Lukas Diehm: lessons learned interning with 108
This summer I decided to take an internship with 108 Performance in Irvine, California. My interest in the position sparked from years of researching and learning about pitching development. By the end of my senior year in college, I was really into some of the ways 108 trained their players. To me, it was different but logical. I was very interested in learning all they had to say.
I originally met with Director of Pitching and Operations Coordinator Will Marshall, along with Andrew Parks, over a Zoom call during the winter break of my senior season in college. I had a lot of questions I wanted to be answered about my pitching development and how I could get better, along with thoughts of a possible internship. I followed up with Andrew a month prior to graduating college. After interviewing, they told me they could have me out in California to do an internship.
My objectives coming into the internship were trying to gain knowledge of how 108 Performance views pitching, how to implement said knowledge into training athletes, network myself as a young coach, and of course to assist the 108 guys and athletes in any way they needed me to. During my three-month internship, being around the brilliant minds of Eugene, Will, Andrew, the numerous coaches that have come out to watch players, and the athletes they train, I really had my eyes opened. I learned that the low-hanging fruit in baseball is often player development, as well as the process that comes with coaching it. On top of this, this internship really opened my eyes to the business side of things and the amount of attention to detail necessary to run a business. For myself, these three months have made me feel much more comfortable being able to handle a pitching staff.
My goal for my future one day is to be a pitching coordinator for a professional organization. Like Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. My single step this fall is a Grad Assistantship at an NAIA school in Kansas called Benedictine College. I will be working with pitchers, as well as working towards an MBA degree.
If there is any advice I can offer to anyone looking to work in baseball, whether it be player development or coaching, I would reach out to as many places (colleges/facilities) as possible and be willing to learn whatever there is to be taught. Coming in every day with the mentality that you are going to be the best version of yourself will put you in a great position to become the best coach you can be. On top of this, being able to help wherever you are working was really important. You will need to do the nitty-gritty things such as cleaning the bathrooms or cleaning up the facility. These little things may not be fun but helping the program or facility you are working at will make things run as smoothly as possible.
I could not thank the 108 crew enough for having me and taking me under their wing!
You can connect with Lukas via:
Twitter: @LukasDiehm22
Email: [email protected]
