PRO BLOGS: DURAHIT | August 4th
THE SUMMER’S END: Time to Build Your Engine
By: Greg Brown, Former MLB Hitting Coach & Co-Founder, Florida Baseball Ranch
Summer ball is winding down. The tournaments are over, the showcases are done, and reality is setting in: you either performed to your expectations or you didn’t.
If you’re frustrated with your summer performance, I have good news—there’s a reason, and it’s fixable.
During my time as hitting coordinator with the Tampa Bay Rays and later as MLB hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs, I saw this pattern repeatedly: players focus all summer on making contact and “staying through the ball,” but they never address their engine—bat speed.
Here’s the truth: You can have perfect mechanics, but without bat speed, you’re just making pretty swings.
Think about it. The pitchers you faced this summer threw harder than last year. The breaking balls had more bite. The strike zone shrunk. But did your bat speed increase to match?
Most players spend the fall working on their approach, their timing, their stance. All important, but missing the foundation: how fast can you move the barrel through the zone?
Bat speed isn’t just about power—it’s about time. More bat speed means you can wait longer on pitches, recognize spin better, and still catch up to velocity. It’s the difference between being reactive and being aggressive.
The fall and winter months are your engine-building season. While others are making mechanical adjustments, smart hitters are building the speed that makes every adjustment work better.
Your swing doesn’t need to be perfect—it needs to be fast.
Start building your engine now, or spend another summer making pretty outs.
Greg Brown is a former MLB hitting coach and co-founder of the Florida Baseball Ranch. His player development systems have contributed to World Series runs, national championships, and countless individual success stories at every level of baseball.
Ready to develop both the physical and mental sides of your young hitter’s game? Contact The Florida Baseball Ranch to learn about our comprehensive hitting development programs designed specifically for amateur players aged 12-18.
Remember to follow us on all social media and check out our website for upcoming Boot Camps and 1:1 Training with the FBR Coaches