Retired MLB pitcher with 15 years experience coaching for this high school baseball team

PLYMOUTH - There were always people around like Jack Medeiros, John Spencer, and John Siever as well as countless others like them that helped Mike Remlinger along the way on his journey from a baseball player with the Plymouth-Carver Blue Eagles to a long career as a major league pitcher. Back living in his hometown once again, now it’s Remlinger’s turn to share the baseball knowledge he’s acquired as Plymouth North baseball’s new pitching coach.

More:From Plymouth to the big leagues

“Baseball’s in my blood. That’s something that I don’t think will ever go away,” Remlinger said as he watched the team practice Tuesday. “I coached when I was living out in Phoenix and in Colorado, and when this came up I was interested because it was an opportunity to really coach players again.”

“This is a super-talented group of pitchers with good discipline and a great work ethic,” he said. “They’re all great kids and they are eager to learn about the game, which makes it easy for me to want to come out to the field every day and be a part of helping out.”

Remlinger’s first step as pitching coach wasn’t to change everything his pitchers had been doing. He didn’t have to. Pitching has been a real strength for Plymouth North for the last couple of seasons. The top end of the staff is very talented and a deep pool of relievers have done a great job in the team’s 7-2 start to the season. What Remlinger had to figure out was where his experience could help best.

“When I first got here I took a little time to watch them pitch and to get to know them as people before we started working together on their pitching,” he explained. “As we got to know each other, I’ve tried to find the little tweaks I see that I think can help them.”

Familiar face on the diamond

Head coach Dwayne Follette spoke about adding Remlinger to his coaching staff.

“Mike and I have been friends forever. We’ve always hit it off and when Joey (Flynn) told me he wouldn’t be able to return as pitching coach this season, I thought of asking Mike if he’d be interested in coming in to help out. The timing was a fit for him and he said it was a go and I couldn’t be happier” with the way things have worked out, said Follette

“Our pitching was strong prior to Mike coming on board and he’s just running with it,” Follette added. “He’s great with the kids. He has a very calm demeanor and a great way of communicating what he sees to the kids as helps them out with their individual mechanics. He makes them feel comfortable right away and his knowledge of pitching is incredible.”

Senior captains DC Brown and Josh Bryant have both seen the benefits of working with Remlinger each day. Any intimidation about talking pitching with someone who did it in the major leagues for 15 years was immediately erased once they had the chance to talk to their new coach.

“Coach Remlinger is really easy to talk to, so there was no starstruck feeling when you're around him,” said Bryant. “It’s great to have all of his experience to lean into. We’ve been working on small things with my mechanics like staying taller during my delivery that’s been really helpful to me.”

Brown added, “At first you think, this guy made it all the way to the major leagues, so you might be a little intimidated talking to him about pitching, but he puts you at ease right away. He’s very personable and takes the time to get to know you. It’s been awesome having him around. He’s helped all of the pitchers get a little bit better at something. He’s been working with me on using my curveball more and having more confidence in my pitches and trusting what I’m going to throw in certain counts.”

Home is where the heart is

As much as coaching baseball again has been great for Remlinger, doing it in his hometown makes it incredibly special for him.

“Plymouth is my roots. When I think about the really special memories I’ve had in baseball, I think back to Plymouth. All the way back to Little League, to high school ball, to growing up and spending so much time around Bartlett Hall,” said Remlinger. “Guys like my high school coach John Siever, John Spencer, and Jack Medeiros were all so important to me along the way and are a huge part of everything I’ve been able to experience while playing the game of baseball.”

“It’s great to be back home again,” said Remlinger. “Before a game I’ll get a ‘Go Eagles’ text from my wife and it fires me up.”

Email the reporter at dwolcott@wickedlocal.com and you can follow him on Twitter, @DavidWolcott1.