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Xen Penny
@XenPenny
Hitting Coach @QU_softball . Former Arizona Diamondbacks Hitting Coach
Hamden, CT
Joined February 2012
4,736
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11.4K
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  • Pinned
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    May 14
    Why Softball? I have gotten asked this a lot. It was a challenge. Everyone believes in their methodology. They believe there way is the way including me. Am I who I say I am? Am I that good? Can I take the 12th worst offense in the country and get them better?
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    May 9
    What a season. Best team in over a decade. I have so much love for everyone on the team. So proud of the way each of you battled and never gave in. Appreciate all of you trusting me with your career and development. Thanks for all the lessons, good times, and laughs.
    24K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Jul 18, 2020
    I played JUCO and NAIA with and against GROWN MEN. Played with and against guys throwing 90+. Hitting balls 400 feet. However, kids that can’t hit side toss talk down to me because I didn’t play D1. There are DUDES at all levels. Have some feel and get real.
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Feb 4, 2020
    JUCO kids have a different kind of edge
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Jun 6, 2024
    Luis Arraez, the hit collector, is doing it again this season. Low bat speed but ELITE barrel accuracy and bat to ball skills. Debunking that you have to have high bat speed to be a good hitter. Notice how he holds his finish with his head down on every swing. Low liners>
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    932K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    May 27, 2024
    Luis Arraez is the best bat to ball hitter in the world. The next Tony Gwynn, and what a treat it has been to watch. Watching this video, the ability to hit this pitch up the middle to the other way is incredible. Watch how inside he stays to even be able to do this.
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    626K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Jun 29, 2024
    Luis Rengifo leads the AL in average. Holds finish with head down. Trains with Luis Arraez in the offseason. Maybe there is something to holding finish with head down every swing and not selling out for power.
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    408K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Apr 16, 2025
    Oh my, Vinnie Pasquantino is describing the difficulties he's facing after raising his bat speed. How raising the effort level causes you to cheat out in front. This is exactly what I see all the time. Video credit to @micahf56
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    323K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Mar 28, 2024
    Luis Arraez talking hitting, and explaining things he works on. This video is one of the best hitting videos you'll watch. Hold your finish with your head down; it will be an absolute game changer for your career as a hitter.
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    656K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Oct 8, 2021
    Nelson Cruz going through his daily cage work. Notice the focus on hitting line drives back up the middle. Maybe there is a method behind the madness of training back net liners up the middle…. 🤔
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Jan 20, 2024
    Alex Bregman is discussing what he is currently working on. We live in a world with more information than ever, but less wisdom. We are so blessed to be able to listen to the best discuss their process.
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    344K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Apr 1, 2025
    Jackson Merrill dropping some nuggets. Not trying to hit the ball too hard. Easy swings and get the barrel to the ball. Accuracy focus. Chasing numbers in the cage leads to higher effort, which is the opposite of this. Not trying to do too much. Less=more.
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    201K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Feb 14, 2021
    Nelson Cruz talking through his routine. Notice how he tries to be direct to the ball and hit line drives to the back of the net...
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Feb 4, 2024
    I got this video from watching a Luis Arraez live video on Instagram of him training. Foam balls off the machine. Holding finish with head down EVERY swing. Not spinning or compromising the movement pattern to hit the machine. Success leaves clues.
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    284K
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    Xen Penny
    @XenPenny
    Sep 6, 2024
    Chipper Jones talking through how keeping your nose down on the ball leads to true ball flight. Not having the head down leads to poor ball flight. Keeping the head down helps with having efficient contact quality. Video from Propelhitting on Instagram.
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    159K