What's Your "Y"

Matt Hartman, Pitcher, Braves

How has your fitness/sport journey evolved since day 1?

"I grew up playing little league and playing catch with my dad in the backyard. Over the years, my love for the game grew and I found out that I had more fun when I played better! I dedicated myself to not only sharpening my physical skill set, but also my mental skills. My dad introduced me to mental skills training at the age of 16, and it has proved to be invaluable.

I went to Calvary Christian, Vista and only had 35 in my graduating class. Despite being a small school, we had a good baseball team and had a few players to college. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to the University of Arizona, where I played my freshman and sophomore seasons (2015-2016).

Our trip to the College World Series in 2016 is one of my all time favorite baseball memories. My time at U of A ended in the fall of 2016 as I made the personal decision to transfer to Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. My time at Westmont was brief as I had Tommy John surgery in April 2017. June 13th, 2018 I pitched in a game again for the Santa Barbara Foresters.

Thanks to God, Bill Pintard (Foresters HC), Tony Cougoule (Wesmont PC), Rob Ruiz (Westmont HC), Page Odle (my agent - PSI), Kevin Martin (Braves Scout), my parents, and my wife Savannah, I signed a pro contract with the Atlanta Braves on July 31st 2018. I am currently in the Braves organization and have thrown just over 100 career innings."

Describe your recovery strategies. -How do you know if those recovery strategies are working?

"Nutrition is my number one most important recovery strategy. No matter how many recovery tools you use, your body won’t establish peak performance without the proper fuel.

YOLKED has played a key role in my recovery routine over the past year. I usually incorporate YOLKED in my post workout shakes along with BCAA’s, Creatine, and Whey Protein.”

Where do you find more motivation, doubters or supporters?

"I find motivation from both the people who have supported and the ones who have doubted me. The people who have supported me (my parents, my wife, coaches, mentors, etc) have sacrificed so much for me and I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am today without them. The people who have doubted me fuel the fire because I love proving people wrong. There’s nothing better than making people proud and proving people wrong at the same time!"

What is the biggest mental challenge you've had to face in your sport and how have you conquered that?

"I had Tommy John surgery in April, 2017. That was by far the toughest obstacle I’ve had to overcome in my career. My injury was very untimely as it was during my junior year and we were rapidly approaching draft day. Instead of the possibility of beginning a professional career, I had an 18 month rehab process and the possibility of never playing again in front of me. I decided to drop out of school, rehab through a trusted PT, and become a student of the game until I could play again. During that time, I saw the game from a much different perspective as I was coaching college players down to 12 year olds.

With my new perspective, I became much more open minded and I started refining all areas of my game. I’ve carried that same mindset with me today as I’m always doing research and looking for ways to get a step ahead."

What's Your "Y"?

"God blessed me with the ability to play this beautiful, challenging game. So many people have been a part of my journey and I give everything I have to make them proud and to be an example for the next generation of athletes.

I strive to lead by example off the field and show that the underdogs have a chance on the field."

The faster I can recover between outings, the more productive I can be on the mound. I trust YOLKED for the extra boost I need to stay strong and healthy for the entire season.”