Jd Closser Catching Camp

PRESENTS

The JD Closser Catching & Hitting Camp

JD Closser

Rob Barber

Tuesday, December 30th 9:30 - 2:30 (Lunch Provided) Trinity Ballpark 6835 East 161st Street Noblesville, IN 46062

JD Closser JD was born in Beech Grove and graduated from Alexandria Monroe High School in 1998. That year he lead his high school basketball and baseball teams to state championships. As a straight A student, JD also finished near the top of his graduating class. His intelligence combined with his talent and incredible work-ethic make him a fifth round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks. JD signed a professional contract, turning down a baseball scholarship to the University of Georgia. JD was also named Mr. Baseball by the IHSBCA in 1998. Previously JD was also a member of the USA Baseball Junior National Team. JD and his father, Jeff, attended a number of camps, clinics and showcases around the country. In 1994, JD attended a hitting class with Rob Barber where he continued to excel. Rob, JD and Jeff developed a friendship that deepened over the years as they worked together and as JD’s career evolved. JD’s focus and work-ethic put him at the top of his class. After JD was drafted, he worked with Rob at Triple Crown in the off-season teaching lessons and speaking to younger players. His magnetic personality and unique understanding of hitting and catching made him an instant favorite.

JD in the Major Leagues JD made his major league debut midway through the 2004 season where he posted very impressive statistics. He batted .319 with 1 HR and 10 RBI in 36 games with Colorado.....made 29 starts, all at catcher ...batted .386 (17-for-44) in August, the highest of any Major League rookie. J.D opened the 2005 season as the starting catcher for the Colorado Rockies, becoming the first National League rookie catcher to start an opener since Pittsburgh’s Jason Kendall in 1996. He spent his first full season in the majors appearing in 92 games with Colorado. In ’06, JD ended up with 27 major league starts at catcher for the Rockies, and hit his second career pinch-hit homer at St. Louis with a solo shot off Jason Isringhausen. The last two seasons JD has filled needs and pursued opportunities with a number of clubs including the Brewers, A’s, Cubs, Yankees and Padres. His experience as a veteran catcher with major league experience keeps him in demand in baseball’s most critical position. Together, JD and his wife, Holley, have two daughters: Isabelle and Callie Makenna. They currently reside in North Carolina.

Rob Barber Rob is from the southern Indiana town of North Vernon where he graduated from Jennings County High School in 1985. Even though Rob attended baseball camps growing up, he was an average player not making all-star teams or excelling. His father, a former high school player himself, studied books like Ted Williams’ The Science of Hitting, and set up makeshift training tools to provide direction. Upon entering high school, Rob, for the first time, began to experience the benefits of all the camps and work. His senior season he was named the First Team All-State Catcher while leading his Jennings County to the state finals. Just after that, Rob was selected to the Indiana All-Star team where he was the series’ Most Valuable Player. Rob accepted a baseball scholarship to Indiana University. During his tenure at IU, Rob became the team’s starting catcher as a junior and was elected a team captain by his coaches and teammates his senior year. During his collegiate summers Rob had the opportunity to play in Europe and Alaska with Athletes in Action and was named to the CICL All-Star team where he had the opportunity to catch at Wrigley Field. After his playing career ended, Rob had shoulder surgery to repair a damaged rotator cuff. He later graduated from Indiana in 1990 with a BS in Sports Marketing and Management. Rob continued to stay in the game by running baseball camps and clinics beginning in 1989. In 1993, Rob joined former coach Jeff Mercer to open a new indoor facility in Greenfield, currently the site of Bandit Yard. After serving on a number of baseball boards and coaching the Indiana Bulls, Rob founded USAthletic Baseball with the idea of giving more kids the opportunity to play and develop. As a result, USAthletic has grown to become the largest travel program in the state, fielding more than twenty teams in 2008 while sending dozens of players on to play in college. The program’s developmental focus has distinguished it as place where players can grow in their skill and character. Rob’s passion for teaching is evident in his unique ability to connect with kids of all ages, as well as their parents. His personable style, skilled insights and creative explanations have contributed to the development of over 1,000 kids who have gone on to play in college and more than forty that have been drafted. Three students, AJ Zapp, JD Closser and Wes Whisler were named as Indiana’s Mr. Baseball. He has also coached such notable catching standouts as JD Closser (Padres), Jake Fox (Cubs), Sean Gaston (Notre Dame), Josh Ludy (Baylor) and Josh Lyon (Indiana). Rob is currently the General Manager for USAthletic and teaches about 1,600 private hitting and catching sessions a year at the Strike Zone in Fishers and Trinity Ballpark in Noblesville. Rob resides in Fishers with his wife, Nichole, who is employed by Starbucks. Their daughter, Mary, is a freshman at Heritage Christian, where she plays lacrosse. Their son Alec is a seventh grader at Hamilton Southeastern Junior High and plays baseball on his dad’s thirteen-year-old USAthletic team.

PRESENTS

The JD Closser Catching & Hitting Camp Where: Trinity Ballpark 6835 East 161st Street Noblesville, IN 46060 When: Tuesday, December 30th 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Lunch will be provided Info:

Learned advanced drills and teaching from a major league catcher.

Cost:

$150.00 per player $125.00 ‘09 USAthletic Player

Sign Up Form Name: _____________________________________________________Phone: (_____) ________________ Email: ___________________________________________ _______________ Age: __________________ School:________________________________________________________________ Year: ____________ Payment: check # _________________________ Cash: $_______________ Credit card: (Check one) o Visa or o Mastercard # ____________________________________________ Expiration: ______________________ CVS: ______________________________ Make checks payable to USAthletic. You may reserve a spot with a credit card or check. Please arrive at Trinity Ballpark 15 minutes before the start of the clinic. Mail payment to: USAthletic Baseball 11650 Olio Road Suite 1000 - 298 Fishers, IN 46037 Or Email registration to [email protected] or fax to 317-578-0394 For more information contact Rob Barber at 317-840-6488 or [email protected]