baseball Club Alumni 
• Was a 4 year varsity player at Maine West High School earning All Conference twice and All Area once
• Played 1 year at Webster University 
• Moved on to play infield for North Central College where Eric double majored in Marketing and Management 
• All 4 year of college he was a NCAA regional tournament participant and was named Second Team All CCIW in 2018
• In 2020 he was named to the D3baseball.com Team in the spring

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Hitting/Pitching/Catching Instructor

Favorite MLB Team: Chicago White Sox

• Played at Oak Forest High school being a part of two conference championships and one regional title. 
• Started his college career playing at Moraine Community College playing in their sectional tournament in his first year.
• Continued playing at Illinois State and Calumet College of St. Joseph 
• Rob began coaching at IC College Prep winning the Metro Suburban Conference and a state finalist in 2009. 
• He also coached the Chicago Suburban Baseball League being a part of the Oak Forest Shooters. 
• Was a coach for the Chicago White Sox Training Academy from 2005-2013.
• Rob coached for Elite Baseball Training in 2012 working with 15U, 16U, and 17U ages. 

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Fastpitch Softball Pitching/Young Hitting instructor

Favorite MLB Team: Chicago Cubs

• Play Ball USA alumni since 2009 
• Player at Maine South High School 
• Pitcher at Southeastern University for 1 year
• Pitcher at Carthage College (DIII, 1st team All American 2019)  for the past 4 years, earning the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year in 2017, and part of their Regional Championship Team. 

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Fastpitch Softball Pitching instructor

Favorite MLB Team: Chicago Cubs

• Played at Regina Dominican High School where she holds the strikeout record of 217 K’s in one season
• Played travel softball growing up with the Lake Forest Scouts, Athletic Barn, and Chicago Cheetah’s
• Current pitcher at Lake Forest College
• Current coach for the Illinois Blaze Travel Softball 

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Hitting/Defense instructor

Favorite MLB Team: Chicago Cubs

• 4 year varsity infielder at William Howard Taft High School (2015, MVP)
• Infielder at Olive Harvey from 2015-2017(First Team All-Region IV) 
• Infielder at Longwood University (2017-2019) 
• Assistant Coach at Longwood University 2019-2020
• Current Coach for the Illinois Travel Baseball Club 

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Pitching/Hitting instructor

Favorite MLB Team: Chicago Cubs

• Went to Elk Grove High School playing football and baseball earning All Area and All Conference in 2014
• Pitcher at Rockford University where he earned All NACC as a freshman
• Pitcher at UW-Oshkosh 
• Player in the Northwoods Summer League for 3 years 
• Current Coach for the Illinois Travel Baseball Club 
• Current Assistant Coach at Harper Community College 

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy

Title/Position: Hitting and Infield Instructor

Coach Pugliese joined the Play Ball USA staff in 2014, but is no stranger to the academy. “Pug” was a student at Play Ball during his time at St. Francis High School in Wheaton, IL where he was elected as the senior captain of the baseball team, and later an All-Conference selection at shortstop.

Read more: Mike Pugliese

Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy