Instructors

Owner Matt Mahay

Title/Position: Owner, Director of Player Development
Favorite MLB Team: Chicago White Sox

Matt Mahay joined the Play Ball USA team in January of 2008 as a hitting instructor. In the following years, Matt rose to the facility manager and program coordinator before taking over as General Manager. In the Summer of 2013 Matt, along with Ross Wolfson purchased the business from former owner Nelson Gord.

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

Title/Position: Hitting/Catching
Favorite MLB Team: Chicago White Sox

This fall we welcome Anthony Alvarez to the Play Ball USA family. 

  • 2014-2017 Taft High School 4 year Varsity starting catcher (all conference 2016 and 2017) CPS all star 2017
  • Oakton Community College 2017-2018 NJCAA DIII National Champion 
  • Travel Ball 3 year Illinois Travel Baseball Club Alumni •
  • Pro Experience 2020 Spring training with Toros De Tijuana 2020-2021 MLB Partner League 2022 Chicago Dogs
Location(s): Player Development Academy
Instructor Sal Biondo

Title/Position: Pitching/Defense instructor
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
Instructor Larry Giovinco

Title/Position: Director of ITB Marucci Program
Favorite MLB Team: Chicago Cubs

Larry joined the Play Ball community last fall in 2021. He has recently became one of our main hitting instructors. Larry also has a full time job, working at a school. He works with young adults with learning disabilities. 

  • Over 20 years of experience in hitting/catching
  • Worked in Las Vegas, High School Feeder Program for 20 years
  • Larry coaches teams 15U -18U currently
  • Illinois Travel Baseball Coach
  • Currently ITB Marucci Program Director and ITB Player & Program Director/Coaching Development Trainer
  • He likes to instill in players the same passion and love for the game that he has. He prides himself on teaching the rewards of hard work, as well as the mental aspect of the game.
Location(s): Team Training Center, Player Development Academy
Instructor Chris Michals

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/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