The pitching labs, led by former MLB Pitchers Darin Downs and Shaun Garceau, combine professional coaching and technology to unlock athlete performance with data-driven precision.
BOCA RATON, FL, July 22, 2026 /Prowly/
Dragons Elite Athletics, a leading youth sports and leadership organization dedicated to athlete development through high-performance training and character development, have launched the Dragon Pitching Labs in its West Palm Beach and South Wellington locations.
Dragons Elite Athletics, a leading youth sports and leadership organization dedicated to athlete development through high-performance training and character development, have launched the Dragon Pitching Labs in its West Palm Beach and South Wellington locations.
Dragons Elite Athletics has experienced exponential growth since its launch. The organization has continued to expand the communities it serves by adding additional sports and geographies, launching four indoor facilities with the most advanced technology available, and creating a powerful roster of professional and full-time coaches as well as front-office talent.
Learn directly from professional coaches
Participants at the Dragon Pitching Labs will learn directly from two of Dragons Elite Athletics’ experienced and licensed coaches: Darin Downs for West Palm Beach and Shaun Garceau.
Darin Downs is a former professional left-handed pitcher selected in the 5th round of the MLB Draft out of Santaluces High School by the Chicago Cubs. He went on to compete in the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, and Detroit Tigers organizations, reaching the Major League level. His career also included international play and top independent leagues, giving him a broad perspective on high-level competition and performance.
After retiring from professional baseball, Darin transitioned into coaching, serving as a pitching coach with the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League. He has since trained athletes of all ages in Palm Beach County, specializing in pitching development and baseball-specific strength and conditioning.
Shaun Garceau is a former professional pitcher and highly respected baseball instructor with international playing and coaching experience. Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals out of high school in 2005, Shaun spent five seasons in their minor league system before continuing his professional career overseas in Taiwan, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Known for his competitiveness and command, he built a reputation as a leader on and off the field. After retiring from professional play, Shaun transitioned into coaching, working with elite travel programs and developing players who have gone on to college and professional careers. He is the founder of SGB Training, one of the largest baseball and softball training academies in West Palm Beach. Shaun’s coaching philosophy is rooted in structure, work ethic, and long-term player development across all age levels.
“I’m excited to bring my MLB experience and history of training all age groups to the Dragon Pitching Lab,” said Darin Downs, Dragon Elite Full-Time Coach, “Everyone is welcome to learn something new here – from recreational players to advanced players playing at the collegiate level. This program is designed to use the latest technology and coaching techniques to advance every player. We are committed to improving pitchers of all ages!”
Darin Downs is a former professional left-handed pitcher selected in the 5th round of the MLB Draft out of Santaluces High School by the Chicago Cubs. He went on to compete in the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, and Detroit Tigers organizations, reaching the Major League level. His career also included international play and top independent leagues, giving him a broad perspective on high-level competition and performance.
After retiring from professional baseball, Darin transitioned into coaching, serving as a pitching coach with the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League. He has since trained athletes of all ages in Palm Beach County, specializing in pitching development and baseball-specific strength and conditioning.
Shaun Garceau is a former professional pitcher and highly respected baseball instructor with international playing and coaching experience. Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals out of high school in 2005, Shaun spent five seasons in their minor league system before continuing his professional career overseas in Taiwan, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Known for his competitiveness and command, he built a reputation as a leader on and off the field. After retiring from professional play, Shaun transitioned into coaching, working with elite travel programs and developing players who have gone on to college and professional careers. He is the founder of SGB Training, one of the largest baseball and softball training academies in West Palm Beach. Shaun’s coaching philosophy is rooted in structure, work ethic, and long-term player development across all age levels.
“I’m excited to bring my MLB experience and history of training all age groups to the Dragon Pitching Lab,” said Darin Downs, Dragon Elite Full-Time Coach, “Everyone is welcome to learn something new here – from recreational players to advanced players playing at the collegiate level. This program is designed to use the latest technology and coaching techniques to advance every player. We are committed to improving pitchers of all ages!”
Optimizing proven techniques with advanced technology
As youth sports get increasingly competitive, Dragons Elite Athletics is leading the shift to more specialized, data-backed training labs aimed at delivering optimal results.
Participants at the Dragons Elite Athletics Pitching Labs in West Palm Beach will be able to train under the guidance of Darin Downs and with access to a Trackman, which captures over 20 unique data points per pitch, including spin rate, axis, and release height, giving athletes immediate feedback.
Meanwhile, participants in South Wellington will learn firsthand from former pro pitcher Shaun Garceau while utilizing Rapsodo technology to track their performance and enhance their skills.
These are the same technologies utilized by all thirty Major League Baseball teams, because they enable an objective way of tracking progress: by using data to establish a baseline, every athlete’s growth over time can be measured more objectively.
"Dragons Elite Athletics are setting the standard for training, investment in technology, and seasoned coaches. I’m not only humbled to be a part of their efforts, I am also inspired by their commitment to developing players," said Darin Downs, Dragons Elite Full-Time Coach.
“We are standing by our vision of elevating youth sports by bringing professional coaching and MLB-caliber technology to our pitching labs at West Palm Beach and South Wellington. Through our Dragons Pitching Lab, we hope to bring data-driven, precise feedback to improve overall development and performance,” said Sarah Hernandez, Founder, Board Member, and VP of Teams at Dragons Elite Athletics.
Sign up for the Dragons Elite Pitching Labs here.
Participants at the Dragons Elite Athletics Pitching Labs in West Palm Beach will be able to train under the guidance of Darin Downs and with access to a Trackman, which captures over 20 unique data points per pitch, including spin rate, axis, and release height, giving athletes immediate feedback.
Meanwhile, participants in South Wellington will learn firsthand from former pro pitcher Shaun Garceau while utilizing Rapsodo technology to track their performance and enhance their skills.
These are the same technologies utilized by all thirty Major League Baseball teams, because they enable an objective way of tracking progress: by using data to establish a baseline, every athlete’s growth over time can be measured more objectively.
"Dragons Elite Athletics are setting the standard for training, investment in technology, and seasoned coaches. I’m not only humbled to be a part of their efforts, I am also inspired by their commitment to developing players," said Darin Downs, Dragons Elite Full-Time Coach.
“We are standing by our vision of elevating youth sports by bringing professional coaching and MLB-caliber technology to our pitching labs at West Palm Beach and South Wellington. Through our Dragons Pitching Lab, we hope to bring data-driven, precise feedback to improve overall development and performance,” said Sarah Hernandez, Founder, Board Member, and VP of Teams at Dragons Elite Athletics.
Sign up for the Dragons Elite Pitching Labs here.
Join the Movement. Be a Dragon.
The expansion of Dragons Elite Athletics to new cities and sports reflects its mission to build future athletes on and off the field, and its vision to grow into a nationwide leader in youth sports development. Whether your child is new to the game, focused on collegiate play, or determined to reach the professional level, Dragons Elite Athletics is where champions are made.
Commit to excellence. Commit to growth. Commit to being your best.
Learn more about tryouts, program schedules, and registration opportunities here.
Commit to excellence. Commit to growth. Commit to being your best.
Learn more about tryouts, program schedules, and registration opportunities here.
About Dragons Elite Athletics
Dragons Elite Athletics is a leading youth sports and leadership organization, dedicated to athlete development through high-performance training, character development, and a proprietary method focused on guiding athletes toward elite performance on and off the field.
Founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs, educators, and former professional athletes, Dragons Elite Athletics’ mission is to develop high-potential athletes through sports and leadership. We have created the Dragons Elite Performance Framework to develop attributes for success in life, beginning with performance and commitment in sports, and in partnership with our accredited private school, Dragons Academy. Our athletes will embody the best of the human spirit and endeavor to outperform the competition, and in the process become elite members of society.
Our coaching staff is primarily full-time former professional athletes, experienced and licensed coaches, certified in The Dragon Way development approach, allowing them to focus on each player’s development with a transparent path to lasting success. We offer a clear development and leadership program, annual commitments, travel and select teams, camps and clinics, memberships, fitness programs, agency-related services, several indoor facilities equipped with the most advanced sports technology and outdoor facilities.
Learn more: www.dragonseliteathletics.com
Follow us on: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs, educators, and former professional athletes, Dragons Elite Athletics’ mission is to develop high-potential athletes through sports and leadership. We have created the Dragons Elite Performance Framework to develop attributes for success in life, beginning with performance and commitment in sports, and in partnership with our accredited private school, Dragons Academy. Our athletes will embody the best of the human spirit and endeavor to outperform the competition, and in the process become elite members of society.
Our coaching staff is primarily full-time former professional athletes, experienced and licensed coaches, certified in The Dragon Way development approach, allowing them to focus on each player’s development with a transparent path to lasting success. We offer a clear development and leadership program, annual commitments, travel and select teams, camps and clinics, memberships, fitness programs, agency-related services, several indoor facilities equipped with the most advanced sports technology and outdoor facilities.
Learn more: www.dragonseliteathletics.com
Follow us on: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Media Contact:
Amanda Gilmer
Vice President of Marketing, Black Dragon Capital
agilmer@blackdragoncap.com
SOURCE: Dragons Elite Athletics
Amanda Gilmer
Vice President of Marketing, Black Dragon Capital
agilmer@blackdragoncap.com
SOURCE: Dragons Elite Athletics