About Us
About Oates Specialties
We build training tools that change how the body learns to move.
We are not a sporting goods company. We are a product development company built inside a coaching laboratory. Every tool we sell was stress-tested under real training loads before it ever reached an athlete.
We don't run paid ads. We don't chase trends. We invest in equipment that works — and let coaches, athletes, and families tell the story.
Where It Started
In 2003, Brian Oates was a high school pitcher running out of options.
Velocity wasn't developing. The conventional path wasn't working. Brian went looking for a better way and found Ron Wolforth at the Pitching Central (Texas Baseball Ranch).
Wolforth's model was different. He trained pitchers as total dynamic athletes — emphasizing how the body moves through space and interacts with its environment. Brian committed fully. Robert, his father, showed up the same way a good father does: he learned the system, watched every session, and asked what else he could do.
The answer came from Wolforth himself. The tools available couldn't handle the demands of high-intensity training. Robert didn't wait for someone else to solve it. He went to work.
That year, Oates Specialties was born — a father building equipment so his son could train without limitations.
TAP® — The Athletic Pitcher
The company's first brand carried the philosophy in its name.
TAP® — The Athletic Pitcher® — was never just a product line. It was a declaration that arm development starts with whole-body athleticism. Mechanics, movement quality, and coordination come before velocity. The equipment had to reflect that.
Brian went on to play college baseball and pitch in the Seattle Mariners organization. The tools his father built were part of that path.
A Feedback Loop Built on Real Training
Oates Specialties grew because coaches used the equipment and told us what needed to change.
Biomechanists, movement specialists, and arm care coaches tested products in the field. That feedback drove every design iteration. We didn't build for a catalog. We built for a training session.
Over two decades, that community has included:
- Paige Bishop
- Phil Donley
- Perry Husband
- Wes Johnson
- Kelvin Miyahira
- Paul Nyman
- Dewey Robinson
- Brent Strom
- Randy Sullivan
- Jerry Weinstein
- Ron Wolforth
KHAOS® — The Water Training Breakthrough
In 2009, we added water-filled training tools to our catalog, leading to the birth of our KHAOS® brand.
That addition created something conventional weighted tools couldn't replicate: unpredictable, shifting load. The body can't anticipate it. It has to respond to it. That demand drives adaptations in coordination, stabilization, and body control that static resistance doesn't produce.
Randy Sullivan, PT and founder of the Florida Baseball ARMory, put it directly: water-filled tools transformed training by improving strength, body awareness, coordination, and mechanics simultaneously.
Four Brands. One Standard.
Today, Oates Specialties operates four proprietary brands:
TAP® — arm care, resistance, and overhead athlete development
KHAOS® — water-based training for coordination, stabilization, and rotational power
SpeedChain® — overspeed and underspeed resistance tools developed with Kelvin Miyahira
Pitching Pad® — target training tools developed with Paige Bishop
Each brand solves a specific training problem. All four meet the same durability and design standard.
For Families
Robert Oates built this company as a father first.
He understood what it felt like to watch your athlete hit a wall — and the frustration of not knowing which tools, coaches, or methods to trust. That experience is embedded in how we operate. We provide objective, evidence-based resources alongside our equipment. We support parents who need to understand what their athletes are training with and why.
That commitment hasn't changed in 23 years.
The Record
Multiple Oates Specialties products have earned the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Best of Show award.
Our tools are used daily by youth, collegiate, and professional organizations worldwide.
We are sometimes imitated. We are never duplicated.
If you are serious about the work, you are in the right place.
We hope you find your visit here informative and productive! Please take a moment to meet the people that make up Oates Specialties.
Robert & Gloria Oates
Owners & Managers
Robert brings with him a wealth of experience acquired from 33 years of teaching and working in school administration in capacities including department head, school principal, and assistant superintendent. In addition to a career in education, he was co-owner of a private security company from 1973–1990. Robert retired from school administration and founded Oates Specialties LLC in 2003.
A dad's simple vision in 2003 for a few products that might help aspiring young athletes like his son has grown into a comprehensive variety of innovative training tools. Oates Specialties currently is an equipment provider not only for individual athletes, but high schools and collegiate programs, private training facilities, and professional baseball teams across the country.
Gloria retired in 2004 after a 29-year career and also devotes her time to the company. Like Robert, her many years of administrative experience, as well as a business degree, was a good fit in operating a small business.
In their spare time, Robert and Gloria enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Brian & Diana Oates
Product Development & Promotion
Since the founding of Oates Specialties in 2003, Brian has been the face of the company, working alongside his father, Robert. Since 2004, Brian has transitioned from an all-conference pitcher at Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas) to a professional baseball player (Seattle Mariners' organization) to partner at a corporate law firm. Brian set school conference records in 15 statistical categories while at Trinity University (2004–2008). In 2013 Brian graduated second in his law school class at Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Texas).
Brian continues to participate in product development and promotion while handling all legal aspects of the business. He adds a unique perspective to the company as he has trained using most products offered by Oates Specialties and has a first-hand understanding of their benefits. Brian's image is frequently found throughout the website demonstrating products. He assists in various athletes' development and has represented players in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.
Brian owes much to the game of baseball, including the chance to meet his wife, Diana, while playing in a collegiate summer league in North Carolina. Diana is a 2011 graduate of the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) where she earned a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. A former freelance writer, Diana is currently loving her career as a travel agent.
Brian and Diana are kept busy by their three children, Harrison, Blair, and Stuart. Brian and Diana love to travel and Brian heads to the golf course any chance he gets.
Our Team: The Heart of Oates Specialties
Meet The Oates Specialties Team
Gunnar Thompson
General Manager
Gunnar began his career at Oates Specialties in September 2014, bringing a unique, lifelong perspective to the team. His relationship with the company's mission began at just 12 years old, training at the Texas Baseball Ranch. This early, hands-on experience gave him a deep, foundational understanding of how high-performance training equipment integrates with athletic development — a perspective that seamlessly bridges the gap between practical application and formal exercise science.
Before stepping into his professional role, Gunnar built an accomplished athletic career on the mound. A four-year varsity pitcher for Cayuga High School (Texas), he was the Texas High School Strikeout leader in Districts 1A–5A two years in a row. He was named a first-team all-state pitcher in 2009 and 2010, as well as a first-team all-state DH in 2011 by the Texas Sports Writers Association. Gunnar went on to play on a full scholarship at Northeast Texas Community College for three seasons, where he also navigated a season on medical redshirt status, giving him personal insight into the rehabilitation and arm-care processes.
A 2017 graduate of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, Gunnar earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Clinical Exercise Science. Driven by a long-standing passion for human anatomy and sports performance, he has continually advanced his professional expertise through elite industry credentials. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA, and holds both a Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a Certified Physical Preparation Specialist (CPPS) designation.
Gunnar lives in Huntsville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two children, Maximus and Stella. As a family, they are avid outdoor enthusiasts who love traveling, hiking, spending time out on the river, and playing with their dogs.
For assistance with training needs, reach out to Gunnar at Gunnar@OatesSpecialties.com or 936-295-4459.
Drayton Pittmon
Business Manager
Drayton is a Huntsville, Texas native who began his career at Oates Specialties in May 2014, just after graduating from Huntsville High School. He completed his Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business at Sam Houston State University in 2018. Having played baseball most of his life — including years on travel and showcase teams as a high school pitcher — he was named Huntsville High School Baseball Varsity MVP in 2014 alongside his honor student recognition.
He takes pride in knowing that each order Oates Specialties ships serves as an opportunity to help an athlete reach their sports goals.
Drayton and his wife, Shelbie, enjoy raising their young son and spending quality time together as a family. In his free time, he enjoys working on vehicles — particularly truck performance parts — and supporting his favorite Texas teams, the Houston Astros and Dallas Cowboys.
Sebastian Torres
Sebastian began his career at Oates Specialties in August 2024, bringing over ten years of customer service experience and a steady focus on treating every customer with respect. A 2020 graduate of Huntsville High School, he believes that hard work pays off and carries that mindset into his role each day.
Building on his interest in computer science, Sebastian has developed skills in multimedia and social media, helping create and support product photos, short clips, and other content that show how our training tools are used in real drills and routines. By making these examples clear and accessible, he helps athletes, parents, and coaches better understand which tools fit their specific needs and training goals. This work supports Oates Speicalites daily operations and gives customers a clearer path from their first questions to confident use on the field.
Outside of work, Sebastian enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and family, staying active through weightlifting, sharing laughs, and occasionally gaming.
Taylor Evans
Taylor Evans joined the team bringing a strong work ethic, practical technical knowledge, and a natural ability to collaborate. A 2024 graduate of Leon High School, Taylor is currently pursuing his degree in Agricultural Engineering Technology at Sam Houston State University.
Through his varied background across multiple roles and organizations, Taylor has developed deep experience in teamwork, problem-solving, and efficient operations. His hands-on engineering background and commitment to clear communication make him a key asset in supporting our store's operations and serving our customers.
Outside of work, Taylor enjoys spending quality time with his wife and working alongside his dad on their family ranch.