The following blog post was written by Rapsodo partner Ryon Healy.
I was drafted in 2013 by the Oakland A’s and made my Major League debut on July 15, 2016. Coincidentally, 2016 was also the year Rapsodo became available to pro and amateur hitters across the country.
Looking back now almost a decade later, it’s wild to see how far the game has come. Analytics went from being “new and interesting” to becoming one of the most important tools in player development.
And for me, Rapsodo wasn’t just a tool. It was a turning point.
The Offseason That Changed Everything (2017–2018)
My first full MLB season was 2017. I hit over .270 with 25 homers and nearly 80 RBIs — statistically one of my best years. From the outside, it looked like everything was perfect.
But the mindset of a high performer is different.
After that season, my question wasn’t “Was that good enough?”
It was, “Where can I get 1% better?”
When I reviewed my entire offensive profile, one area stood out:
Opposite-field contact in the air between 20–35° of launch angle wasn’t carrying the way it should.
I was getting the right pitches. I was putting the right swings on them. But the ball wasn’t traveling.
Before Rapsodo, I would’ve been relying on “feel” and hoping my offseason work translated. But that winter, I used Rapsodo for the first time — and it changed the way I trained forever.
The Discovery: Spin Rate Was Holding Me Back
For the first time, I wasn’t just seeing exit velocity and launch angle.
I was now able to measure the spin rate off my barrel.
What I learned shocked me: My opposite-field fly balls were spinning at 2700–3500 RPM.
Rapsodo helped me understand a simple truth I had never considered as a player:
Over-spun baseballs at higher launch angles don’t carry. They parachute.
This was a physics problem, not a mechanics problem.
And without Rapsodo, I never would’ve known.
Their team and customer support were incredible. They helped me interpret the data and design a plan to attack it. Every swing session suddenly had purpose. Every rep had feedback. Every adjustment had proof.
I wasn’t guessing anymore. I wasn’t hoping anymore. I was training with facts, not feelings.
The Result: Opposite-Field Power That Finally Showed Up
I validated everything through on-field BP and early spring training games. But the real moment came in 2018, my first season with the Seattle Mariners.
We were facing Walker Buehler and the Dodgers in Seattle, a cold, heavy Pacific Northwest night. Walker was 97+ MPH that night. He supplied the power. My job was to match it with barrel, timing, and the right spin.
I hit one of the proudest home runs of my career that night:
A true opposite-field home run to straight-away right field in Seattle.
That ball does not leave the yard often, especially for a right-handed hitter. But it did — because the work I put in with Rapsodo actually translated.
It wasn’t luck. It wasn’t a fluke. It was hours and hours of measurable, data-driven progression.
Why Rapsodo Matters for Today’s Players
Not every player becomes a Major Leaguer, but every player deserves the chance to train with the right information.
Rapsodo gives you facts, not feelings. It removes guesswork from development. It teaches athletes how to measure their progress, understand their flaws, and attack the right problems.
Baseball is a game of adversity. A game of constant adjustments. A game that mirrors life.
Tools like Rapsodo teach young athletes how to problem-solve, reflect, and grow, skills they’ll need long after baseball ends.
To any young hitter, parent, or coach reading this:
Invest in the tools that give clarity. Invest in systems that give feedback. Invest in the 1% improvements that compound over time.
Rapsodo changed the trajectory of my career. It can change yours, too.
About Ryon Healy
A former MLB infielder with over 2,000 plate appearances and a career spanning 5 years with the Oakland A’s, Seattle Mariners, and Milwaukee Brewers.
During his time in the big leagues, Ryon recorded over 450 hits, including 69 home runs, and established himself as a reliable power hitter.
Healy has faced some of the toughest pitchers in the game and know what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
Now, he's using the lessons he learned to help hitters unlock their full potential, so they can achieve their dreams, just like him.
Ready to add Rapsodo to your program? Email sales@rapsodo.com or visit our website to learn more.
