Pitching Coach | Mentor | Former Professional Player

About Matt

Matt Vogel is a seasoned baseball coach and former professional pitcher who brings over a decade of elite playing and coaching experience to the athletes he mentors. A Long Island native and graduate of Patchogue-Medford High School, Matt represented Team USA at the Junior Olympics (14U & 16U), setting the tone for a standout career defined by both performance and perseverance.

Matt was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013, pitched for the University of South Carolina, and later went on to play eight years of professional baseball. His professional journey included being drafted again by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016, competing in independent ball, and ultimately reaching Triple-A with the Baltimore Orioles.

Coaching Philosophy

Coach Matt is known for more than his arm—he’s known for his ability to connect. His specialty lies in developing pitchers and mentoring young athletes in a way that prioritizes both their performance and personal growth. His goal is simple: allow kids to be kids, while helping them mature into great players and even better people.

Whether working with beginners or advanced players, Matt brings a calm, positive, and highly knowledgeable approach that meets each athlete where they are.

Coaching Experience

● 9+ years coaching experience

● Varsity Baseball Coach at Heathwood Hall in Columbia, SC

● Travel baseball coach during professional offseasons

● Experience coaching ages 9U through 17U

● Mentored multiple athletes who advanced to collegiate baseball

Notable success with a first-time 11U travel team focused on development and growth

Certifications

CPR & AED Certified

Career Highlights

● Team USA Junior Olympics (14U & 16U)

● Drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks (2013)

● University of South Carolina Pitcher

● Drafted by Tampa Bay Rays (2016)

● 8 years of professional baseball experience

● Triple-A Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Giving Back

Matt remains deeply connected to his hometown and is passionate about giving back to the community that shaped him. He frequently returns to Pat-Med youth baseball camps, works with local players, and offers his time and guidance to younger athletes whenever possible.

Train with Matt

Coach Matt Vogel offers pitching instruction, mentorship, and development for athletes of all ages. Whether your child is new to the mound or chasing a college dream, Coach Matt brings world-class experience, unmatched relatability, and a heart for helping athletes grow on and off the field.

Professional Infielder | Hitting & Infield Instructor

EJ Exposito is a current professional infielder in the Atlanta Braves organization, playing at the Double-A level with the Columbus Clippers. A Long Island native and former All-Conference standout at Long Island University (LIU), EJ brings a player’s mindset and elite-level experience to every session.

Known for his attention to detail and ability to connect with athletes, EJ specializes in:

- Hitting mechanics and barrel control

- Infield footwork, glove work, and transfer drills

- Situational IQ and game awareness

- Baseball-specific strength and mobility prep

EJ is passionate about helping athletes of all ages build confidence and sharpen their skill set. His instruction balances technical precision with a relatable approach, giving players the tools they need to compete at a higher level.

He returns to Steel Sports each offseason to offer high-level private and group training, helping the next generation chase their goals with purpose and professionalism.

📍 Book a session with Coach EJ today and train with a current pro who knows what it takes.

Coach Grant Cherveny is a dedicated pitching coach with a strong passion for helping young athletes refine their mechanics, build confidence, and compete at a higher level. With two years of varsity experience and currently competing as a collegiate pitcher, Grant brings firsthand knowledge of what it takes to grow through adversity and earn your spot.

Grant’s journey is rooted in resilience. After being cut from his high school team freshman and sophomore years, he worked relentlessly to improve and ultimately made the varsity roster his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he became a dependable relief pitcher, allowing just one run all year. That experience now fuels his coaching approach with a focus on grit, discipline, and belief in one’s ability to improve.

He has worked closely with various elite pitching coaches, giving him a diverse foundation of training philosophies and techniques that he now passes on to the next generation.

Whether you're a beginner learning the fundamentals or an advanced player fine-tuning your arsenal, Coach Grant is committed to helping athletes unlock their potential and face challenges head-on, just like he did.

Peter Dunbar has been a fixture in the Long Island baseball coaching community with years of experience coaching kids of all ages and abilities. He was named the Steel Sports Tommy Lasorda National Coach of the Year in 2022 and has won a pair of Regional Coach of the Year awards.

Billy Bullock is a passionate baseball coach with a focus on pitching and hitting development, dedicated to helping young athletes unlock their full potential both on and off the field.

A four-year varsity player at Sachem North High School and a two-year collegiate pitcher and outfielder, Billy’s own playing career was cut short by injury. But what could have been the end of his baseball story became the beginning of a new, more impactful chapter as a coach and mentor.

Billy has coached across multiple age groups, including:

- Assistant Coach, 14U Summer

- Head Coach, 13U Fall, 11U & 12U Summer

- Assistant Coach, 11U & 12U 

Select Summer

-Current Head Coach, Team Steel 13U National

He is CPR certified, USA Baseball certified, and trained in youth baseball player development. His approach blends technical instruction with personal mentorship, instilling confidence, discipline, and resilience in every athlete he works with.

Billy’s coaching journey is rooted in personal growth and transformation. After a devastating Achilles injury derailed his path to a D1 or D2 baseball program, Billy fell into a deep depression and stepped away from the sport he once loved. Unsure of his future, he eventually reached out to a former coach for a job—any job. That call led to his first coaching role and reignited his passion for the game.

Now, Billy uses his own story to inspire young athletes—not just to become better players, but to persevere through life's toughest challenges. His mission is clear: “If I could rebuild my life through baseball, I know these kids can too.”

Outside of coaching, Billy gives back through community service at the United Veterans Beacon House, where he helps distribute food and resources to veterans in need.

Billy Bullock is more than a coach; he’s a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of mentorship.

Manny Bardeguez has 30+ years of coaching With over 30 years of coaching experience, Coach Manny Bardeguez has dedicated his career to developing youth athletes across Long Island and Puerto Rico. He has coached a wide range of age groups, with a strong focus on players 18 and under—many of whom have gone on to play collegiate and professional baseball.

Currently serving as a Hitting Instructor and Indoor Coordinator at Lasorda Legacy Park, Coach Manny Bardeguez also leads Team Steel’s 12U and 13U programs. He brings deep roots in community sports, having directed basketball and baseball leagues for the Longwood PAL, Suffolk County PAL, and C.Y.O., and served as a Recruiting Coordinator for Suffolk’s Top 50 High School Soccer Players.

His training includes mentorship under MLB All-Star and Olympic Coach Reggie Smith and certification as a Mike Epstein Rotational Hitting Instructor. He previously served as a Fielding and Hitting Instructor at Play Like A Pro Baseball Academy and has held consulting roles with pro-preferred brands such as XBATS and XProtex.

Coach Manny is a recognized community leader and mentor, honored with multiple awards for his service and commitment to youth sports development, including the Suffolk County PAL Volunteer of the Year and Longwood School District Community Service Award. He is a trained hitting instructor under the supervision of former MLB star Reggie Smith and is a certified rotational hitting instructor. Manny has also received the Elks Grand Lodge of Port Jefferson NY Distinguished Citizenship Award and the Suffolk County Legislator Proclamation Youth Mentor Award.

With a deep love for the game and years of competitive experience, Aarilin Pitre specializes in pitching, outfield, shortstop, baserunning, and hitting. A standout athlete from a young age, she played on 16U and 18U Steel Softball teams at just 13 years old, later earning a spot on her high school varsity team from 8th to 11th grade, where she served as team captain in her junior year and committed to play Division II softball.

Her accomplishments include throwing multiple no-hitters, pitching a one-hitter in an 18U tournament at age 13, and posting a season batting average over .500. Beyond her playing career, she has provided private lessons to girls ages 10–16 for over three years and volunteered as an assistant coach for Pat-Med T-ball in 2021 and 2022.

She brings hands-on knowledge, passion, and a player-first approach to every session—making her a valuable resource for young athletes looking to grow their skills and confidence.