Chasing Baseball Dreams

Josh Reddick was cut from his middle-school baseball team two years in a row. He went on to play 13 seasons in Major League Baseball, win a Gold Glove, collect more than 1,100 hits, and win a World Series. 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 probably know Anthony Mendez as the Latin Lover Narrator from Jane the Virgin , the role that earned him two Emmy nominations. 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

Former Major Leaguer and current Arizona Diamondbacks special assignment scout Todd Greene has seen baseball from just about every angle. 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

Four-time Emmy-nominated actor Michael Kelly, best known as Doug Stamper on House of Cards, joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for a conversation that goes way beyond Hollywood. ⠀ 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

What do college baseball coaches actually look for when recruiting a high school player? And how much do Perfect Game rankings, showcases, travel baseball teams, character, and parents really matter? 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

Adam Eaton was 5-foot-9, a 19th-round draft pick and, by his own admission, never a big-time prospect. He still found a way to play 10 years in the Major Leagues and win a World Series. 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

Dustin Pedroia spent 14 seasons in the big leagues, won Rookie of the Year, an MVP, four Gold Gloves and three World Series championships. ⠀ 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.

Coach Ballgame sits down to name something most parents haven't been able to see: the early specialization trap that's become industry gospel. 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)

From a North Dakota farm, no high school baseball team, to 213 MLB home runs. Travis Hafner (Pronk) chose the hardest path first, and it changed everything. We talk about turning down guaranteed starting spots, why multiple sports matter, how to actually parent through failure, and what his own sons taught him about the game that 12 years in the majors couldn't. 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

TJ Bruce, Long Beach State head coach and D1 veteran, breaks down the one habit that separates parents who keep their kids' love for the game from parents who burn it out: looking inside out instead of outside in. ⠀ 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.

Former Division I pitcher, six-time MLB scout for the Houston Astros, and now director at Marucci Sports, Justin Cryer sits down to expose what scouts actually see, what parents waste money on, and why most travel baseball spending never shows up on a single scouting report. Justin played two years on the bench at Ole Miss, got Tommy John, and still made it. He knows what the machine sells parents and what scouts are actually looking for. This episode cuts through every layer of the youth baseball industry: fake elite teams, rankings that don't matter, equipment that won't fix your swing, and the one thing that separates players who make it from the ones who quit. Full interview includes rapid-fire In & Out questions and Justin's parting wisdom on keeping youth baseball the size it actually is. 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

Parents of #2 MLB Draft Pick: Grady Emerson's Journey ⠀ 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. ⠀ In this episode: ⠀ (0:00) The moment they realized Grady was different. 12 years old, youngest on a loaded team, walks out with tournament MVP. ⠀ (4:48) Why those expensive loaded 8U and 9U teams almost killed it. What they wish they'd done instead. ⠀ (15:00) The dark side of Perfect Game rankings. Why scouts don't care what parents think matters. ⠀ (28:00) How they navigated people trying to exploit Grady. Why parents are the only filter that works. ⠀ (42:00) What they'd change about their journey. Trusting coaches too much on arm care and not questioning people with ulterior motives sooner. ⠀ (59:00) The unpopular truth about select baseball, youth baseball recruiting, and why the events matter more than the rankings. ⠀ This is essential listening for any travel ball parent asking if the machine is worth it.

Welcome to Episode #3 of the Chasing Baseball Dreams podcast where Bobby talks to Ben Jenkins. Ben is the CEO of Warstic and a former Mississippi State shortstop. He designs bats for major league players. And in this conversation, he says the thing most bat companies won't say out loud. 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. ⠀ 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

Youth baseball parents hear the truth directly from Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley in Episode 2 of the Chasing Baseball Dreams podcast. 35 years of coaching select baseball and high school, plus going through this process with my youngest son, who's playing baseball in college right now, taught me one thing: most parents are spending money and energy on the wrong stuff at the wrong time. Coach Earley confirms it from the D1 side. ⠀ In this conversation we cover: ⠀ 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 ⠀ 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. ⠀ 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. ⠀ Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss Episode 3. ⠀ @ChasingBaseballDreams

Alex Hale played 2 ways in college. Got drafted. Built Chips Performance from the ground up. And he's put over 400 players through the recruiting process. ⠀ So when he says 90% of baseball is just playing catch... that's not a hot take. That's 400 recruiting journeys talking. ⠀ 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. ⠀ 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. ⠀ If your son plays travel baseball and you've ever wondered whether the money is going to the right place... sit through this one. ⠀ Follow SwagnShades / Chips Performance: @chipsperformance Follow Chasing Baseball Dreams: @chasingbaseballdreams