MICHEL RODRIGUEZ
Michel Rodríguez is the founder of 365 Academy of baseball. Born in Havana, Cuba, Michel played for the Cuban National teams Industriales and Metropolitanos for seven years as an outfielder. He came to the United States in 2006.
Michel received a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Sports from the University of Havana in 2005. In 2013 and 2014 Michel received his certification to be a personal trainer from both the National Personal Trainer Institute and the National Exercise and Sport Association in the United States. In 2013, he opened up his first training facility, “Con Sabor Cubano, Dance & Fitness” with over 350 members. Michel also has a background in Sports Massage and Physical Therapy.
From 2012-2019 Michel was the lead hitting and strength and conditioning coach at Wheelhouse Academy of Baseball in Richmond, CA. He designed and implemented classes that incorporated the mental, physical and emotional development of each player.
Michel’s ties to Cuba offers baseball players from the Bay Area a unique opportunity. In the past, Michel has organized trips to Cuba, allowing his students a once in a lifetime chance to train with top Cuban national coaches and play against their top prospect players. Michel’s vision for this trip was not only to provide superior baseball training, but also to be a transformative experience for his players. He wanted to share with his students a piece of what life growing up as a Cuban baseball player was like. Students immerse themselves in Cuban culture, meet and connect with their peers, and learn about a culture that is very different from their own.
In 2019 Michel founded 365 Academy of Baseball in Richmond, CA. He built a state of the art training facility and offered group classes, personalized training, and individualized batting, catching and pitching instruction.
In 2022 Michel partnered with Tad Finnie and relocated 365 Academy of Baseball to a much larger facility in San Rafael, CA.
Michel’s background offers a unique approach to baseball. Michel’s focus is on technique and detail. He applies his extensive knowledge of physical fitness to his training at 365 Academy of Baseball. He teaches his students how to maximize their abilities through exercise routines that are designed specifically for baseball. Through hard work, the kids become more athletic and build more confidence through their workouts.
TAD FINNIE
Tad Finnie has 10 years of experience coaching youth baseball and softball, including private lessons, clinics, camps, travel teams, and high school. He specializes in fundamental instruction for young players starting at age 4 but works with players of all ages and ability levels to help every player achieve their goals and realize their potential.
Jerry Gaitan
I am Jerry Gaitan, a former NCAA D2 baseball player from Holy Names University. Before studying at Holy Names, I studied at Laney Community College where I made First Team All Bay Valley Conference leading my team in home runs. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Digital Media. I’m working on getting my certificate to be a personal trainer and specializing in youth exercise development.
I am excited to share all of the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my years of playing. Although my career was cut short due to injuries, I feel like I can help inspire kids and help them develop into the player they want to be.
Mateo Okimoto
My name is Mateo Okimoto and I currently play at sonoma state university. I was a 4 year varsity player and was a part of the inaugural trip to Cuba with Michel. I work with infielders and hitters. I pride myself in focusing on attention to detail and adapting to the newer strategies of the game.
Aria Pogni
I am Aria Pogni, a former NCAA D1 softball player, and I am passionate about helping young athletes perfect their softball skills. I am excited to have the opportunity to share my softball passion with other young and inspirational athletes. My goal as a mentor and coach is to instill knowledge, skills, and a positive attitude with my future players. I have learned through my years of coaching that each athlete is different and my lessons are unique to each athlete and their skills. My goal is to help each student achieve their highest level of performance by working on fundamentals to create good habits.
A little about myself, I grew up in Mill Valley and graduated from Tam High School. When I was a freshman at Tam, I received an athletic scholarship to attend Loyola Marymount. In 2018, I graduated from Loyola Marymount University and earned a degree in Business. As a student athlete, I learned the professional game from elite coaches and some of the best players.
Today, I work at AT&T as a Project Engineer, and continue to live out my love for softball, coaching u14 Oaks, a non-project organization out of Sonoma County.
Dr. Jay
After earning his B.S. degree in biology from Georgetown University and his medical degree from U.C. Davis School Of Medicine, Dr. Jay recognized a major flaw in the healthcare field. It’s well known that nutrition and exercise play a foundational role in one’s overall health and fitness. Yet medical doctors, although well-versed in the areas of anatomy, physiology, and patient care, have very limited knowledge and understanding of nutrition, exercise, and fitness. Personal trainers, although they are well-versed in the field of exercise, have a very limited scope in the sciences of health care and medicine. And likewise, dietitians, who are very knowledgeable when it comes to food and nutrition, often lack the practical application and experience when it comes to making gains in the gym. There was a clear and evident disconnect between these three pillars of health and wellness. Dr Jay decided to devote his career to bridging the medical, fitness, and nutrition gap for his patients and clients.
Dr. Jay has 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry including 22 years dedicated to metabolism (RMR) and fitness (VO2max) testing through his company Metabacheck Metabolism Testing And Analysis along with decades of weight loss, nutrition, personal training, and body transformation coaching through his company Metabolism Masters.
Dr. Jay shares his vast array of knowledge, experience, and expertise with the young athletes at 365 Baseball And Softball in the quest to assist them in maximizing their true athletic potential.
365 ACADEMY OF BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL 700 A Street, San Rafael, CA, 94801, United States +1 (510) 527-2255 http://support@365baseballandsoftball