Next ERA PT & Performance

Next ERA PT & Performance Interdisciplinary Baseball Development. Performance | Rehab | Throwing.

01/23/2026

16 year olds should not be getting UCL reconstruction..

01/21/2026

Command isn’t about “doing more with your mechanics.”
It’s about giving the body better information.

A glove-side miss vs an arm-side miss can come down to just a few centimeters at release. That’s not a massive mechanical flaw. It’s a precision problem.

So instead of over-coaching positions, we use external constraints.

Weighted balls to change proprioceptive input.
Visual lanes and screens to create clear targets.
Tasks that force the athlete to solve the problem in real time.

When feedback is objective, athletes don’t guess. They adapt.

That’s how command actually improves.

01/19/2026

Braden Thorn is a dedicated pitching and strength coach at Next ERA, where he takes a personalized and holistic approach to player development.

With a background in both strength training and pitching, Braden collaborates with athletes to determine the best path forward, whether through strength, throwing, or medical support, working closely with the Next ERA team of physical therapists, strength coaches, and skills trainers.

Braden earned his degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon, where he also played baseball as a pitcher. His own experience with Tommy John surgery sparked a passion for understanding injury prevention and performance enhancement. After graduating, Braden became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), combining his expertise in the weight room with his experience on the mound to develop healthy, high-performing athletes.

With his experience working with a wide variety of athletes, Braden brings a diverse perspective to the athletes he trains.

His approach to pitching is unique, drawing on principles from strength and conditioning to help pitchers move well, throw hard, and stay healthy.

Braden’s passion for baseball and fascination with pushing the human body to its limits drives his work every day.

01/15/2026

Great pitching comes from understanding the ball, not just throwing it. When athletes learn how to create and control different shapes before worrying about location, their command becomes more natural, more repeatable, and more game ready.

01/12/2026

Meet Coach Chris 🤝 Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Chris received his Bachelor’s Degree in Human Performance and Sport with a Minor in Nutrition at Metropolitan State University in 2013. He acquired his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification in 2014.

With over a decade of experience in training athletes spanning from youth to professional levels, Chris has cultivated expertise across various sports, including MLB, Boxing, MMA, Soccer, and Softball, preparing athletes for competitive endeavors.

Chris is dedicated to maximizing human performance while mitigating injury risks through the implementation of proper movement techniques.

In his free time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, watching his two kids play sports, golfing, and being outdoors.

Why a well-structured throwing program prevents setbacks 👉
01/09/2026

Why a well-structured throwing program prevents setbacks 👉

01/07/2026

Good development isn’t random. It’s phased, intentional, and built around what matters most in the moment for that specific athlete.

01/05/2026

Meet Grant Suggs 🤝 With more than a decade of experience in sports performance, Grant has built his career developing athletes to perform at the highest level.

As an Owner and CEO of Next Era Performance, he leads a results-driven system designed to maximize athletic potential through intelligent training, precise ex*****on, and long-term development.

Grants approach is grounded in performance science which he applies to the athletes he coaches at every stage of development from professional athletes seeking a competitive edge to youth athletes building durable foundations for sustained success.

What drives Grant is the opportunity to positively impact athletes beyond performance alone. He is deeply invested in helping athletes build confidence, discipline, and accountability through the training process athletes grow, overcome limitations, and realize their potential is what fuels his passion for coaching.

A recognized leader in the sports performance and baseball community, Grant extends his impact beyond the training environment. Through workshops, seminars, and digital platforms, he educates athletes and coaches on modern performance principles, helping elevate training standards, refine development systems, and drive breakthrough results.

Outside of his professional work, Grant is a proud Colorado native and partner to his wife, Katie, and father of two, Tate and Quinn. When he’s not coaching, he enjoys golfing, hunting and spending time outdoors.

01/02/2026

When you look around our gym, especially during the offseason, you notice a lot of athletes who’ve had Tommy John surgery. Back in 2023, it was reported that 35.3% of active MLB players have undergone the procedure.

That statistic feels very real when you walk through our facility, seeing it firsthand in the training room and among the athletes we work with. What’s even more concerning is the rise in second Tommy John surgeries. These repeat procedures have become more common.

When you consider that kids as young as 14 are now getting UCL reconstruction, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing an increase in repeat surgeries later on. The demands on young athletes’ arms are only increasing, and with more intense training and year-round competition, the UCL is under more stress than ever.

This ligament is crucial - not just for professional players, but for anyone who wants to maintain long-term arm health. It stabilizes the elbow during throwing motions, and once it’s compromised, the road to recovery is long and often uncertain.

That’s why it’s so important to understand the role of the UCL and prioritize its health early on.

It’s not always ‘sexy’ but preventive care, proper training, and not rushing back to the field post-surgery are key components to reducing the number of athletes facing not just one, but potentially multiple surgeries.

Reach out if you need help.

While most people are wrapping up 2025, we’re deep in off-season training.This is the stretch that rarely makes highligh...
12/31/2025

While most people are wrapping up 2025, we’re deep in off-season training.

This is the stretch that rarely makes highlight reels.. where movement quality gets rebuilt, force gets developed, and capacity is earned before velocity ever shows up.

It’s where jump profiles, strength ratios, tissue tolerance, and throwing intent all get addressed long before the season asks for them.

No resolutions here.

Just stacking weeks of deliberate work so when the 2026 season gets here, the body is already prepared to handle it. 👊

We see it a lot with pitchers who were also catchers deep into high school or beyond. Their movement patterns often look...
12/29/2025

We see it a lot with pitchers who were also catchers deep into high school or beyond. Their movement patterns often look very different than guys who specialized earlier and not always in a good way.

Catching demands a shorter arm action, quicker throws, and less layback. Over time, that can limit things like pelvic mobility, stability, and shoulder external rotation.

Pitching is the opposite. You want as much clean layback and efficient arm path as possible to produce velocity and stay healthy.

Different positions create different adaptations. If those adaptations aren’t addressed, they tend to show up later.. usually when performance stalls or discomfort creeps in.

That’s why we don’t just look at what position you play. We look at how your body learned to move.

🎄 Merry Christmas from the Next ERA team! We hope you all enjoy the holiday with your family 🎄
12/24/2025

🎄 Merry Christmas from the Next ERA team! We hope you all enjoy the holiday with your family 🎄

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Centennial, CO

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6pm
Tuesday 7am - 6pm
Wednesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 7am - 6pm

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+17206440181

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