Building Hitters, Not Just Swings – Pete Fatse on ‘And That’s The Game’ with Wayne Mazzoni
Join us for another episode of And That’s The Game with Wayne Mazzoni, brought to you by ProBatter Sports.
Some careers are engineered. Others are sculpted. Pete Fatse’s path to Fenway Park looks more like a snowball rolling downhill—picking up grit, direction, and surprising speed.
What started as a podcast episode turned into something more—a glimpse into what it means to build a life around hitting a baseball very, very well.
It Started With Ice, Not Grass
He didn’t start with a bat in his hands. Hockey grabbed his imagination early—blades carving ice, quick shifts, constant motion. Baseball? That was summer fun with his dad. But as the teenage years settled in, so did a realization: maybe this “side sport” was the ticket.
A strong performance at the Bay State Games flipped the switch. Letters started arriving. Pete looked at his dad, and they both knew—baseball wasn’t just an afterthought anymore.
A Campus, A Vision, and a Promise
When it came time to choose a school, UConn stood out—not just for the program, but for the chance to help build something. Coach Jim Penders didn’t sugarcoat the mission. He needed gritty, overlooked talent to go toe-to-toe with the Notre Dames of the world. Fatse was all in.
He wasn’t there to join a finished product. He came to help shape the foundation.
Minor Leagues, Major Lessons
Drafted by the Brewers, Pete stepped into professional ball with a simple dream: be the best hitter he could be. But reality had a lesson plan of its own. Four years in the minors and indie leagues gave him something more important than a batting average—self-awareness.
Out of that came obsession. Not with playing, but with hitting. Really hitting. What made it work? What broke it down?
He launched an academy in Western Massachusetts, focused on development over hype. The goal was to help overlooked talent do more than just compete.
What Really Made His Academy Different?
- Early adoption of ball flight technology like HitTrax and ZEP.
- A built-in strength and conditioning component to complement skill work.
- Emphasis on individual progress over cookie-cutter drills.
- A culture of relentless curiosity and constant improvement.
The academy didn’t just crank out college players. It launched thinkers. Doers. Kids who could explain their approach and drive a ball the other way.
Then One Day… A Haircut Changed Everything
Out of the blue, while his son got a haircut, Fatse received a message from the Twins: would you be interested in applying?
He was. He did.
As the Twins’ minor league hitting coordinator, he wasn’t just teaching. He was designing systems. Practice plans. Game prep strategies for 130+ players. It wasn’t about chasing perfect swings—it was about raising the floor, scaling excellence, and empowering coaches to individualize development.
Fatse’s Approach to Hitting Development
- Establish a grounded, balanced load. That’s your launchpad.
- Eliminate bat drag—trailing elbows and dipping barrels are silent killers.
- Master contact out front. Want pop? Impact happens there.
- Use angled tosses and high-velocity feeds to challenge swing path under pressure.
This wasn’t theory. It was practice with teeth.
From the Backyard to the Big Leagues
When the Red Sox called, he wasn’t surprised. Not because he expected it—but because everything he’d done pointed in that direction.
He walked into Fenway with the same mindset he had in that Western Mass cage: listen carefully, solve problems, care deeply, and don’t pretend you’ve got all the answers.
He now works daily with players who can do things few humans can. And still—he reminds them to keep it simple. Keep it clear. Hit the ball hard. Hit it on a line. He doesn’t preach. He asks questions. He listens. He watches ball flight.
There are fancier ways to say it. But that’s the truth of his coaching.
Conclusion
Some coach because it’s the next step. Others do it because they’re wired to dig deeper.
Pete Fatse never stopped being a student. From local cages to Fenway Park, his mission has stayed the same—help hitters grow, stay curious, and keep it simple.
And that’s exactly what makes him stand out.
