OA TRAINING STAFF

  • Ryan Mattheus

    FOUNDER

    Looking back on my playing career I learned countless lessons, priceless knowledge, and was put in many situations that ultimately shaped me into who I am today. Being raised through the game of baseball is something I cherish and am extremely proud of. Now, I couldn’t be more excited to pass that along to the next generation of athletes. Even the most gifted ball players will spend majority of their life OFF of the baseball field. The core values and work ethic it takes to be successful in sports will last throughout a lifetime off the field. I can say this WITH confidence knowing that the most successful athletes share THESE common traits; During or after their life in the game of baseball. I now want to help young athletes optimize their potential in life by developing those traits necessary, through the amazing game of baseball.

    2000-2002 The Galt High School

    1st Team All League 2001-2002

    Galt High School Sport Hall of Fame

    2002 34th Round 19th round 2003 (Rockies D&F)

    Sac City 2003-2004

    2004-2016 Professional Career

    2007 & 2008 Texas League (AA) All Star

    2008 Futures Game

    2011 MLB Debut (Washington Nationals)

    Part of 2011-2015 in MLB Nationals, Angels, Reds

    Member of 2012 Postseason Roster (Nationals)​​​

  • Polo Portella

    TRAINER

    I am excited to get to work as OA’s new trainer. I attended Sacramento City College for 2 years and went on to play at Cumberland University for my junior and senior year. After my college career I was blessed to play two years at the professional level for the Evansville Otters and the Ogden Raptors. Me wanting to be the best version of myself on and off the field brought me to OA where I have been training for the last 5 years of my career.

    I feel my experience with the ups and downs this game has to offer will help our athletes grow on the mental side of the game. Having been through multiple throwing and strength programs myself will allow me to better understand what our athletes are going through. My goal is to make sure our athletes are striving to be the best versions of themselves everyday they step foot into our gym. Let’s get to work!

  • Mike Laneville

    TRAINER

    Baseball has granted me so many incredible opportunities over the years, with being able to be apart of the Optimum Athletes family being right at the top. At a very young age I developed the passion to become the absolute best baseball player I could be. That passion has led me all around the country and has allowed me to be apart of some amazing programs, train at some awesome facilities and meet some incredible people and mentors who have taught me so much about the game and more importantly, life.

    While I am still training and chasing my dream, I have been lucky to be granted the opportunity to also help fellow ball players chase theirs and pass some of those lessons along. I am humbled to be trusted with something as important as helping individuals reach their goals and my aim is to take what I have learned and help our trainees apply it accordingly and serve as someone who supports them, is in their corner and is fully committed to helping them develop on and off the field. here

  • Dennis Boatman

    TRAINER

    This will be my third year with the OA family as a player and now my first year helping out as a trainer. I grew up in Roseville, CA and went to Woodcreek High School. After redshirting at UCLA my freshmen year I decided to come back and play baseball at Sacramento City College where I was eventually drafted out of by the Cincinnati Reds in 2021.

    Through my own successes, failures, and setbacks I’ve learned a lot about how baseball can help shape the person you are on and off the field. I can’t wait to help other athletes overcome the physical and mental challenges that baseball brings us. I attribute a lot of my success to Optimum Athletes and I highly recommend this place to youth athletes, big leaguers, and everyone in between.

  • Kevin Gowdy

    TRAINER

    This will be my fourth offseason as an athlete at OA, and my first as a trainer. I am originally from Santa Barbara, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016. I’m currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

    Optimum Athletes has helped me tremendously as an athlete, and more importantly as a person. I have had my fair share of highs, lows, and everything in between in the game of baseball, and I am grateful to be able to share those experiences and teach what I continue to learn every single day about pitching. I look forward to working together to help you become the best version of yourself on and off the field!