The Future of Youth Baseball Has Arrived in Kansas City with the launch of Prime Academy

TPH Academy and Prime Baseball partner for new initiative at Bluhawk

OVERLAND PARK, KS — The landscape of youth baseball development in the Midwest is officially shifting. TPH Academy Kansas City and Prime Baseball are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership to launch Prime Academy, a first-of-its-kind, full-time academy team model for aspiring-elite 7th and 8th-grade baseball players for the 2026-2027 academic year.

This isn't just a part-time club team or an after-school program. Prime Academy is a total immersion experience designed for the AAA-level player with "next-level" aspirations, hosted entirely within the region's premier athletic destination: AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk.

The New Standard in Student-Athlete Development: Integrated Study, Training, and Competition

For the first time in the Kansas City market, a select group of student-athletes will experience a fully integrated professional developmental model while still in middle school. From mid-August through May, the Prime Academy team will attend school, train, and compete together as a single, cohesive unit—forging a standard of excellence usually reserved for the highest levels of sport."

“The TPH Academy-Prime partnership will allow us to marry the 'parts' to the 'whole,'” said Jerrod Ryherd, Founder and Director of Prime Baseball. “By training, learning, and growing together daily for 36 weeks, these players aren't just building skills—they are building the chemistry and character required for the highest levels of the game. This model is the future of development.”

The Bluhawk Advantage: High-Performance Sports, Education, and Community Ecosystem

The cornerstone of Prime Academy is its home. By basing the entire program within the 420,000-square-foot AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk, Prime Academy eliminates the "commute culture" that plagues youth sports.

Everything a player needs is under one roof. The Academy features a modern, 3,000-square-foot academic space flooded with natural light, located directly inside the facility. Athletes transition seamlessly from their individualized work spaces to the field, the cages, or the weight room in seconds—not hours.

Maximizing Productivity with "Win the Day, Own the Evening" Strategy for families

The most revolutionary aspect of the Prime Academy model is the restoration of the family dinner table. Because the 400+ hours of elite training, coupled with TPH Academy’s NCAA-accredited academics take place during the school day—when brains and bodies are at their physiological peak—evenings are freed up.

• No more late night practices: All training is finished before 5 PM.
• Multi-Sport Freedom: Because their primary baseball training happens during the day, student-athletes have the unique freedom to pursue other sports in the evening without burnout.
• The Pro Routine: Players follow a schedule conducive to a D-I lifestyle, training when the body is freshest and learning when the mind is most sharp.

Elite Athletic & Academic Development: Key Metrics and Statistics

Over the course of the 36-week Academy year, Prime Academy players receive a volume and quality of training unmatched in the Midwest—all for one tuition rate:

• 250+ Hours of Baseball Training: On-field, turf, and cage work directed by Head Coach Jake Kraft.
• Just shy of 150 Hours of Sports Performance: Led by Johnny Beck, focusing on baseball-specific training such as rotational power, mobility, and lower-body explosiveness.
• 70-80 Games: A comprehensive local, in-state, and travel schedule spanning September through May.
• Mentorship: Leadership and mental performance training through Coach F.A.’s Mentorship Program

Flexible Learning: Personalized Education Without Sacrificing Quality

The TPH Academy academic model is tailor-made for the modern athlete. The blended learning environment is:

• Customized: We shape the learning around the individual’s travel and game schedule.
• NCAA-Accredited: Ensuring every student-athlete is on a clear path to collegiate eligibility.
• Accessible: Courseware is available 24/7—whether at Bluhawk, at home, or on the road.

Join Our Growing Educational Community: Prime Academy Enrollment

While Prime Academy introduces a dedicated team model for 7th-8th graders, TPH Academy Kansas City remains a "big tent." The Academy continues to welcome baseball, hockey, soccer and all multi-sport athletes in grades 4-12 who wish to utilize the TPH model while remaining with their current club organizations.

Are You Ready to Level Up?

Prime Academy is looking for the driven, the motivated, and the elite. Spaces for this inaugural 7th-8th grade team are limited.

Take the Next Step: Schedule a call with head coach Jake Kraft to discuss your student-athlete's goals. Fill out our inquiry form to schedule a 15-minute intro call.

Attend Our Inside Access Event: Join us at Bluhawk on Friday, Feb. 20th at 5:30 p.m. for a presentation, campus tour, and a sample on-field training session. See the future of baseball development for yourself!