What It Really Takes to Reach the Next Level in Baseball with Travis Bergen

What does it actually take to go from overlooked to the Major Leagues? In this episode of Elevate 2 Great, Trey Fowler sits down with former MLB pitcher Travis Bergen (a walk-on turned big leaguer) to break down the real path to high-level success in baseball. Travis wasn’t a top recruit. He didn’t throw elite velocity early. And he wasn’t handed anything. But through development, discipline, and learning what actually works, he built a career that took him from Kennesaw State to the MLB, and now into elite player development as Director of Pitching at Maven Baseball Lab. This episode is packed with real, actionable insight for athletes, parents, and coaches who want to understand what it really takes to reach the next level. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: - Why most athletes choose the wrong path during recruiting - The biggest difference between minor league and MLB hitters - How to actually develop velocity and command (what works + what doesn’t) - Why routine and preparation create real confidence - What Travis learned from MLB players during injury rehab - The truth about why some players make it… and others don’t 🏆About Travis Bergen Travis Bergen is a former MLB pitcher who debuted with the San Francisco Giants after being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. A former walk-on at Kennesaw State turned team captain, Travis now serves as Director of Pitching at Maven Baseball Lab, helping athletes develop using elite-level data and training systems. Links & Resources Schedule a Free Coaching Session https://factoryeleven.net/coaching-session Follow Elevate 2 Great https://x.com/Elevate2GreatHQ https://www.facebook.com/elevate2great https://www.instagram.com/elevate2greatpodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/@FactoryEleven526 Call Us (404) 594-8470 Want to Be a Guest or Have Questions? nikki@factoryeleven.net Chapters 0:00 Intro: MLB Pitcher Travis Bergen's Journey to the Big Leagues 1:37 How Travis Bergen Fell in Love with Baseball 4:49 Learning to Handle Failure and Build Mental Toughness 7:20 College Recruiting Mistakes Young Players Should Avoid 10:06 How Strength Training Added Velocity and Changed His Career 19:01 Getting Drafted and Overcoming Tommy John Surgery 25:20 The Mindset Shift That Helped Him Reach MLB 42:23 Starter vs Reliever: How the Routine Changes in Pro Baseball 57:07 How Young Players Can Improve Velocity, Command, and Confidence