Revisiting Vendors from Prior Years at ABCA 2025

Posted on by David Navarre

Not only are there new vendors with new products, but also vendors we’ve met before that have created new products or modified existing ones with the experience they’ve gained.

Krato Sports

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Back in 2022, we visited with Justin Kuhn and Rick Weaver to learn about their innovative bat weights. They screw onto any part of your bat and, like the RITEND weight we first saw yesterday, can be used in batting practice as well as dry swings. These have been upgraded, with plastic coverings and longer bolts to avoid breakage. They’ve also created some new products to save coaches money and provide more opportunities to improve our players.

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They’ve got Tee Toppers (and tees), plyo balls (with or without “laces”) and nets to hit or throw into. Since it’s a few guys who coach together, they collaborate and they know that coaches/programs don’t have any money to waste. Check them out at Booth #105.

The Nexus Mount

I was very excited to see the latest products under development at The Nexus Mount, who we met last year.

Brandon Miller has an iPad mount in prototype (rumored to be used in MLB spring training) that I’ve been hoping for since I needed to get an iPad to maximize my PitchLogic data review. It looks really good to me, with all the design elements of the OG Mount, only big enough for an iPad. It is due for pre-orders in February or March, so you might have it during school seasons and certainly will be seeing it during summer ball.

There’s a new swivel ball mount they’re coming out with, since some cameras need that when used in the mount to keep the view level. I didn’t get a photo of this, but it is really cool.

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Also available for pre-order soon is a stand for your mount, for when you’re not allowed to have it hanging from the screen or maybe even not touching the screen. You can have the stand on the wall of the backstop, which is way easier that doing that via tripod (which was part of the reason to use the Mount in the first place!) I know I’ll be getting one of these after my pre-order in February or March.

Less than 24 hours til the Trade Show Closes!

They’re on a break until 4pm, with the Coaches’ Social running until 6:30pm tonight, but you have to see and purchase your products either tonight or tomorrow. Otherwise, you won’t have this opportunity until we get to Columbus for ABCA 2026.

If you can hit a chickpea, you can hit anything

Posted on by David Navarre

I’m a sucker for a good story and especially for a good story behind a new business in baseball. Last year, I got to meet Rick Weaver and Justin Kuhn, who started Krato Spoorts (we will have a follow up this weekend!) and this year, I met Felix Fernandez.

Growing up in the Bronx, Felix would hit chickpeas to improve his hitting skills. When he got the chance to create a tool to make that easier for players to try, he started FLE-Innovations. So now we can all try to hit them all!

I was leaning in and Angel Jorge, who’s working for Felix part-time, saw my interest and built on it. The little machine fires bio-degradable balls for you to hit – each the size of a chickpea! You don’t need a partner. You don’t need a field or a net. You could be in a tiny yard just big enough for you to swing in, or next to a chain link fence (hook the machine to the fence!) or just about anywhere. The balls disintegrate on impact and biodegrade over team.

They’re running a $50 off special, so the machine and your first 120 balls are $199.99. You can get another 400 for $25 and 800 balls for $40.

Felix is here in Booth #2812 at ABCA 2023 and there was a swarm around their booth. Get in there!

While you’re there, congratulate Felix on his baby (his wife isn’t here so she can care for their 9-month-old).

ABCA 2022 First Day

Posted on by David Navarre

This is my first big baseball conference. I’ve been to IT shows and worked the All Star Game Fan Fest, but NOTHING prepared me for this. As a baseball guy walking the trade show, you could stop at EVERY booth and find something interesting or useful. You’d also get to talk to some great people.

Brilliance in bat design

A number of years ago, I wanted a flared-knob bat. I’d been using my Phoenix Bat regularly, but when I’d do an hour-long batting cage session, I’d develop a line of blisters at the knob. So I asked them to design me a bat with a flared knob. Some major leaguers were using them already and Axe had just come out with it’s first bats (only flared on one side). When I stopped by the booth today, Brad Taylor recognized my name. He was the one who designed my bat back in December of 2015!

Now, Phoenix has a dozen flared-knob bats on the display table. If you’re at the ABCA, go check THOSE bats out if you do nothing else. Tell Brad he’s a genius because… he is.

Weather

Chicago is mighty cold. I asked a bicycle cop if it was better to ride slow to avoid the wind or fast to create body heat. He told me “slow and steady wins the race” because riding hard makes you sweat and that sweat makes you COLD! I took the train in and met up with a few other conference attendees at the Clark/Lake stop. We conferred on which train was the right one and we nailed it. Unfortunately, the walk from the Cermak/McCormick Place station to the convention center was long and COLD. Three guys from Virginia, Texas and Florida might have been a little overmatched, but we survived.

Ground-breaking new tool made in the USA!

I’d let my Little Leaguers use my sleeved weight on their bats when I accidentally had it in the team bag, but it was just too heavy for them to do anything but be funny. I’ve been learning more about overload and underload bats, so wanted to start incorporating them into our practices. That gets a little too pricey for a coach buying gear out of his own pocket.

Rick Weaver (@Rweaver23) was talking to Justin Kuhn, father of one of the players he coaches, about an idea he had for bat weights. Justin had a friend with a machine shop, so the came up with the Krato Bat Weight. By being just above the hands, you get the benefits of the modern overload bats but can use it on any bat, use it in live hitting, against machines or off the tee without worrying about breakage or other nonsense.

They come in a variety of sizes and I went ahead and bought the beginner pack (10-ounce, 15-ounce and 20-ounce) with the heaviest one intended for MY personal use.

They’ve been in business for… 30 DAYS. Check their website and stop in to see them. Booth #671.

Getting 56 on your radar gun?

There’s a fantastic new version of SmartCoach out from Pocker Radar for the iPhone. While that won’t be available on Android for a few months, I did spend some time with one of the hardware engineers, Michael. He did a great job of demonstrating the new software and I’m pretty excited about that new version. Apparently, three new Android guys have joined the team and releases will be much more in sync in the future.

So, the biggest tip I got today was on the phantom 56 and 118 mph readings that randomly appear on my Pocket Radar. Those are from cell phone towers! Or some other electronic interference. Nothing wrong with the equipment, just a known anomaly. The new version makes it easier to set the velocity range for your Pocket Radar. Fortunately, none of my Little Leaguers can throw 56. In my men’s league, I think I’ll take advantage of the fact that I have two radars and put one at 36-55 and the other at 57-75.

Great first day

Despite that fact that I’m an introvert (an OUTGOING introvert), I met a lot of people today and really got into some great conversations. Because I learned a number of years ago that I’m an outgoing introvert instead of just “weird”, I know that I need to find a quiet spot and time to recharge. I’m doing that in my room right now as I write this. I’m recharging the energy used spent talking to people (the introvert part) so that I can get back out and be the dynamic guy I love being. So much to learn, so many people to talk to.

If you’re here, maximize your time. Get the most out of it. If that means spending an hour away recharging, do that. If it means diving into every open session, do that. Whatever you do, go talk to folks on the showcase floor. Even if you don’t think it’s something you’d be able to use, talk to them and find out! You might learn something and make a friend in the process.