Los Angeles Dodgers Strength & Conditioning Symposium

2024 Dates to Be Announced Soon!

Email [email protected] to be added to our Interest List!

2023 Event Information

The Los Angeles Dodgers are excited for the return of our Strength and Conditioning Symposium presented by Gatorade with supporting partner Therabody. We are excited to host at Dodger Stadium, and will feature a blend of academic, classroom-style presentation, as well as practical application, in the home weight room, batting cage and on the field.

Led by VP of Player Performance, Brandon McDaniel and his staff, the Dodgers Strength and Conditioning Symposium series is open to any practitioner that is looking for NSCA CEU's and to learn about how the Dodgers Philosophy of Athletic Development has helped identify, train and continue to develop the physical aspects needed to perform at the highest level of baseball over a sustained period of time.

We're also excited to welcome Dr. Greg Rose, Co-Founder at Titleist Performance Institute, as our keynote speaker!

2023 Dodger Stadium Symposium

The in-person Symposium event will give a deep dive into how the Dodgers use movement analysis, technology, performance and skill metrics to develop athletes from the age of 16 in Latin America all the way up to how they train their professional team for the grueling demands on a major league season. All of the material will transfer over to how to train high school, college or professional baseball players.

There will be a blend of an academic setting in the classroom, as well as a practical setting, in the home weight room, batting cage, bullpen, and on the field.

Please dress appropriately for the practical settings. Athletic clothing will be preferred.

What to Expect:

  • Diagnostics
  • Interventions
  • Orientation/Breathing/Soft Tissue
  • Mobility and Stability Training
  • Fundamental Movement
  • Mental Performance
  • Strength and Power
  • Workload and Recovery
  • Athlete Data
  • Showcase of Vendors
  • NSCA CEUā€™s
  • Dodgers Gift Bag

As an added bonus, anyone who purchases the in-person event will gain access to the Virtual Symposium!

2023 Presenters

Greg is a board-certified Doctor of Chiropractic and holds an engineering degree from the University of Maryland. Greg specializes in assessing and treating athletes, 3-dimensional biomechanics, strength and conditioning, manual therapy, rehabilitation and therapeutic exercises.

Combining an engineering background with an expertise on the human body, Greg helped pioneer the field of analyzing 3-dimensional motion capture models of the golf swing. That research has helped golf professionals all over the world gain a better understanding of how the body works during the golf swing.

Through the past 26 years, Greg has helped thousands of athletes of all skill levels reach peak athletic performance. His cutting-edge research-based form of functional training combined with golf-specific motor learning drills have made Greg one of golfā€™s top strength and conditioning professionals.

Greg is a partner in Functional Movement Systems (FMS) and helped develop the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), a revolutionary movement assessment that helps identify altered motor control and guides medical practitioners on how to treat patients more efficiently. Greg also founded OnBase University and RacquetFit which teach baseball/softball professionals and tennis professionals respectively how to improve their overall skills by enhancing their physical performance.

The TPI golf certification seminar series has made Greg one of the most requested speakers in golf health and fitness. He has lectured in over 24 countries and has been featured in many golf and news publications.

Greg and his family live in San Diego.

Brandon McDaniel enters his 14th season in professional baseball. He currently is a Vice President, Player Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He has been in the field of Strength & Conditioning for 17 years and has previously worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Minor League level and EXOS (formerly Athletes Performance) in their Military Strength and Conditioning department with the Department of Defense.

Brandon holds a Bachelorā€™s Degree in Exercise Science from Wayne State College (NE) where he was a member of the baseball team. He holds a Masterā€™s Degree from A.T. Still University in Human Movement. He also holds many certifications including his Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as FMS, SFMA, USAW, DNS, PRI and Strong First Kettlebell.

He has a strong belief in the importance of sound training and optimal recovery for high-level performance not only in the world of professional athletics, but also in general human performance.

Brandon is married to his wife Andrea, who is a registered dietitian. They have three young sons and currently reside in Burbank, CA.

Travis Smith is a Major League Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, where he is responsible for designing and implementing team training, nutritional and recovery programs.

Prior to his current role, Smith spent three seasons (2016-2018) as the Major League Assistant/Minor League Strength Coordinator. From 2012-2015, Smith served as a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Dodgers. Previous experience includes strength and conditioning positions with the Miami Marlins organization, Mazatlan Venados Mexican Baseball Organization and Lara Cardenales Venezuelan Baseball Organization.

Travis has earned his license in massage therapy, Master's in Applied Exercise Science from Concordia University Chicago and Bachelors in Exercise Science from Taylor University. While attending Taylor, Smith played defensive back for 4 years.

In 2017, Travis presented at the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society conference on Technology in Strength and Conditioning (Athlete Assessment and Monitoring). In 2018, Smith had the opportunity to run a baseball strength and conditioning mentorship in Okinawa, Japan for both Korean baseball organizations and Japanese baseball organizations. Presenting on Movement Assessment, Athlete development and systematic approach to weightlifting.

  • Master of Science in Exercise Science- Concordia University Chicago
  • Certified Massage Therapist - South Bay Massage College
  • Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science - Taylor University
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine: Performance Enhancement Specialist
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine: Corrective Enhancement Specialist
  • Strong First Girya Level 1
  • Precision Nutrition: Level 1 Certification
  • Functional Movement Systems: FMS level 1 & 2, SFMA Level 1, FCS
  • Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization: Level 1
  • Fascial Distortion Model
  • OnBaseU: Hitting Level 1
  • Strong First Girya Instructor: Level 1

Eric is the Director of Performance Scouting and Major League Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Eric is currently in his 5th year with the organization. Prior to the 2019 season, he served as a Minor League Performance coach at various levels. His current role splits time within both the Performance and Amateur Scouting Departments. Within Performance, he works directly with the players on the Major League side. Within Amateur Scouting he creates the physical evaluations for all players that have been identified as potential draft picks.

Prior to the Dodgers, Eric spent time in the private sector of Strength and Conditioning. He completed an internship at Cressey Sports Performance (Hudson, MA) before working at Ranfone Training Systems (Hamden, CT). He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut where he was a 4-year member of the baseball team. While at UConn, he completed an internship with the Sports Performance Department. These experiences have offered him the opportunity to work with athletes across many different ages and sport demographics.

  • Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science w/ Concentration in Strength and Conditioning- University of Connecticut
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Functional Anatomy Seminars: FRCms, FRA
  • Functional Movement Systems: FMS Level 1, SFMA Level 1
  • Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization: Level 1
  • Postural Restoration Institute: Baseball
  • OnBase University: Hitting Level 1
  • National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association: Biomechanics
  • Certified Massage Therapist in the state of California

Thomas Albert returns in his 7th season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the Medical/Rehabilitation Coordinator for the Cleveland Indians for 4 years. A native of Burlington, IA, Thomas earned his Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from A.T. Still University. He earned a Bachelorā€™s degree in Athletic Training, Sports Science, and Fitness from Upper Iowa University. He is certified in Spinal Manipulation and Dry Needling through the Spinal Manipulation Institute. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA.

Thomas resides in Chino, CA with his wife Mandi and three children Chloe, Adelyn and Juliet.

Tyrone Hall is currently the Manager of Performance Nutrition for the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a chef and registered dietitian, Tyrone uses his skill sets to prepare meals and educate personnel throughout the Dodgers organization.

He grew up in Burlington, NC before attending Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island. He graduated with a bachelorā€™s degree in Culinary Nutrition in 2005. Tyrone then went on to work for the Duke Diet and Fitness Center and the Compass Group for 5 years before going back to UNC-Chapel Hill for graduate school. After graduate school, he worked for the Durham County Public Health Department teaching cooking and sports nutrition to children and adults in Durham, NC. His first season with the Dodgers was in 2016 as their Performance Chef Dietitian.

Registered Dietitian/Nutritions by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Kristen is currently the Head Performance Chef for the Los Angeles Dodgers and is entering her 5th year with the organization. She prepares high-performance meals for players and staff at the major league level and serves as a valuable nutrition resource for players throughout the Dodgers organization.

Most of her life was spent on the East Coast in Cranston, Rhode Island, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Nutrition at Johnson & Wales University. She was a member of the cross country team for her 4 years at JWU. After undergrad, she worked as a diet technician at a local hospital before completing her sports nutrition-focused masterā€™s degree and dietetic internship at Saint Louis University in Missouri. Her research conducted during her time at SLU titled, ā€œShort-Term Mediterranean Diet Improves Endurance Exercise Performance: A Randomized-Sequence Crossover Trialā€ was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2019. Before beginning her journey with the Dodgers, she worked as a pastry chef, baker, and barista at a local Italian cafĆ©.

Kristen has a passion for recipe development, food first fueling strategies, and nutrient timing to optimize performance and recovery.

  • Commission on Dietetic Registration: Registered Dietitian
  • Research- Journal of the American College of Nutrition: ā€œShort-Term Mediterranean Diet Improves Endurance Exercise Performance: A Randomized-Sequence Crossover Trialā€
  • American College of Sports Medicine: Certified Personal Trainer
  • Master of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics, Concentration in Nutrition & Physical Performance- Saint Louis University
  • Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition, Concentration in Clinical Dietetics- Johnson & Wales University
  • Associate in Applied Science in Baking & Pastry Arts- Johnson & Wales University

French Pastry Professional Training Certification- Ecole Nationale SupĆ©rieure de la PĆ¢tisserie

Received his Bachelor degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Potsdam, holds a Master of Education degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Athletic Counseling and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Clinical Mental Health from Springfield College. In addition to graduate work, he facilitated Adventure Therapy and Experiential Education groups at the East Campus Outdoor Learning Center. He is a current member of the Professional Baseball Performance Psychology Group (PBPPG), American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47, and Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).

In 2010, AJ became a co-founder of the mental performance group, FOCUS Unlimited, LLC. Mainly working with youth, high school, and collegiate athletes on developing their mental game both on and off the field. In 2012, he began government contract work within the Comprehensive Soldier & Family Fitness Program (CSF2), under the directive of the United States Army with placement at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Training responsibilities primarily dealt with enhancing the mental performance and resilience of our uniform service members; in including certification(s) in Learning Enhancement and a Level 3 Master Resilience Trainer.

In 2015, AJ accepted his current position as the StrongMind Coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Developing, maintaining, and enhancing the mental strength of players and staff members within the greater reach of Baseball Operations. Majority of training education and implementation is conducted via lectures, small/large group workshops, individual training, and on/off field consultation. Largely within Player Development, in addition to conducting people projects that enrich the collaboration amongst departments and support resources.

Leo Ruiz is currently the Strong Mind Cultural Development Director with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born and raised in the United States, specifically in the state of New Jersey. His parents are originally from the Dominican Republic. He graduated from Drew University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Spanish and Springfield College with a Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Athletic Counseling. He played four years of college baseball as a pitcher at Drew, coached for two years as a graduate assistant coach at both Springfield College and Western New England University, and was an AmeriCorps service member for the Springfield Public Schools system.

He is an active member of the Professional Baseball Performance Psychology Group (PBPPG), American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47, and is a Certified Mental Performance ConsultantĀ® (CMPC) through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). For the past five years, his role has been to develop-maintain-enhance the mental/emotional strength of players and staff within Player Development, and largely, Baseball Operations.

His primary responsibilities focus on mental performance, life skill development, cultural acclimation to the United States for Latin American athletes, and cultural proficiency for American players and staff across the organization. Coordinates interdepartmental collaboration to optimize player performance through linguistically and culturally relevant development, education, transition, integration, and mental performance programs of international players, from their inception as professionals at our Campo Las Palmas Dominican Republic Academy, through their transition in the United States minor league affiliate teams, and ultimately when they arrive to the Major Leagues in Los Angeles.

More speakers will be announced in the coming days!

2023 Agenda

Friday, Jan. 20, 2023

8:00am ā€“ 9:00am: Check-in & Breakfast

9:00am ā€“ 9:15am: Introduction (Brandon McDaniel)

9:15am ā€“ 10:00am: Travis Smithā€™s Presentation

10:15am ā€“ 11:00am: Eric Yavaroneā€™s Presentation

11:15am ā€“ 12:00pm: Carl Kochanā€™s Presentation

12:00pm ā€“ 12:30pm: Tyrone Hall & Kristen DeCesareā€™s Presentation

12:30pm ā€“ 1:30pm: Lunch

1:30pm ā€“ 1:45pm: Ice Breaker

1:45pm ā€“ 2:30pm: Brian Stonebergā€™s Presentation

2:45pm ā€“ 3:30pm: Chris Dunawayā€™s Presentation

3:45pm ā€“ 4:30pm: Brandon McDanielā€™s Presentation

4:30pm ā€“ 5:00pm: ā€œOffice Hoursā€ ā€“ Q/A Session with any of our Day 1 Presenters

Saturday, Jan 21, 2023

7:00am ā€“ 8:00am: Breakfast

8:00am ā€“ 8:15am: Review from Day 1 (Brandon McDaniel)

8:15am ā€“ 9:15am: Keynote speaker - Greg Rose, Co-Founder of TPI

9:00am ā€“ 10:00am: Q/A with Greg Rose

10:00am ā€“ 11:30am: Breakout Sessions (Part 1)

11:30am ā€“ 12:30pm: Lunch/Vendors

12:30pm ā€“ 2:00pm: Breakout Sessions (Part 2)

Day 2 Breakout Session Presenters:

  • Thomas Albert
  • AJ Lalonde, Leo Ruiz, Adam Law
  • Taylor Miller
  • Will Ireton

Health & Safety

We are following all health and safety guidelines for the county and city of Los Angeles. This section will updated should guidelines evolve.