How a viral video led to Karns City baseball’s Brock Dittman working with a former Pirates trainer
KARNS CITY — Brock Dittman is one of many three-sport athletes at Karns City.
It’s nothing unusual. What is, though, is the Gremlins sophomore is being trained by a nationally known strength and conditioning coach.
Dittman plays shortstop for Karns City’s baseball team. He is a receiver in football and plays soccer for the Gremlins, as well. Jim Malone, former strength and conditioning coach for the Pirates, New York Mets and San Diego Padres knows him well.
Malone has trained three Cy Young Award winners and five Baseball Hall of Famers. Now he’s training Dittman.
“I text Brock two or three times a week, do a Zoom call with him every two weeks just to keep up,” Malone said. “I set him up with different workouts and training platforms, depending on the sport he’s getting ready to play.”
The two got together through Brock’s father, Scott Dittman, when Malone was a member of the Pirates’ coaching staff.
“I came across a viral video of Scott giving free dad hugs,” Malone said. “I was moved by it. My brother died in June of 2018 after suffering from depression.
“I reached out to Scott, messaged him and told him I admired what he did, that we need more kindness like that in the world.”
The two met at a Pirates game — Scott was a season ticket holder — and struck up a friendship.
“After one conversation, it felt like we had been friends for years,” Scott Dittman said. “We’ve stayed in touch, been close ever since.”
Malone now lives in Buffalo, N.Y., and is a consultant to Major League Baseball in strength and conditioning. He also runs his Baseball Strength Academy, designed to be a resource of baseball conditioning for players, parents and coaches.
Brock met him after a fishing expedition with his father.
“Brock and I did a fishing trip up in Erie last July, and I decided we’d swing over and meet up with Jim,” Scott said. “He was impressed with Brock’s physical build and offered to work with him.
“He’s had a huge impact on Brock. He emphasizes sleep and rest, to eat like it’s a job and take care of your body. Brock put on 25 pounds in three months, all functional strength. He’s gotten stronger, faster, more flexible.”
Brock said Malone has “shown me a different way to train. He’s helping me with strength and movement. His mobility workouts have had a huge effect on me.”
Malone has come to Karns City and met with Gremlin coaches in all sports to discuss how to best utilize the resources on campus.
“Anytime you can learn from someone like that, you take advantage of it,” KC baseball coach Josh Smith said. “He looked at the equipment we have, showed us what to emphasize use of most and why. It was enlightening.”
Malone, who has also served as an assistant football coach at Rochester, Princeton and Columbia, is enjoying his time with Brock.
“He’s a very dedicated athlete, and we’ve built a great working relationship,” Malone said. “The movement in sports are different. As a receiver in football, it’s a lot of stop and go type running. In soccer, you run all the time. In baseball, you run in spurts.
“Brock has learned to use and train all of his muscles because an athlete uses all of his muscles. And there is a time to step back and rest. Taking extended breaks are important. Let the body recover.”
The Dittmans appreciate that working relationship.
“It’s been incredible,” Scott said. “Jim is one of the best in the world at what he does. He’s worked with weight lifters, Olympians, you name it.
“To get a taste of that in Karns City? We are very, very grateful.”
