Coach Gabe Gage: Building Better Athletes, One Routine at a Time
Date: April 28, 2025
Author: Coach Danny, MPM
As Prime Mental Performance supports the arrival of the Prime Athletic Club, we’re excited to spotlight Coach Gabe Gage, the new Player Development Coach for the Prime Athletic Club, which will open this summer in Forest Park. Gabe brings a perfect blend of firsthand NCAA experience, pro coaching insight, and a powerful commitment to helping young athletes reach their full potential, not just physically but mentally.
Gabe’s journey began behind the plate as a college baseball catcher, an experience he describes as “eye-opening.” It was there he learned that discipline and dedication aren’t just buzzwords—they’re necessities. “Most of the drills I do with younger athletes today stem from my time playing college ball,” Gabe explains. “It helped me understand the level of discipline you need to be great at your craft.”
With Prime Athletic Club, Gabe’s approach is clear: Start with the person before the player. Before designing any training plan, he takes time to understand the athlete, assessing movements, motivations, and responses through carefully selected drills. “We challenge the athlete but also showcase their upside,” he says. That’s how we learn who they are as players and what needs to be improved.”
A firm believer in the power of routines, Gabe emphasizes that having something set and reliable is crucial, especially for youth and travel athletes. “Routine brings you back to who you are,” he says. “It reinforces why you do what you do, especially when things feel out of control.”
Gabe’s personal story is a living example: although not the biggest or fastest athlete, his ability to constantly refine his craft and build trust with his pitchers earned him a place in college baseball. “Once I got there,” Gabe says, “the pressure was off because I had been doing the work since I was 8. I just had to keep doing it.“
At Prime Athletic Club, Gabe isn’t just coaching the physical part of the game—he’s also coaching the mental side. Before he tweaks a catcher’s routine or process, he focuses on mental performance. “I want to know what the athlete is thinking and feeling first. If I can get them to understand the adjustment mentally, the execution naturally follows.”
One of the simplest yet most powerful tools Gabe teaches is breathing. “Most athletes work so hard they forget to breathe while training. Whether we’re fielding, hitting, talking, or lifting—integrating a strong breathing routine helps tremendously.”
Gabe’s passion for continuous learning remains a driving force in his development. “Since I was six years old until now at 30, I still pride myself on watching and understanding more baseball. I love learning—not just about baseball, but about everything. I try to learn something new every day.”
With Coach Gabe Gage leading player development, Prime Athletic Club athletes are gaining a mentor who understands that mental and physical preparation go hand in hand.
Learn more about Coach Gabe and the mental edge he brings to Prime athletes inside the third issue of The Mental Minute.
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