Just when Matt Whisenant thought he knew one of his best friends, Glendon Rusch, the big lefty threw Whisenant and the San Diego Padres a nasty curve.
Teammates in 1997 and 1998 with the Royals, the two became in-laws in when Rusch married the former Kelley Heimann, the sister of Whisenant’s wife Michelle.
By 2000 they were no longer pitching for the same team, Whisenant throwing for San Diego; Rusch with the Mets. The first time Rusch took the mound against San Diego that year, it was a comfortable May night of 68 degrees at Qualcomm Stadium.
“Being the brother in law, they looked to me for the scouting report,” Whisenant says.
Perfectly suited for the job because of his insight, Whisenant told his teammates just what to expect. “I told them, ‘He likes to stay away, he’s soft.’ "
The problem was, after a subpar 1999, Rusch had reinvented himself by pitching inside.
“Seven innings, one run, three hits later, the guys weren’t happy with me at all,” Whisenant says, shaking his head. “Glendon pounded the inside corner and carved them up. That was the end of my scouting days.”
The end of a man’s playing days can just as come quickly. Making the big leagues is an impossible dream for most and even those skilled enough to make it, retire at a young age. Whisenant would pitch for three Major League teams, finish his career in Triple-A, and was leave the game as a professional player at age 31. Rusch beat the odds and pitched until a month before his 35th birthday.
“The tail end of Glendon’s career, we were discussing what’s next in his life,” Whisenant explains. “I always knew working with kids and handing down what I was given was the direction I needed to go in. Glendon felt the same.”
That’s when they toyed with the idea of opening their own baseball academy and reflected on what they’d like to share with others. A dream was born. The fruition of that dream is Full Count Baseball Academy in Pasadena, California.
It is through Full Count that the two express their shared affinity and reverence of baseball in helping others reach their athletic potential. Both understand the importance of mentors in their own development.
“First and foremost my dad was a mentor and positive role model regardless of whether I had a good game or a bad game,” Whisenant said. “The great part of his philosophy is that it works all the way from Little League to the big leagues – love the game, and play it the right way. That’s what I want to pass along.”
Rusch echoed similar sentiment, pointing to a coach who made a lasting impression in his life.
“When I think of a guy who made a difference, it has to be Stan Taloff, my coach at Shorecrest High School in Seattle,” Rusch recalls. “More than anything else, he taught me how to respect and love the game.”
It’s this love and respect of the game that the men share about baseball. When it comes to personality and communication, the two complement each other.
Whisenant is a quiet, thoughtful man who uses an economy of words . The 6’3” veteran of 14 professional seasons cuts an imposing yet friendly figure; when he speaks, people listen. Meanwhile, brother-in-law Rusch, who posted 12 big league seasons, is a gregarious fun-loving sort who disarms all those around him. Together they form a perfect pair, combining to effectively deliver instruction to every ball player who comes through their door.
Full Count Baseball Academy offers team and one-on-one instruction in hitting, pitching, fielding, and hitting in an indoor facility. It also features youth teams that train at the academy and play in tournaments throughout Southern California.
Whisenant and Rusch open their facility to players of all ages, working with professionals as well as children who are just learning the game.
“The hardest learning curve for me is translating what I know to the different players who come in,” says Rusch. “We have eight-year olds, pro guys and everyone in between. It’s difficult. I have to step back and realize maybe a high school guy doesn’t know how to grip a curveball properly. Sometimes we’re starting from the most basic of things.”
The variation in age is no problem. Whisenant relies on his baseball experience to connect with all.
“Combining the philosophies my dad taught with the knowledge other coaches taught me about the mechanics of pitching, hitting, and situational baseball, I feel that when a kid comes to me with any question, I’ve been there,” he says. “I was very fortunate and soaked it all in. My last professional year, I learned bunting from Maury Wills. He was excited about teaching it. Today when we’re talking about bunting, I draw on that day with Maury Wills.”
Rusch is quick to remember the awe he felt as he wrapped his mind around the game in his youth.
“I can’t tell you how fun it is to see players progress and learn to love the game,” Rusch says with a grin. “I’ll look at a guy, see him smile and ask him, ‘Isn’t this fun?'. That’s what the game is supposed to be about.”
As more coaches, parents, and players discover Full Count, the two lefties have their eyes on the future. Rusch sees Full Count as destination for players serious about the game.
“I want this to be looked at as one of the elite training programs around,” he explains. “High school pitchers? I want them to come here.”
Whisenant also envisions building a youth-oriented program, saying, “In five years we hope to have four youth teams through here that represent us and our philosophies.”
Whatever the future holds, it’s clear that their philosophy and knowledge is in demand. Full Count has come a long way in a short time.
In a quiet moment, Rusch smiles and nods his head in reflection, “I can’t tell you how lucky we are to be involved in a game we love. There’s nothing like it.”
To learn more about Full Count Baseball Academy, click here to go to their homepage.
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