Our Mission & Staff
Forge Athletic exists to elevate athletes through elite instruction and cutting-edge performance training. We provide the highest level of one-on-one lessons in hitting, pitching, catching, and fielding. Paired with elite strength & conditioning, and human performance services. With the only full RunDNA 3D Gait lab in the Kansas City area, Velocity Based Training Tools for all athletes, HitTrax, Gait Timers and more, we deliver advanced movement analysis that drives better performance and reduces injury risk. Our mission is simple: help athletes develop physically, technically, and confidently so they can compete at their best.
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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."​
-Will Durant on Aristotle
Todd sears
Director of Hitting/Owner
Todd has established himself as one of the top hitting instructors in the area. He has a unique ability to break down the swing and help players become more efficient. His professional playing career has led him to work with, and learn from, some of the best hitting minds in baseball. This has allowed him to piece together a wide variety of concepts and drills, which are then tailored to each hitter. He has worked with and helped players of all ages and levels, and he can help you.
"My philosophy is simple! There is no right way to hit, but there are a lot of things that hitters need to do correctly to succeed! Simple and efficient hitting movements along with a simple mindset and approach can make hitting easier! Hitting is extremely hard, so give yourself the best chance to be successful"
Achievements:
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1994 Iowa Gatorade High School POY
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University of Nebraska -.382 career average 33 HR 191 RBI's
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Drafted in the 3rd round by the Rockies
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12 seasons of combined MiLB and MLB experience
Phone: 913-481-9446
Shawn Sedlacek
Director of Pitching/Owner
Shawn brings a wealth of professional experience and passion for player development to Forge Athletic. Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 14th round out of Iowa State University in 1998, he went on to make his MLB debut with the Royals in 2002, where he posted a 3-5 record across 16 appearances (primarily as a starter).
Over his professional career (1998-2005), Shawn started more than 200 games, pitched over 1,000 innings in the minors and independents, and earned All-Star honors in the Northwest League (1998), Texas League (2000), and Northern League (2005). He was also named Royals Minor League Player of the Year in 2001 by Baseball America.
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After retiring from playing, Shawn dedicated himself to coaching and mentoring young athletes in the Kansas City area. He has provided professional baseball instruction to thousands of pitchers through his lessons program, producing multiple draft picks, Division I players, and college standouts.
Achievements:
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MLB Debut with Kansas City Royals (2002)
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Royals Minor League Player of the Year (2001, Baseball America)
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Multiple Minor League All-Star selections (1998, 2000, 2005)
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Over 1,000 professional innings pitched
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Helped develop 3 MLB draft picks and 10+ D1 players through instruction
Phone: 913-481-9446
Catching & Hitting Coach
Will Vestal
Will is a dynamic and energetic coach that has a true players coach communication style. His personal playing experience extends through his years in high school ball at Olathe Northwest from 2014-2018, and continuing on to the next level to play at Missouri Valley College (2018-2021).
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Post college career Will was the Director of Scouting at Prospect Select Baseball from 2022-2024 and has made the transition to coaching youth baseball for Complete Game Baseball Club, as well as impacting player development with his catching and hitting lessons.
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His ability to get youth players to respond and implement what actually drives results is high-level.
Contact Coach Will at:
Phone: (913) 544-4450
Email: willvestal44@gmail.com
Pitching Coach
Jeff Andra
Jeff attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played for the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team. In 1996, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 3rd round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft and played in the Giants organization through 2001. Jeff continued his professional career playing for the Elmira Pioneers of the independent Northern League in 2002 and for the Sinon Bulls of the Chinese Professional Baseball League from 2003 through 2005.
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He has worked with youth pitchers for over 15 years and has an innate ability to make learning the positional very simple and easy to understand. ​​
Phone: 913-915-8467
