Dave Gallagher of Sportika Gallagher Baseball has long-established himself as one of New Jersey’s top coaches in youth baseball development, and his level of expertise extends all the way to the top of the professional game. As the upcoming baseball season approaches, Gallagher is currently working on the staff for a Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) Spring Camp, which is being held at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
“There are an abnormal amount of unsigned free agents this late in the offseason,” Gallagher stated. “Many talented players do not have a team to report to for preparation for the upcoming season. Therefore, the Major League Baseball Players Association contracted the IMG facility as a place for players to get baseball ready while trying to land a job. I am honored that I was chosen to be part of the coaching staff with the responsibility of outfield and baserunning.”
There is a precedent when it comes to conducting a Spring Camp like this. The last one was held in 1995 in Homestead, Florida, when Gallagher himself was an MLB free agent. On the third day of that camp, Gallagher was signed to the Philadelphia Phillies, recalling that he actually negotiated his own contract from a phone in the clubhouse.
When he returns to Sportika Sports after the camp, Gallagher notes that he will be bringing back plenty of useful information from his experience in Florida.
“The routine of each player is very consistent,” Gallagher said. “Whether it’s hitting, fielding or a pitcher throwing a bullpen, they are all creatures of habit. It allows them to perform under stress by simply repeating what they practiced so diligently.”
Gallagher himself played 17 years of professional baseball. He was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics as the number three overall selection in the 1980 MLB January Draft (Regular Phase), which made him the highest drafted player ever from the State of New Jersey. He was then taken by the Cleveland Indians with the eighth overall pick in the 1980 MLB June Draft (Secondary Phase). After developing his game in the minor leagues, he eventually enjoyed a nine-year MLB career that included time with seven different clubs (Indians, White Sox, Orioles, Angels, Mets, Braves and Phillies).
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