2025 Mexican Baseball League MVP Nick Torres joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast to share his journey from an overlooked high school player to a fourth-round MLB Draft pick, professional baseball in Mexico, and an MVP season that earned him another opportunity with the New York Yankees organization.

Nick's junior year of high school, he barely played and was used only as a pitcher. His senior year, he won conference Player of the Year. He didn't receive his offer from Cal Poly until late April of his senior year.

After more than a decade in professional baseball, Nick has plenty to say about what young players need to develop and what parents should be paying attention to.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Nick wishes he'd played multiple sports longer
• How he went from barely playing as a junior to conference Player of the Year as a senior
• Why his college recruiting process came down to the final weeks of his senior year
• What parents should consider before leaving a team over playing time
• Why hitting approach and the mental game can separate players at higher levels
• How parents can help their sons handle slumps without adding more pressure
• Why comparing your son to other players can hurt his development
• What Nick learned from being released twice, playing in Mexico, and eventually winning league MVP
• The characteristics Nick believes make a player somebody coaches want on their team

If you're raising a young baseball player and wondering whether he's on the right team, developing fast enough, or falling behind other kids his age, this conversation is worth your time.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor | Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

⚾ Guest: Nick Torres | 2025 Liga Mexicana de Béisbol MVP

📱 Follow Nick on Instagram: @n_torres93

#ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball #NickTorres #YouthBaseball #CollegeBaseball

On this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Bobby Minor sits down with Mikey to talk about his journey from Lake Mary High School to Division II Eckerd College, his transfer to Division I Louisiana Tech, independent professional baseball, and eventually the Party Animals.

Mikey shares how he nearly gave up on playing college baseball before one final showcase changed his opportunities. He also explains why playing time mattered more than the name on his jersey, how growing up undersized affected his recruiting, and why his parents' simple advice, "Be Mike," still matters to him today.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Mikey nearly gave up on college baseball before receiving a late walk-on opportunity
• How playing Division II baseball prepared him for success at Louisiana Tech
• Why he believes actual game experience matters more than chasing a Power Five roster spot
• How backyard Wiffle ball, multiple sports, and playing with friends helped develop his athleticism
• Why teaching young hitters big-league mechanics can sometimes do more harm than good
• The two words his parents taught him that he still puts on his glove
• How he went from independent baseball to playing in front of 81,000 Banana Ball fans
• Why he believes 80 to 100 games a year can be too much for 10-, 11-, and 12-year-olds

If you're a baseball parent wondering whether your son is falling behind, whether he's on the right team, or whether a Division I offer should be the ultimate goal, Mikey's story gives you plenty to think about.

The decisions you make for your son should be based on what actually helps him develop, not what looks impressive to everybody else.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor | Chasing Baseball Dreams

⚾ Guest: Mikey Ballard | Party Animals, Banana Ball

📱 Follow Mikey: Instagram @michael_ballard14 | TikTok @mike.b14

🔔 Subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for conversations with professional players, coaches, and baseball parents about the decisions that matter throughout the baseball journey.

#BananaBall #PartyAnimals #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball #CollegeBaseball

Jay spent 17 years playing professional baseball, including time with six Major League teams and in Japan. In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, he joins Bobby Minor to share what he learned about player development, choosing the right opportunities, handling disappointment, and helping young players enjoy the game.

In this episode we cover:

• Why Jay believes parents put too much importance on baseball rankings for 8U–12U players
• The money families spend flying young players across the country for travel baseball tournaments
• How Jay went from being projected as a second-to-fourth-round draft pick to getting selected in the ninth round
• Why he chose Furman University and how academics, family, and his relationship with the coach influenced that decision
• What playing professionally in Japan taught him about fundamentals and the quality of practice
• What Jay looks for in young pitchers that parents often overlook
• What a dad should say to his 12U pitcher after giving up six runs
• The emotional story of his son spending 166 days in the NICU and what Jay hopes his children remember about him

Jay also shares the years he spent waiting for his Major League opportunity, what happened when he didn't make Toronto's Opening Day roster despite a strong spring training, and why he created the S.M.I.L.E. Zone to help young players with the mental side of baseball.

If you're a baseball parent trying to decide which teams, tournaments, rankings, and opportunities are actually worth your money, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before you spend another dollar.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor

⚾ Guest: Jay Jackson, former MLB pitcher and founder of the S.M.I.L.E. Zone

🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

Connect with Jay Jackson:

Instagram: @jaxland58

S.M.I.L.E. Zone community: https://smilezone.app/

🔔 Subscribe to Chasing Baseball Dreams on YouTube so you don't miss future interviews with Major League players, coaches, and baseball parents. You can also listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

#JayJackson #YouthBaseball #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #ChasingBaseballDreams

His dad, Brian Jacobus, played professional baseball after being drafted by the San Diego Padres. He's coached high school baseball, run travel baseball organizations, and experienced the recruiting process firsthand as a parent.

One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation? Brian built Ben's baseball development around preparing him for high school, and he believes there are things high school baseball provides that travel ball has a hard time replicating.

In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Brian shares the decisions they made along the way, including some he'd handle differently.

In this episode we cover:

• What Ben experienced winning a state championship as a freshman and why high school baseball was so important to his development
• What high school coaches look for when deciding whether a freshman is ready for varsity baseball
• Why Brian believes choosing the right coach matters more than playing for a famous travel baseball organization
• How Brian handled being both Ben's dad and his coach, including the mental side of the game
• Why Ben reclassified from the 2028 to the 2027 graduating class, and Brian's concerns about holding players back to gain an age advantage
• How TCU recruited Ben, what happened when other schools entered the picture, and why Ben ultimately chose TCU over Arizona State
• The red flags parents should watch for before committing to a travel team
• Why Brian believes families waste money on national tournaments and showcases before their sons are ready

Brian also shares something he wishes he'd emphasized earlier in Ben's development, even with all his years of experience playing and coaching baseball.

If you're spending money on travel baseball, preparing your son for high school, or starting to think about college recruiting, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before making your next decision.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor

⚾ Guest: Brian Jacobus

🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

Subscribe for conversations with players, coaches, and baseball people who can help parents think more clearly about the decisions they're making for their sons.

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Former MLB All-Star Shane Greene saw it firsthand. And he has a lot to say about what baseball parents need to understand.

Shane spent 10 seasons in the big leagues with teams including the Yankees, Tigers, and Braves. But his journey was anything but typical. He didn't pitch a single varsity inning as a sophomore, received just one college offer, underwent Tommy John surgery, and took the JUCO route before being drafted in the 15th round. He eventually became an MLB All-Star in 2019.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your son's performance at 12U tells you very little about where he'll end up
• How Shane handled sitting on the varsity bench for an entire season and what his dad did differently
• Why some Major Leaguers were still afraid of disappointing their fathers
• How too much mechanical instruction can hurt a player's ability to compete
• Why Shane believes the mental side of baseball is being overlooked
• What playing Cosmic Baseball and Banana Ball taught him about competition and having fun

Shane also shares what helped him through injuries, setbacks, and the pressure of professional baseball, along with his advice for parents who are worried their sons are falling behind.

If you're a baseball parent trying to figure out what actually matters for your son's development, this is a conversation worth hearing.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor
⚾ Guest: Shane Greene, 2019 MLB All-Star

🎧 Watch or listen to the full Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast episode on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations with people who've experienced the game at the highest levels.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #ShaneGreene

How do you handle that?

Savannah Bananas star RobertAnthony Cruz, better known as Coach RAC, joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for a conversation about faith, family, and the decisions baseball parents face.

Coach RAC shares his journey from UC Riverside to the Washington Nationals, the heartbreak of being released from professional baseball, and how his faith helped him find purpose beyond the game.

We also talk about Sandlot Revival, the faith-based movement that grew from a Savannah Bananas team Bible study into worship nights in more than 20 cities.

In this episode we cover:

• Whether missing Sunday tournament games really puts your son behind
• How Christian parents can handle the conflict between church and travel baseball
• What conversations parents should have with coaches before committing to a team
• Practical ways families can maintain their faith and church community during a busy baseball season
• How parents sometimes make their sons feel like their love depends on baseball performance
• What Coach RAC learned about identity and faith after being released by the Washington Nationals
• How Sandlot Revival started and the impact it's having across the country
• Why Coach RAC believes developing your son's character matters more than his baseball career

Coach RAC also shares his personal testimony, what fatherhood has taught him, and why his biggest accomplishments on the baseball field don't compare to what matters most in his life.

Whether you're a Christian family struggling with Sunday tournaments or a parent trying to keep baseball in perspective, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before your next season.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor
⚾ Guest: Coach RAC (@coach.rac)
🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with players, coaches, and baseball people who can help you think through the decisions you're making for your son.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #CoachRAC #SavannahBananas #TravelBaseball #FaithAndBaseball

Will believes youth baseball should be 90% focused on development and only 10% on playing games. That's a pretty strong opinion coming from someone who runs a baseball academy.

Will is a former Division II pitcher at Grand Canyon University who went through Tommy John surgery and some serious setbacks during his playing career. Today, he's the CEO and co-founder of Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, which was featured on the Paramount+ reality series Team Moms: Baseball.

In this episode we cover:

• Why Will believes young players are playing too many games and spending too little time developing
• The D1 obsession and why a bigger-name college isn't always the better opportunity
• What parents misunderstand about 13U and 14U rankings and predicting college baseball potential
• Reclassifying young players and whether an extra year actually helps
• The injury concerns that come with heavy tournament schedules and inadequate recovery
• How parents can measure whether the money they're spending is actually helping their son improve
• What Will has learned about parents, playing-time complaints, and the pressure placed on young athletes

Will also shares what it was like growing up playing baseball in New Mexico, including a high school coach who told him he'd never be good enough to play beyond high school.

If you're spending thousands on travel baseball, considering a prep academy, or wondering whether your son needs to play more games to keep up, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before making your next decision.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor
⚾ Guest: Will Armijo, CEO & Co-Founder of Legendary Prep Academy
🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

Subscribe to Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts for more conversations about the decisions baseball parents face.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents

Then, in 2021, he walked away from baseball.

What surprised me most during our conversation was hearing Ty admit that he never really loved pitching, even though he loved playing baseball.

Ty spent years battling performance anxiety, struggling with his mechanics, and pushing himself to get better. He eventually reached the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Angels, but getting there didn't make those struggles disappear.

In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Ty and I talk about his journey from getting cut to pitching in the big leagues, what he learned about himself along the way, and what baseball parents can take from his experience.

In this episode we cover:

• How Ty went from getting cut and being sent down to JV to becoming a fourth-round draft pick
• Why the wrong training program caused him to lose velocity early in his professional career, according to Ty, and what he changed
• Why Ty believes the mental side of pitching accounts for as much as 70% of success
• What parents should look for when choosing a pitching instructor, hitting coach, or personal trainer
• Why being one of the best players at 12U or 13U doesn't tell you how good that player will be years later
• How the pressure to prove other people wrong contributed to Ty's performance anxiety
• Why Ty believes American youth baseball spends too much time playing tournaments and too little time developing skills
• What he wishes he'd done differently growing up, and his advice to parents about pushing their sons without belittling them
• Why parents of 12- and 13-year-olds should think carefully before chasing social media attention and NIL opportunities

One of the most interesting parts of our conversation came when Ty talked about how much he loved playing baseball but never really enjoyed the part of the game that became his profession.

He also shares what parents should pay attention to when their sons start putting too much pressure on themselves, and why he'd encourage parents to help their sons develop interests outside of baseball.

If you're a baseball parent with a son who's serious about playing at the next level, this is a conversation worth hearing. Especially if you're trying to figure out how hard to push him, what kind of training he needs, and whether he's still enjoying the game.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor

⚾ Guest: Ty Buttrey, Former MLB Pitcher | Los Angeles Angels

🎧 Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

Subscribe for more conversations with former Major Leaguers, professional coaches, and people who've lived the game, with lessons that can help you make better baseball decisions for your son.

#BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #TravelBaseball

Corey Hart spent 18 years coaching professional hitters in the Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins, and Toronto Blue Jays organizations. He's worked with hitters like Christian Yelich and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and he's now an assistant softball coach at Syracuse University.

In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Corey and I talk about what parents need to understand before spending more money on hitting instruction. We get into the mental side of hitting, what separates good hitters from great ones, and why some of the advice parents give from the stands might be making things harder for their sons.

In this episode we cover:

• Why a good-looking swing in the cage doesn't always translate into success during games
• How to tell whether your son's hitting instructor is actually helping him, beyond his batting average
• What Corey saw in Christian Yelich and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that made them such special hitters
• Why getting hitting advice from multiple coaches can leave a young player confused
• The mechanical advice Corey wishes parents would stop yelling during at-bats
• How one simple hitting drill helped Martín Maldonado make an adjustment in the minor leagues
• When hitting lessons make sense for younger players and why Corey believes mindset is just as important as mechanics
• Why Corey would rather send his sons to the right college camp than spend money on showcases hoping they'll get discovered

Corey also shares what he believes separates players who eventually reach the big leagues from those with similar talent who never get there.

If you're a baseball parent spending money on hitting lessons, this conversation will give you a better idea of what to look for in an instructor and what actual progress should look like.

And the next time your son steps into the batter's box, you might want to think twice before yelling another swing tip.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor

⚾ Guest: Corey Hart, Former Professional Hitting Coach | Syracuse University Softball

🎧 Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

Subscribe for more conversations with former Major Leaguers, professional coaches, and people who've lived the game, with lessons that can help you make better baseball decisions for your son.

#BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #HittingLessons

Coach Jason Ferber, better known as Coach Ferber on Instagram, joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for a conversation every travel baseball parent needs to hear.

A former San Diego Padres scout who has worked with some of the country's top young baseball players, Coach Ferber shares what he's learned about player development, youth baseball rankings, recruiting, and the decisions parents face as their sons grow in the game.

We get into why he thinks cutting 6U and 7U players is ridiculous, what parents should investigate before joining an expensive national team, and why locking a 9-year-old into one position can hurt his long-term development.

He also shares the story of an overlooked young player who became one of the country's top prospects, explains what separates a good hitting instructor from someone who's just selling a swing philosophy, and gives parents practical advice on finding the right coach.

And when it comes to college recruiting, Coach Ferber explains why he'd start with local college programs before spending thousands chasing exposure across the country.

In this episode:

• Why early baseball rankings tell you very little about a player's future
• The problem with national travel teams for 8U, 9U, and 10U players
• What to ask a travel baseball coach before committing
• Why young players need multiple positions and other sports
• How to recognize a coach who's developing players
• Red flags to watch for with private hitting instructors
• What college coaches actually evaluate during recruiting
• When a player needs more exposure and when he needs to improve
• What Coach Ferber would prioritize for his own 10-year-old son

Episode Chapters

00:00 Meet Coach Jason Ferber
02:10 Why you can't predict a player's future at 12U
07:09 The danger of playing only one position
12:08 National teams for 8U and 9U players
14:04 What young players lose without pickup games
16:24 Coach Ferber's take on cutting 6U and 7U players
18:38 Why parents need to investigate travel coaches
22:01 Questions to ask before joining a national team
25:17 Do young players really need national exposure?
29:27 Why youth baseball rankings mean so little
33:59 What parents should focus on instead of rankings
35:38 The story of an overlooked top prospect
37:43 Winning tournaments versus developing players
40:17 What good coaches should teach during games
44:26 How to evaluate a private hitting instructor
49:46 The question to ask before paying for lessons
52:43 Why talented players still need tough coaching
53:59 Tough coaching versus tearing players down
57:16 College recruiting: When showcases aren't working
1:00:07 Why recruiting should start close to home
1:02:38 Where he'd spend money on a talented 10-year-old
1:07:07 The biggest mistake well-intentioned parents make
1:11:07 Bobby's experience with his son Julian
1:12:21 Where to follow Coach Ferber

Follow Coach Ferber:
Instagram: @coachferber

Follow Chasing Baseball Dreams:
Instagram: @chasingbaseballdreams

If you're a baseball parent trying to make the best decisions for your son, subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for conversations with experienced coaches, former Major Leaguers, and people who know what it takes to develop baseball players.

#TravelBaseball #YouthBaseball #BaseballParents #PlayerDevelopment #CoachFerber

 In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Marcus and I talk about what he’d do differently if Landon were 10 again. We also get into the college decision. Oklahoma wasn’t initially in Landon’s top five, and Marcus explains what the coaches showed their family that set OU apart from the other schools they spoke with.  

In this episode we cover: 

- The money Marcus would rethink spending on showcases and exposure at 10, 11, and 12.  

- What made hitting instruction worth paying for, and why going to another lesson wasn’t always the answer.  

- When they started focusing on recruiting and how much Marcus thinks Perfect Game rankings factored into the interest Landon received.  

- Why the Bonners looked back five years to see how many freshmen each program actually played.  

- How NIL factored into the decision without becoming more important than an opportunity to get on the field.- The two years of Landon’s ABs Oklahoma’s coaches broke down and the development plan they laid out for him.  

- What Marcus would change about the car ride home after a bad game, and how he learned to let Landon come to him. 

Before you follow another family’s recruiting plan, hear what this family would change about its own. 

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor  

⚾ Guest: Marcus Bonner, father of Oklahoma commit Landon Bonner  

🎧 Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast 

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms. Subscribe for more conversations about the decisions you’re making for your son. 

 #ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #CollegeBaseballRecruiting #TravelBaseball #LandonBonner

 Joey and Trina Taylor have an answer for people who watched 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐬 and decided they weren’t real baseball parents. The couple joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast to talk about the criticism and the years at the ballpark that came before reality TV. They also explain why they think the show portrayed them accurately, even though viewers didn’t see the whole story.  

The Taylors get into the cast drama, including the confrontation Joey says never aired. They also walk through some big decisions for their family. Trina explains how their daughter’s dance opportunities factored into the Arizona move, and both parents share what they’re learning as Jett takes more responsibility for his baseball development.  

 In this episode we cover: 

- Is Team Moms scripted? What Joey and Trina say about the drama and the editing 

- Nina’s barbecue and why the singing at the field upset them 

- How they’ve tried to keep disagreements between parents from affecting the boys 

- Jett’s regional championship home run and what reaching Williamsport meant to their family 

- Why Joey challenges the comparison between local Little League teams and national travel rosters 

- Their move from Washington to Arizona and why they chose Legendary Prep Academy 

- Watching for burnout, letting Jett own his development, and handling struggles against older players 

For a parent wondering how hard to push, there’s a moment worth hearing: Joey describes Jett going outside to hit without being asked and without filming it. Trina is seeing him take more interest in his nutrition. They explain what those choices tell them while keeping the conversation open about needing a break.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor  

⚾ Guests: Joey and Trina Taylor from 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐬 

 🔔 Subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for conversations that help baseball parents think through the decisions they’re making for their sons. 

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms. 

 #TeamMoms #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball #LittleLeague #ChasingBaseballDreams

His path went from North Shore High School in Houston to Crowder College, Division I baseball at Little Rock, two seasons of independent ball, the Party Animals, and now the Texas Tailgators. At several points, the next opportunity looked nothing like what he originally pictured.

That’s exactly why I wanted him on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast.

Jorden talks about why he chose JUCO when he had a Division I opportunity, why parents need to be realistic about where their son actually is as a player, and what his own parents got right throughout his baseball career. He also gives one of the better analogies I’ve heard about what a player needs from his dad after a bad game.

We also get into Banana Ball. Is the baseball real? Are the games scripted? And after playing inside it, does Jorden believe Banana Ball is actually here to stay? His answer might surprise some traditional baseball people.

In this episode we cover:

• Why Jorden chose JUCO instead of going Division I right away
• What parents should look at beyond the school name and division
• The reality check he thinks more baseball parents need about their son
• What each jump in competition exposed about his own game
• What his parents did when he struggled
• What NOT to do on the car ride home after your son goes 0-for-4
• How a phone call he almost turned down led him to Banana Ball
• Whether Banana Ball is scripted and how competitive the games really are
• Why he believes Banana Ball is here to stay
• What Banana Ball taught him about slowing the game down defensively
• Why parents should stop obsessing over statistics
• What he wishes he could tell his high school self

Jorden’s path is a good reminder for baseball parents: your son’s best opportunity may not have the name, logo, division, or path you pictured.

Pay attention to where he can play, where he can get better, and where people genuinely want him.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor
⚾ Guest: Jorden Hussein, Texas Tailgators shortstop
🎧 Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

Subscribe for conversations with players, coaches and baseball people who can help parents think more clearly about the decisions they’re making for their sons.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #BananaBall

Former MLB pitcher Aaron Barrett says one of the biggest things parents worry about is FOMO. Trying to keep up with what everybody else is doing instead of looking at where your own kid is right now.  

 Aaron has seen player development from just about every angle. He pitched parts of four seasons with the Washington Nationals, made it back to the Major Leagues after more than four years away following Tommy John surgery and a fractured humerus, and was part of Washington’s 2019 World Series team. After his playing career, he moved into player development with the Philadelphia Phillies. In his first season managing the Single-A Clearwater Threshers, his team finished 74-55 and Aaron was named Baseball America’s Single-A Manager of the Year and Florida State League Manager of the Year.  

 In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Aaron and I get into what actually separates players as they move up, why consistency and handling failure matter so much, what development should look like at younger ages, and why playing catch still matters. 

 We also talk about youth pitching and arm health, how parents should vet coaches and instructors, multi-sport athletes, baseball IQ, analytics, player ownership, Aaron’s four MLB Draft experiences, his incredible comeback to the big leagues, and some of his favorite Major League memories. 

 Aaron also explains why parents need to ask more questions before handing their son’s development over to somebody else, especially when it comes to pitching and training.  

 His closing advice is simple: use the information and experience available to you, then bring the decision back to your child and what’s best for him right now. Development isn’t linear.  

 TIMESTAMPS 

 00:00 Aaron Barrett’s MLB career, comeback and move into managing 

02:05 What separates players in professional baseball 

05:08 Baseball IQ and how players are being developed today 

08:17 Development vs. winning 

11:31 What development should look like for young players 

14:24 Why playing catch still matters 

17:17 When parents should stop trying to fix every struggle 

19:35 Helping a young player through an injury 

22:25 What parents should ask about pitching and arm care 

25:19 Aaron on youth arm injuries and Dr. Andrews 

26:48 Aaron’s wild MLB Draft story 

29:10 Growing up as a multi-sport athlete 

31:02 When parents should hand ownership back to the player 

35:28 Data, analytics and paralysis by analysis 

39:37 In-and-Out with Aaron Barrett 

40:20 What baseball parents worry about too much 

41:38 What he’d tell the parents of his 12-year-old self 

42:34 The toughest hitter Aaron faced in the Major Leagues 

43:39 Aaron’s favorite baseball memories 

50:41 Favorite baseball movie and his upcoming documentary 

53:53 Aaron’s final advice for baseball parents 

Former MLB player Lou Collier joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast to talk about reclassing, playing up and the decisions behind his son Cam Collier’s path to the MLB Draft. 

Before the Cincinnati Reds selected Cam 18th overall, his family made the decision to have him graduate early and play junior college baseball against older competition. Lou explains what he saw in Cam, how he used feedback from experienced baseball people and why the decision involved much more than his son’s ability on the field. We also get into what would’ve told him they’d moved too soon. 

That leads to a conversation about reclassifying in the other direction. Lou shares his concerns about older players dominating younger competition and what happens when the game finally gets tougher. He also makes an important distinction: challenging a player doesn’t mean putting him at a level he isn’t physically ready to handle. 

We talk about the challenge of being both a coach and a baseball dad, including what Lou learned about backing off as Cam matured. Later, he explains why a younger player needing encouragement isn’t the same as an older teenager refusing to put in the work his goals require. 

For parents thinking about baseball training and player development, Lou gets specific about infield fundamentals, learning multiple positions and what working alongside Ron Washington taught him about instruction. He also discusses baseball access for young African American players, his work with MLB Develops and the training behind the Hillboys program. His explanation of practice reps versus game reps gives parents something to consider before filling another weekend with games. 

Cam’s path gives us a real decision to examine. The question for your family is what your son needs, how you’re evaluating that and whether his baseball environment is preparing him for tougher competition. 

Timestamps 

00:00 Meet Lou Collier, former MLB player and Cam Collier’s dad 

02:25 Being a baseball dad without always being the coach 

05:02 Why Cam Collier reclassified and played junior college baseball 

10:50 What would’ve told Lou they moved too soon 

12:19 College baseball beyond the “D1 or bust” mentality 

13:41 Infield fundamentals and learning multiple positions 

17:05 What Ron Washington taught Lou about infield development 

19:47 Recognizing when a player needs tougher competition 

20:47 When should your son take ownership of his baseball goals? 

23:09 Growing up playing baseball on Chicago’s South Side 

25:31 African American players, baseball costs and access 

31:30 MLB Develops, Dream Series and Breakthrough Series 

36:38 Reclassing down and the temporary age advantage 

41:52 What separates players who keep getting better 

43:10 The toughest MLB pitchers Lou faced 

44:19 Favorite ballparks and playing back home in Chicago 

46:41 In-and-Out with Lou Collier 

48:29 A Wrigley Field home run and a favorite baseball movie 

50:44 Lou’s message to parents: Be honest about your son 

52:54 The Hillboys and Lou’s approach to youth baseball training 

55:22 Practice reps versus game reps 

56:31 Closing thoughts 

Subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss the next episode. 

#BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #ChasingBaseballDreams 

Niko was a second-round pick out of high school and played seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels. One of the most surprising parts of his journey: he didn’t grow up playing travel baseball. He played local summer ball, attended a few showcases and still developed into a Major League player.

For baseball parents, some of Niko’s strongest advice comes when he talks development. He says he wouldn’t rush power, exit velocity, throwing velocity or strength with young players. Niko was 168 pounds when he was drafted and eventually played at 220. Physical development comes with time, but the skill of actually playing baseball still has to be there.

Niko also talks about when a player may be ready for travel ball, why parents should watch how much their son is driving his own development, and why decisions should fit the individual kid instead of what everybody else is doing.

We also get into how versatility helped Niko reach and stay in the Major Leagues, playing multiple sports, becoming a switch hitter in high school, professional baseball in Korea, the moment he knew his playing career was over, and what separates talented players who keep moving from those who stall out.

If you’re a baseball parent trying to make better decisions about travel baseball, training, strength, player development, versatility or your son’s long-term path, this conversation is for you.

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:50 Meet Niko Goodrum and his MLB journey
• 01:34 Why Niko chose Kennesaw State over bigger-name programs
• 03:11 Getting drafted in the second round vs. going to college
• 04:30 Why development can take years, even for elite players
• 06:17 Niko reveals he never played travel ball
• 07:02 Why playing basketball helped his baseball development
• 08:53 How versatility became Niko’s path to the Major Leagues
• 11:23 Playing when your role and future aren’t guaranteed
• 12:42 What playing professional baseball in Korea was really like
• 17:05 The morning Niko knew it was time to retire
• 19:11 Adjusting to life after professional baseball
• 22:08 What separates talented players who keep advancing
• 24:02 Becoming a switch hitter in high school
• 26:08 What parents of talented 12 and 13-year-olds should focus on
• 27:43 Why parents shouldn’t rush strength, exit velo or throwing velo
• 29:10 When should a kid start playing travel baseball?
• 31:41 Facing Jacob deGrom, Chris Sale and MLB’s toughest pitchers
• 32:30 Niko’s favorite Major League stadiums
• 36:00 In-and-Out: earning trust, development, technique and simplifying the game
• 38:50 Why mindset becomes the separator at higher levels
• 42:05 What Niko learned from Victor Martinez
• 45:14 Niko’s favorite baseball memories
• 47:42 His favorite baseball movie
• 48:24 Where to follow Niko Goodrum

Brinson was selected 29th overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2012 MLB Draft out of Coral Springs High School. He went on to play six seasons in the Major Leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants, and his career later took him to Japan and Mexico.

In this episode, Lewis talks about the parts of the baseball journey parents rarely get to see.

He explains why parents can put way too much stock in batting average, exit velocity and other metrics at 9U and 10U, what actually mattered in his development as a young player, and why youth baseball shouldn’t start feeling like a business before baseball is actually a player’s job.

Lewis also gives an inside look at what being a top MLB prospect really means. More attention. More expectations. More opportunities to fail. And, sometimes, more pressure than a young player knows how to handle.

He shares what he learned after being traded by the Rangers in the Jonathan Lucroy deal, becoming a centerpiece of the Christian Yelich trade to Miami, and returning home with enormous expectations placed on him.

The conversation also gets into hitting development, why every kid shouldn’t be taught to swing like Aaron Judge, how parents can get more value from private lessons, what longtime big leaguers have in common beyond talent, and what a parent should say on the ride home after a bad game.

If you’re raising a young baseball player and trying to make better decisions about travel baseball, player development, hitting lessons, youth baseball stats, pressure, expectations and the long-term journey, there’s a lot in this one.

Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast with Bobby Minor

00:00 Lewis Brinson joins Chasing Baseball Dreams
01:13 Getting traded by the Texas Rangers
05:01 When the business side creeps into youth baseball
07:17 Lewis Brinson’s travel baseball experience
08:23 What actually mattered in his development
10:42 Why parents put too much stock in youth baseball stats
13:31 The problem with radar guns and exit velocity at 9U
14:37 How Lewis fell in love with baseball
19:29 Florida or professional baseball? Making the draft decision
24:15 How baseball recruiting has changed
26:59 What being a “top prospect” really means
31:27 The people who shaped Lewis Brinson
34:05 The Christian Yelich trade and the pressure of coming home
41:39 Why Lewis listens to players who’ve been there
44:51 Hitting instruction and copying Major League swings
49:42 The toughest pitcher Lewis ever faced
51:20 Lewis Brinson’s favorite MLB ballparks
54:16 Why baseball stays uncertain even after you “make it”
59:55 In-and-Out: advice every baseball parent can use
1:05:12 Lewis’s favorite baseball memories
1:07:24 Favorite baseball movie
1:08:16 What might have been with the Texas Rangers
1:09:36 Lewis gives Bobby some hitting advice
1:10:37 Where to follow Lewis Brinson

In this solo episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Bobby Minor talks about the side of the college baseball recruiting process he didn’t fully understand until his own son went through it. He had already coached players and helped them through recruiting. Going through it as a dad gave him a completely different view of the same process. 

For baseball parents, recruiting goes way beyond whether a player is talented enough or whether a college coach likes him. There’s the financial side. Distance from home. Playing time. Roster competition. Coaching changes. Injuries. Knowing whether a school really wants your son or is simply keeping him on the board. 

And then there’s the part nobody can make easy for you: helping your son make the decision without making it for him. 

Bobby talks about college baseball recruiting, JUCO baseball, scholarship and financial decisions, roster math, college coach interest, travel baseball, playing time, and the pressure the recruiting process can put on the relationship between a parent and his son. 

He also shares why getting an offer isn’t the finish line, how difficult it can be to interpret what college coaches really mean, and the unexpected way Julian’s eventual college opportunity started with a conversation inside a Fort Worth gym. 

If you’re looking for college baseball recruiting tips for parents, especially as your son moves through high school baseball and starts hearing from college programs, this episode will help you think beyond simply getting the offer. 

TIMESTAMPS 

00:01 Why recruiting feels different when you’re the parent 

02:16 When the coaching staff leaves two weeks before school 

04:36 The waiting, comparison, and financial pressure parents carry 

07:02 Roster math and the real path to playing time 

09:25 Letting your son own the decision 

11:14 What college coach interest really means 

13:42 What recruiting costs emotionally 

16:07 How Julian actually got recruited 

If your son is going through the recruiting process right now, leave your biggest question in the comments. 

#CollegeBaseballRecruiting #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball

The former professional pitcher and baseball YouTuber joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast to talk about late-blooming players, travel baseball costs, and the pressure parents feel to keep up. 

Aiden was a 5-foot-2 high school freshman who struggled throughout high school. He transferred three times in college before being selected in the 2018 MLB Draft. He shares what his parents got right during those difficult years and why being one of the best players at 12 tells you so little about what happens next. 

We get into private pitching lessons, $500 baseball bats, youth player rankings, and baseball showcases. Aiden explains why he wouldn’t consider a showcase before 16, why players need something to show when they get there, and how the fear of falling behind pushes families into spending they don’t need. 

For pitchers and their parents, Aiden walks through the development that took him from the mid-80s to the mid-90s, his experience with Driveline, and how baseball analytics helped him understand his strengths. He also explains why he’d rather face a hitter swinging for the fences than a scrappy hitter who refuses to strike out. 

We talk about minor league baseball, the injuries that helped him decide to walk away, and how a job at vidIQ helped him build a full-time YouTube career. 

And stay for his story about giving up eight runs without getting out of the first inning. A Dodgers scout was watching. What that scout told him afterward is something worth remembering the next time your son has a bad game. 

TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Meet Aiden McIntyre 

01:47 Late bloomers and judging players too early 

05:04 Chasing big dreams while being honest about your ability 

08:58 Supporting your son without adding performance pressure 

14:31 Pitching development: how Aiden reached the mid-90s 

17:35 Pitch design, baseball analytics, and the hitters he hated facing 

22:31 Minor league baseball, injuries, and knowing when to stop 

27:06 From professional pitcher to full-time baseball YouTuber 

31:28 Youth baseball costs: $500 bats and private lessons 

34:21 When should players attend baseball showcases? 

36:38 FOMO, falling behind, and the pressure to “make it” 

44:20 Why Aiden opposes ranking young baseball players 

46:15 Your son doesn’t have to be the number-one player 

49:11 Looking ahead to the Field of Dreams event 

51:20 In-and-Out: pitching velocity, statistics, and handling failure 

53:28 Going 0-for-5 and still being a great teammate 

55:02 What a Dodgers scout saw in Aiden’s worst outing 

58:18 Favorite baseball memories and a first-year Triple-A win 

59:36 Wrigley, Fenway, and favorite MLB ballparks 

1:01:44 Where to follow Aiden McIntyre 

What’s one thing you’ve felt pressured to pay for because you were told your son would fall behind? Tell us in the comments. 

Subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts for more conversations that help baseball parents make better decisions for their sons. 

#BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #AidenMcIntyre

So what should baseball parents take from a story like his? 

In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Josh Reddick talks about youth baseball development, travel baseball, exposure, hitting, positional development, slumps, routines, and why parents shouldn't decide what a young player can become based on what he looks like at 10, 11, or 12 years old. 

Josh explains why reps matter more than where your son plays, when exposure actually begins to matter, and why talented players will eventually get found if they perform. 

We also get into one of the biggest problems in youth baseball today: trying to manufacture a mechanically perfect swing instead of teaching kids how to hit. Josh explains why there is no single perfect swing, using players like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Jose Altuve and others as examples. 

He also shares what he actually notices when evaluating talented young players, what Ron Washington taught him about keeping baseball simple, how he handled one of the worst stretches of his MLB career, and the one trait he'd choose in a 12-year-old player over everything except talent. 

If you're a baseball parent trying to figure out what actually matters for your son's development, this conversation is worth watching all the way through. 

TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Josh Reddick joins Chasing Baseball Dreams 

00:36 Cut from his middle-school team twice 

03:03 What matters most for young baseball players 

04:20 When does baseball exposure actually matter? 

06:43 Being told he wasn't good enough 

08:11 Why kids shouldn't specialize at one position too early 

10:58 What Ron Washington did for Marcus Semien 

12:29 There is no blueprint for becoming a Major Leaguer 

14:42 Ron Washington and keeping baseball simple 

17:18 What parents get wrong when their son starts struggling 

20:18 The problem with chasing the "perfect" baseball swing 

22:42 What Josh notices when evaluating young players 

24:02 The sound of the bat and raw athletic ability 

25:18 Josh knew Junior Caminero was different 

26:17 Why you can't evaluate a player's future at 9U 

27:07 Josh's three favorite baseball memories 

28:04 Making his Major League debut with the Red Sox 

29:56 The one trait Josh wants in a 12-year-old player 

31:05 Final thoughts 

Josh Reddick played more than 1,300 Major League games during a 13-year MLB career with the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks. He won the 2012 American League Gold Glove in right field and was a member of Houston's 2017 World Series championship team. 

Chasing Baseball Dreams helps baseball parents cut through the noise surrounding travel baseball, youth baseball development, recruiting, exposure, showcases and the decisions that actually matter as their sons grow through the game. 

#JoshReddick #YouthBaseball #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball

You may also recognize his voice from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, American Dad, Elena of Avalor, GTA V and, if you listen to this podcast, the opening and closing of Chasing Baseball Dreams.

But this conversation isn't really about Hollywood.

It's about being a baseball dad.

Anthony's son is now a sophomore in high school, but Anthony admits he got caught up in the travel baseball machine when his son was younger. Stats. Winning. Better teams. Expensive bats. Travel. The fear that if they didn't keep doing more, his son would fall behind.

Then his son told him he didn't want to play anymore.

That changed everything.

Anthony joins Bobby Minor to talk about pulling back, becoming Dad instead of Coach Dad, why nobody who matters is evaluating your 10-year-old, why his son hasn't attended a single showcase yet, and the baseball lesson he wishes more parents understood:

Let the kid guide you.

They also talk about Anthony's voice acting career, Jane the Virgin, Antonio Banderas, growing up at Yankee Stadium, Cooperstown, youth baseball expenses and why some of the memories parents worry about end up looking completely different through their son's eyes.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Meet Anthony Mendez

00:57 Becoming the Latin Lover Narrator and a voice actor

02:45 Why Anthony hasn't done much on-camera acting

04:16 Getting caught up in the travel baseball machine

06:23 When his son wanted to quit baseball

06:37 How Anthony changed from Coach Dad to Dad

09:10 What he worried about way too much when his son was younger

10:07 Expensive bats, gloves and custom cleats

11:39 The Dominican baseball swagger

12:06 Does anyone recognize THAT voice at the ballpark?

13:23 Growing up a Yankees fan

15:19 Petco Park, Dodger Stadium and favorite ballparks

17:40 What Anthony would tell the dad about to go all-in on travel ball

20:34 Why the baseball machine makes parents feel behind

22:04 “Don't let anybody tell you a freshman is behind”

24:00 The problem with comparing your son's development

26:07 Why Anthony's son hasn't attended a showcase

28:46 Don't showcase until you have something to show

29:46 IN & OUT with Anthony Mendez

29:54 The travel ball expense he'd rethink

30:16 Jersey name or playing opportunity?

30:32 What his son needs from him now

31:21 The biggest plot twist in his son's baseball journey

31:57 The Cooperstown memory that changed Anthony's perspective

32:38 Growing up at Yankee Stadium

34:30 The message every young baseball parent needs to hear

36:01 What's next for Anthony Mendez

37:17 Where to follow Anthony

#TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #AnthonyMendez

He played parts of 11 seasons in the Major Leagues, became one of the greatest power hitters in college baseball history, moved into professional scouting, and built a travel baseball program that has helped more than 350 players reach college baseball.

In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Todd joins Bobby Minor for a straight conversation every baseball parent needs to hear.

Todd explains why youth rankings “mean absolutely nothing,” why the best team isn't always the best situation for your son, why kids shouldn't be playing baseball year-round, and why parents need to stop treating 10U, 11U and 12U success like a prediction of what a player will become.

They also get into early specialization, showcases, playing time, choosing the right travel organization, late bloomers, multi-sport athletes, scout teams, the car ride home after a bad game, and the questions parents should ask before writing another check.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Meet Todd Greene

01:36 What does a special assignment scout actually do?

03:08 What successful players had in common as kids

04:16 The problem with the D1 obsession

06:02 Todd's path from 27th-round pick to the Major Leagues

09:39 Why youth baseball rankings mean nothing

12:14 How early is too early to specialize at one position?

15:46 What Todd learned from Derek Jeter

16:40 Why kids shouldn't play baseball year-round

19:12 When baseball specialization starts to make sense

21:41 What parents should look for in a travel baseball program

25:29 Does an 8-year-old really need travel baseball?

28:36 When young players should start facing better competition

30:05 The truth about youth “scout teams”

31:54 IN & OUT: 80-game seasons, national teams, showcases and the ride home

34:04 Better team or better reps?

36:33 Early bloomers, late bloomers and development

39:37 Were Major Leaguers always the best players growing up?

41:48 Todd's greatest baseball memory

44:00 Todd's advice for the parent of a 12-year-old

45:18 Questions to ask BEFORE choosing a travel team

47:17 How much should young players practice versus play?

48:10 Where to find Todd Greene and TG D-backs

If you're raising a baseball player, this one is worth watching all the way through.

#TravelBaseball #YouthBaseball #BaseballParents #PlayerDevelopment

⠀

Michael grew up in Georgia as a diehard Atlanta Braves fan. His dad passed that love of baseball down to him, and now Michael is watching the same thing happen with his own son, Clint, who has entered high school baseball.

⠀

Michael talks about balancing fatherhood with an acting career that can take him around the world for weeks at a time, following his son’s games on GameChanger from hotel rooms overseas, and how hard it is knowing some moments simply can’t be replaced.

⠀

They also get into something every baseball parent deals with: watching your kid struggle.

⠀

Michael shares how he helped Clint through a difficult season at the plate, why failure in baseball reminds him so much of rejection in acting, and what seven years of grinding before his own acting breakthrough taught him about perseverance.

⠀

He also explains the 30-minute no-phone rule before and after games, why he tries to let the baseball experience belong to his son, and the two qualities he sees in successful actors and athletes over and over again: work ethic and respect.

⠀

Plus, Michael talks Dale Murphy, Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron, Jack Ryan, Lioness, throwing out the first pitch at an Atlanta Braves game, and an unforgettable 2021 World Series memory shared with his father, brother and son.

⠀

If you’re raising a young baseball player, there’s a lot in this conversation worth hearing.

⠀

TIMESTAMPS

⠀

00:00 Intro

00:50 Meet Michael Kelly

02:04 How his dad made him a Braves fan

03:49 Becoming a baseball dad

05:35 Dale Murphy, Chipper Jones & Braves memories

06:54 Why Michael never played baseball

08:14 Watching your kid do what he loves

09:53 Being “Clint’s dad” at the ballpark

11:46 House of Cards, Jack Ryan & Lioness

13:04 The baseball movie Michael wanted to make

16:54 Missing his son’s games while filming overseas

19:14 The 30-minute no-phone rule

21:19 Acting rejection and baseball failure

23:18 Watching his son struggle at the plate

27:13 Choosing family over an acting role

30:05 Seven years of rejection before his breakthrough

31:03 Why work ethic and respect matter

35:06 Throwing out the first pitch for the Braves

37:41 His favorite baseball memory

Former Philadelphia Phillies catcher and current University of Texas at Arlington assistant coach Cameron Rupp joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for a conversation every baseball parent with a son who wants to play at the next level needs to hear.

Cameron played at the University of Texas, competed in the 2009 College World Series, was an All-Big 12 selection, and was drafted in the third round of the 2010 MLB Draft before spending five seasons with the Phillies.

In this episode, Cameron explains why he doesn’t care about a player’s Perfect Game ranking, what catches his eye when evaluating recruits, why he wants to see players fail, and why character matters to college coaches.

They also dig into college baseball recruiting, JUCO baseball, the transfer portal, showcases vs. college camps, specialization, multi-sport athletes, positional versatility, catching development, swing-and-miss rates, recruiting emails, and how parents can help or hurt the recruiting process.

Cameron’s message to baseball parents is simple: stop trying to project where a 12-year-old will be six years from now. Let him develop. Let him play. And let him run his own race.

Timestamps

00:51 Meet Cameron Rupp: Phillies catcher to college coach
02:01 Biggest developmental mistakes parents make
04:38 How early is too early to specialize?
05:50 Why projecting a 12-year-old as D1 makes no sense
06:52 D-BAT, Clayton Kershaw and DFW baseball
09:17 How travel baseball has changed
09:58 How college baseball recruiting actually starts
10:38 Do Perfect Game rankings matter?
11:37 Why Cameron wants to watch recruits fail
12:48 Does character matter in recruiting?
14:46 High school, JUCO and portal roster construction
15:21 Who should consider the JUCO route?
17:59 Power Four vs. mid-major recruiting
20:18 What college coaches want from catchers
22:21 The truth about showcase pop times
24:35 The four most recruited positions
25:28 The one tool that can change a game
26:52 Why swing-and-miss matters
28:38 Positional versatility and getting in the lineup
31:50 Why young players shouldn’t be locked into one position
34:21 What college coaches truly value
37:14 Power Four recruiting and the transfer portal
39:16 Performance wins playing time
40:49 Failure and mental toughness
43:03 How parents can help players handle failure
45:54 In & Out with Cameron Rupp
46:38 One thing youth baseball parents should stop doing
47:09 Cameron’s favorite Phillies memory
48:18 Advice for every 14-year-old catcher
49:04 The best players Cameron played with
50:05 College camp or showcase?
52:19 Are college camps money grabs?
53:09 Camp invites vs. genuine recruiting interest
54:53 When players get on recruiting boards
56:08 Can a parent hurt his son’s recruitment?
58:25 Final advice: Run your own race
59:30 Where to follow Cameron Rupp

And his message to baseball parents is one I wish more people heard early: “It is not a talent contest.”

Adam joins me on Chasing Baseball Dreams to talk about what actually helped him beat the odds, what he learned working with college players at Michigan State, and what he now sees every day as the first base coach for the Los Angeles Angels.

We get into why parents put way too much importance on early success, why he believes kids need to play multiple sports, what coaches notice when a player goes 0-for-4, and why learning how to fail may be one of the most important skills a young player can develop.

Adam also shares what he’s learned being around players like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Mike Trout, why young players need to actually watch and study baseball, and the advice he gives parents of 10-year-olds:

“Your only job as a parent is to make sure he signs up next year.”

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Adam Eaton joins Chasing Baseball Dreams
02:10 What actually matters for the undersized young player
04:47 Why Adam played multiple sports growing up
08:49 Why young players should play different positions
14:14 “Baseball is not a talent contest”
16:58 The best players Adam ever played with
19:06 What separates Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto
21:18 What coaches notice when your son goes 0-for-4
25:52 Being a great teammate when the bat isn’t working
29:23 Turning failure into better work
31:11 The toughest pitchers Adam ever faced
33:58 Why bunting is making a comeback
38:26 Why young players need to watch more baseball
40:12 What Kirk Gibson taught Adam from the bench
45:18 How parents should handle injuries and setbacks
48:44 Why kids need to become athletes first
52:45 What Mike Trout does differently
55:29 In & Out with Adam Eaton
55:48 Adam’s advice for parents of 10-year-olds
56:40 What parents value too much in youth baseball
57:24 The one thing every player needs to learn
58:17 Could Adam Eaton become an MLB manager?
1:01:11 Adam’s favorite baseball memories
1:05:04 Adam’s favorite baseball movie
1:06:52 Adam’s message directly to baseball parents

⠀

But this conversation really isn’t about any of that.

It’s about what we’re doing with kids before they ever get close to the big leagues.

⠀

Dustin talks about why his sons don’t play year-round baseball before 14, why 12U rankings and exit velo can fool parents, why he would rather watch a talented player go 0-for-4 than 3-for-3, and why travel baseball has the practice-to-game ratio completely backwards.

⠀

He also shares what he actually says to his own son after a bad game, why kids need to experience failure, what David Ortiz told him about developing his swing, what scouts really notice over time, and why being the 12th player on a national team may be worse than playing every day somewhere else.

⠀

There is a LOT here for baseball parents.

⠀

TIMESTAMPS

⠀

00:00 Dustin Pedroia joins Chasing Baseball Dreams

02:02 Why he gave back his Arizona State scholarship

03:05 Why young players need multiple sports

06:02 The tryout that changed everything

08:30 The knee injury that ended his career

11:46 Pedroia played only 20 baseball games a year

12:16 Fall in love with the work

13:42 “Your son will not fall behind”

15:22 What hitters ages 8 to 13 should work on

17:38 The business of youth baseball

20:24 Don’t showcase before you’re ready

21:25 What scouts can’t measure in one workout

24:23 Attitude, effort and preparation

28:49 What Dustin says after his son goes 0-for-3

30:44 What has changed in Major League hitting

34:22 Development vs. just playing more games

38:40 The coaching red flag parents should watch for

41:43 What matters for talented 11- and 12-year-olds

46:47 In & Out with Dustin Pedroia

49:36 12U exit velo and player rankings

50:55 Elite roster or everyday playing time?

53:01 When should a player go all-in on baseball?

55:12 Dustin’s favorite baseball movie and memories

59:00 Dustin’s advice for Bobby

⠀

If you’re raising a baseball player, especially between 8 and 14, there’s a good chance something Dustin says in this episode will make you rethink what development is supposed to look like.

⠀

Subscribe to Chasing Baseball Dreams for straight talk from people who have actually lived this game.

Twenty-two years ago, kids played three sports a year. Now you hear it constantly from travel ball orgs, from coaches, from Facebook groups. Your son needs to specialize or he falls behind. Parents lie awake over this decision.

But here's what Mookie Betts did. Here's what Mike Trout did. Here's what every major league player Coach Ballgame interviewed at All-Star games said: we got better because we played everything. Shohei Ohtani. Paul Skeens. Freddie Freeman. The pattern is not specialization. It's the opposite.

The machine survives by convincing you that early specialization works. It doesn't. What works is fundamentals, joy, and a coach who understands that winning a 12U tournament means absolutely nothing down the road. This episode gives you what MLB players are actually telling travel ball coaches, which culture decisions actually matter, and how to recognize whether your kid's team is building him up or just paying its own commission.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Intro and Coach Ballgame's background

03:09 - The shift: what changed from the '90s to now

06:44 - The trap parents fall into (financial incentives behind fall ball pressure)

08:05 - What Paul Skeens and MLB players actually said at All-Star games

10:27 - The Freddie Freeman principle: detach your joy from your kid's results

15:00+ - Finding the right coach and culture. Red flags to run from

51:36 - Nicknames, trust, and why connection beats winning

55:23 - How Coach Ballgame was born

56:46 - Helping kids overcome fear of getting hit by pitches

CONNECT:

Website: coachballgame.com

Coach Ballgame University: Online coaching curriculum

Social: @coachballgame (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube)

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Intro: From Pronk bars to the big leagues
2:23 - Growing up without a high school baseball team
3:09 - Why multiple sports still matters
4:12 - When he started his boys in travel ball
4:53 - Best and worst of travel baseball
6:38 - Why he chose the hardest JUCO (no guarantee)
7:45 - Sink or swim mentality
15:00 - Getting drafted in the 31st round
20:00 - Making it to the majors with Texas
37:00 - Raw talent gets refined by the right coaching
37:24 - The car ride home after tough games
39:18 - All-time baseball memories
40:16 - The 2006 season, the hand injury, what could've been
41:11 - What his sons taught him as a player
42:07 - Where to find Travis

⠀

Most parents chase what's happening outside. The ranking, the team name, the comparison to other kids, what the college board might think someday. Meanwhile, their son is drowning under the weight of expectations he never made. TJ discovered this the hard way when his 12-year-old broke down in the car and said, "I feel that pressure every day I step on the field."

⠀

This is a one-hour conversation with a coach who sits in every chair: player, coach, college head coach, dad. He finally figured out that the scoreboard you need to read is not the one in the field. It's inside your kid.

⠀

What you'll hear:

⠀

03:08 ... The car ride home that hit him like a ton of bricks

⠀

04:36 ... Why the coach's kid carries a different kind of pressure

⠀

07:38 ... Do you have 12-year-olds on your recruiting board? His answer cuts straight through

⠀

08:33 ... The first base coaching story that says everything about parenting vs. coaching

⠀

15:00 ... Multiple sports vs. year-round baseball: what actually matters at 12

⠀

30:00+ ... The "eleventh man on the expensive roster" and why playing time beats pedigree

⠀

45:00+ ... How comparison becomes the thief of joy, and parents pass it straight to their kids

⠀

55:00+ ... The mental game most parents refuse to teach

⠀

58:00+ ... What it means to "be great with Johnny being who he is"

⠀

59:39 ... Stop looking outside in. Start looking inside out.

TIMESTAMPS

[0:00] Introduction: Justin's background and path
[1:52] Ole Miss bench story: Red-shirted 2 years, Tommy John, what that taught him
[4:40] The transfer portal question: Would he have stuck it out in today's landscape?
[5:57] Scout hierarchy explained: Associate scout, area scout, cross-checker, nationals, director
[8:24] What makes a conviction scout vs. stat watcher
[12:15] What scouts actually look for in your son
[15:30] The hierarchy of what scouts value
[18:45] High school coaches' influence on recruiting
[21:00] Travel ball and team selection—what matters and what doesn't
[24:30] Fake elite teams vs. real scout teams
[26:50] What parents spend money on that scouts never see
[28:15] In & Out rapid-fire questions begin
[53:04] First tool scouts spot in seconds
[53:32] Money parents waste that never shows on scouting reports
[54:15] The difference between players who make it and those who quit
[54:50] What a $400 bat can't fix
[55:31] Parting wisdom: Don't make it bigger than it is

#ChasingBaseballDreams #TravelBall #ScoutsTruth

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Brandon and Deanna Emerson share the real story behind their son Grady's path to becoming the #2 overall pick in the MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. This isn't about rankings, showcases, or expensive travel teams. It's about recognizing talent, protecting your kid, and not getting caught in the machine.

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In this episode:

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(0:00) The moment they realized Grady was different. 12 years old, youngest on a loaded team, walks out with tournament MVP.

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(4:48) Why those expensive loaded 8U and 9U teams almost killed it. What they wish they'd done instead.

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(15:00) The dark side of Perfect Game rankings. Why scouts don't care what parents think matters.

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(28:00) How they navigated people trying to exploit Grady. Why parents are the only filter that works.

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(42:00) What they'd change about their journey. Trusting coaches too much on arm care and not questioning people with ulterior motives sooner.

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(59:00) The unpopular truth about select baseball, youth baseball recruiting, and why the events matter more than the rankings.

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This is essential listening for any travel ball parent asking if the machine is worth it.

The new USA high school bat rules are coming. Drop 4, drop 5, drop 6. Parents lost their minds thinking high school kids would be swinging USA bats that launch missiles. That's not what's happening. Ben breaks down why, and what the rule change actually means for your son.

But the bigger conversation here is about something most baseball parents have never thought about. The heaviest, longest bat your son can control and flush the ball with is the bat he should be swinging. Not the lightest one. Not the one with the biggest barrel. Not the one a reviewer ranked number one.

Ben talks about why mass matters more than bat speed when it comes to real exit velo. He explains why major league hitters almost never go lighter than a drop 2. He walks through bat profiles, from the 243 to the 271, and why the bat that looks the best almost never swings the best. He talks about what contact really means and why the game is shifting back toward hitters who can beat a pitcher multiple ways instead of swinging for the fence every at bat.

He also gets honest about something most CEOs would never admit. When Warstic had the number one ranked bat, not every kid who bought it was a good fit for it. That's the part parents need to hear. The "best bat" is only the best bat if it matches what your son does in the box.

We talk about his son Shaw heading to college baseball, the real reason kids struggle with a drop 3 in high school, why wood bats are one of the simplest and best training tools at any age, and how USA Baseball taking over bat standards from the NCAA could raise bat prices through licensing fees.

If you've ever stood in a store staring at a wall of 100 bats wondering which one your son needs, this episode will cut through the noise.

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0:49 ... Welcome and intro to Ben Jenkins, CEO of Warstic

1:18 ... The new USA high school bat rules explained

3:18 ... What bats were like when we played (beezers, BESRs, and taking ground balls from guys with drop 4s)

5:43 ... The myth that a lighter bat means more exit velo

7:01 ... Ben's bat formula: swing the heaviest, longest you can control and flush

8:42 ... Why flushing the ball matters more than max exit velo

10:02 ... Why mass wins the physics equation

12:19 ... MLB players who want smaller barrels than most 13U kids swing

12:46 ... Why bat reviews feel so good to parents (and what they miss)

16:56 ... Bat profiles: the 243, the 271, the 110, and why shape changes everything

21:20 ... The overwhelm of 100 bats on a wall

24:05 ... Should every player swing wood in the cages?

25:49 ... How a parent with no baseball background can tell if the bat is wrong

27:42 ... "My kid is behind, he needs a lighter bat" ... why that's almost never the answer

29:53 ... Contact is coming back (and real uniforms at the All-Star Game)

33:37 ... Transition back to the USA bat rules and the "sell more bats" conspiracy

37:51 ... How USA Baseball benefits from the rule change through licensing fees

40:36 ... Why kids struggle with a drop 3 in high school (and how to fix it early)

41:25 ... Ben's son Shaw and his team switching to drop 3 a year early

44:20 ... What if Shaw wanted to swing a competitor's bat?

48:37 ... Being real in the age of AI and the repaint story

#baseballbats #travelbaseball #youthbaseball #warstic #highschoolbaseball

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In this conversation we cover:

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0:00 What D1 coaches actually evaluate when recruiting

3:15 Do PG rankings and grades matter?

5:14 Are college coaches scouting 12U showcases?

9:38 Transfer portal vs high school recruiting

12:08 Why the JUCO route is not plan B

15:17 A dad spending 30K a year on his 10 year old

17:27 Nothing at 12U matters in the context of recruiting

20:02 Compete over compare

21:29 How does an undersized kid without resources get found?

25:06 What "being seen" actually means to a head coach

27:47 Only go to showcases when you have something to showcase

28:52 What to tell a dad who is convinced his 12 year old is D1

32:39 Has a parent ever gotten a kid crossed off the board?

34:08 In and Out rapid fire with Coach Earley

36:44 Roster rules, scholarship math, and what a good offer looks like

40:43 Advice for the parent of a 9 or 10 year old

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Coach Earley's starting center fielder this year played JV his freshman and sophomore year and was on the second team of his organization. He hit .340 with 20 homers and 20 doubles for the Aggies and went in the second round to the Chicago Cubs. Early dominance does not predict who makes it. That's one of the biggest things parents get wrong.

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If you're a travel baseball parent spending thousands and wondering if any of it is working, this interview will change how you think about the journey.

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Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss Episode 3.

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@ChasingBaseballDreams

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So when he says 90% of baseball is just playing catch... that's not a hot take. That's 400 recruiting journeys talking.

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In this conversation we get into why most travel teams get development completely wrong, what college coaches are actually watching (and when they start watching), why the JUCO path might be the smartest move most families never consider, and the one question every parent should ask before they commit to a team and swipe their card.

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Alex also breaks down why a dominant 12U team can actually hurt your son, why switching teams just so your kid plays shortstop is a trap, and what happens when parents chase the name on the hoodie instead of the reps their son actually needs.

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If your son plays travel baseball and you've ever wondered whether the money is going to the right place... sit through this one.

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Follow SwagnShades / Chips Performance: @chipsperformance

Follow Chasing Baseball Dreams: @chasingbaseballdreams