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Kids & Family

Chasing Baseball Dreams

You’re spending thousands a year on travel baseball. A better team. A bigger showcase. More lessons. A higher ranking. And you still have no way to know if any of it is actually working.

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That’s not an accident. That’s the machine.

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Chasing Baseball Dreams is the only baseball parent podcast hosted by someone with no financial stake in where your money goes. I don’t run a travel team. I don’t sell lessons. I don’t coach for an org. I have no reason to steer you in the wrong direction. I’m Bobby Minor… former Division 1 player, 35+ years coaching select baseball and high school, former travel organization director, over 1,000 college recruiting assessments, and a college baseball dad who almost lost 2 sons to this game for 2 very different reasons, with one currently playing college baseball.

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Every episode, I sit down with former Major League players, college coaches, scouts, and baseball dads who’ve lived through the same grind you’re in right now. People who’ve been inside this industry long enough to tell you the truth about how it actually works.

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Here’s what you can expect.

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Real conversations about what actually matters at each age from 8U to signing day. The questions you should be asking before you commit to a team, a coach, or a showcase. The stuff the industry doesn’t want you to hear, from people who’ve been inside it long enough to say it out loud. And the truth about recruiting, development, and where your money is actually going.

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No hype. No recruiting promises. No “get your son seen” nonsense. Just the one voice in this space with full-stack credibility and no financial tie to the machine that’s taking your money.

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New episodes weekly. Follow @chasingbaseballdreams on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for daily content between episodes.

Latest Episodes:

38: Tyson Ross | The Travel Baseball Coaching Red Flag Parents Can't Ignore Nov 10, 2026

Show notes

When I asked former MLB All-Star Tyson Ross what he'd tell a dad whose 13-year-old had pitched a bunch of innings the day before and whose coach wanted him back on the mound for a championship game, his answer was immediate: "Run. Run as fast as possible."

Tyson spent 10 seasons in Major League Baseball, recorded more than 800 strikeouts, and earned National League All-Star honors with the San Diego Padres in 2014. He and his younger brother Joe both made it to the big leagues, and today Tyson is a dad of two young boys and the founder of Loyal to My Soil, a nonprofit helping young athletes in their communities.

In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Tyson shares what his dad got right raising two future Major Leaguers, what he thinks parents are getting wrong about travel baseball, and how he's approaching the game differently now that he's coaching his own sons.

In this episode we cover:

What Tyson's dad did that helped both sons develop a lifelong love for baseball, even though he wasn't a baseball expert
The real cost of travel baseball and why parents need to consider a lot more than team fees
Why Tyson played multiple sports and didn't become a pitcher-only until college
Why teaching young pitchers to make adjustments is more important than chasing velocity
His strong warning to parents about coaches risking young arms to win meaningless tournaments
What parents should look for at practice to know whether a coach can actually develop their son
Why Tyson chose Cal and what families should consider beyond the school's name during recruiting
His thoughts on reclassifying kids to play against younger competition
How he handles failure with his own sons and protects their love for baseball
Why he started Loyal to My Soil and what he's doing to bring free baseball opportunities back to local communities
The financial decision he wishes more travel baseball parents would think about before spending thousands chasing college scholarships

Tyson has experienced baseball at its highest level, but some of his best advice in this conversation comes from being a dad. If you're deciding which team your son should play for, questioning how much baseball is too much, or wondering whether you're doing enough to help him succeed, this is a conversation worth hearing.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor

⚾ Guest: Tyson Ross, former MLB All-Star and founder of Loyal to My Soil

🌐 Loyal to My Soil: https://loyaltomysoil.org

📱 Instagram: @loyaltomysoil_org

Subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for conversations with Major Leaguers, coaches, and parents that help you make the best decisions for your son.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents

37: Juan Pierre | Your Son’s Baseball Future Isn’t Decided at 12 Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

Juan Pierre played 14 years in the Major Leagues, collected 2,217 hits, stole 614 bases, and won a World Series with the 2003 Florida Marlins. He also finished with more career hits than any player who never made an All-Star team.

Today, he’s a dad of four boys and a youth baseball coach dealing with the same decisions parents face every weekend. In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Juan shares how he handles disappointment with his own sons, why he prefers challenging players by playing up, and what parents need to understand before deciding their son is falling behind.

In this episode we cover:

How Juan handled never making an All-Star team despite his career numbers
What he told his son after he didn’t make the USA team
What 12U performance can tell you, and where its limits are
Why he prefers playing up over reclassifying to play younger competition
Why he chose junior college when Division I programs wanted him to redshirt
How he handles his own son’s frustration when good swings don’t produce extra-base hits
Why the move to the big field calls for patience from parents
How losing playing time with the Dodgers changed his relationship with baseball and his faith
Giving players freedom to make mistakes without correcting everything

If you’re comparing your son to bigger kids, worrying about a team he didn’t make, or struggling with what to say after a bad game, this conversation gives you plenty to think about before you react.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor
⚾ Guest: Juan Pierre

Subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for conversations with Major Leaguers, coaches, and parents that help you make the best decisions for your son.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball

36: Chris Colabello & Bobby Tewksbary | How Good Is Your Son Really? Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

Your son gets a Perfect Game grade. His hitting instructor says he looks great. His travel coach says he belongs on a national team. What does any of that tell you about what he needs to work on?

Former MLB hitter Chris Colabello and hitting instructor Bobby Tewksbary join Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast to talk about evaluating players, measuring improvement, and helping parents understand what they’re paying for.

At Pelotero, they’re building a Universal Rating System, or URS, around standardized testing. They explain what goes into the rating, how they validate testing data, and why a player’s tested tools and his performance in games can tell different stories.

In this episode we cover:

What Chris learned from not playing varsity until his junior year and spending seven seasons in independent ball
How to tell whether hitting lessons are helping your son in games
Why hitters have to be on time twice
How Pelotero’s rating differs from a ranking or a subjective grade
Why testing conditions matter when comparing player metrics
What a rating can tell you, and where baseball IQ and game performance still matter
How parents of smaller, later-developing players should think about today’s physical differences
Why the right competition matters more than the label on the team

Before you pay for another evaluation, change teams, or decide your son is behind, understand what the information in front of you actually measures.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor
Guests: Chris Colabello and Bobby Tewksbary

Learn more about Pelotero: pelotero.com
Follow Pelotero: @peloteroapp on Instagram and X

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

#BaseballParents #TravelBaseball #ChasingBaseballDreams

35: All The Smoke's Matt Barnes | Why Parents Push Kids Too Hard in Youth Sports Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

How hard should you push your son in sports? And how do you know when you're pushing too hard?

Matt Barnes spent 14 seasons in the NBA, won a championship with the Golden State Warriors, and helped build All The Smoke into one of the biggest names in sports podcasting. But some of his strongest opinions have nothing to do with professional basketball. They're about parents and what's happening in youth sports.

In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Bobby Minor sits down with Matt to talk about raising his own sons, why he waited until his twins were ready to take training seriously, and why he believes too many parents are turning their kids' sports into a job before they're ready.

Matt also shares a pretty incredible story about Kobe Bryant training his twins, explains why he wouldn't make a 10-year-old specialize in one sport, and talks about the pressure parents put on kids who aren't developing as quickly as their teammates.

In this episode, we talk about:

⚾ Why Matt believes parents are one of the biggest problems in youth sports

🏀 Why he waited until his twins were 13–14 before pushing them into serious training

🔥 What Kobe Bryant told Matt's sons about their basketball dreams

⚾ Why he believes 10-year-olds should still be playing multiple sports

💪 Why young athletes need to learn how to compete for playing time instead of immediately changing teams

👨‍👦 How Matt handled coaching his own sons without giving them special treatment

💰 Why he believes youth sports have become too focused on making money

🏆 What Matt learned about Kobe Bryant as a teammate, friend, and father

⚾ Why he launched All The Smoke Baseball and what he hopes to bring to the game

❤️ What he hopes his sons remember about him, regardless of how far they go in sports

One thing that really stood out to me was how Matt handled his twins' development. He knew exactly what it took to play professionally. He had the experience, the connections, and the ability to start training them seriously at a young age.

But he waited.

He wanted them to show him they loved the game enough to put in the work themselves.

That's something worth thinking about if you're a baseball parent trying to decide when to push your son, when to back off, and how much of this journey should be driven by him.

Whether your son is playing 9U travel baseball or getting ready for high school, there's a lot in this conversation that will make you think.

ABOUT THE PODCAST

The Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast is hosted by Bobby Minor, a former Division I baseball player, longtime coach, and college baseball dad. Through conversations with professional athletes, coaches, and people who've lived the game, Bobby helps baseball parents think through the decisions they're making for their sons.

Subscribe for new episodes and conversations about player development, travel baseball, recruiting, and raising young athletes.

🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

#MattBarnes #YouthSports #BaseballParents

34: Mexican League MVP Nick Torres | Playing Time, Late Recruiting & What Baseball Parents Get Wrong Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

What if your son isn't getting playing time because he needs to get better? And what if his college baseball opportunities don't come until the spring of his senior year?

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

33: Party Animals' Mikey Ballard | Overlooked Recruit to 81,000 Fans | Banana Ball Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

From an undersized high school player with almost no recruiting interest to playing Banana Ball in front of 81,000 fans. Party Animals infielder Mikey Ballard's baseball journey didn't follow the path most parents expect.

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

32: MLB Vet Jay Jackson | Why Are Parents Flying 8-Year-Olds Across the Country for Baseball? Oct 17, 2026

Show notes

Why are baseball parents flying 8-year-olds across the country for travel baseball? Former MLB pitcher Jay Jackson questions the youth baseball rankings, expensive tournaments, and pressure that have become so common at an early age.

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

31: Brian Jacobus | TCU Commit's Dad: Why High School Baseball Came First Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

Ben Jacobus started in center field, hit leadoff as a freshman, and helped Corona del Sol win the 2025 Arizona 6A state championship. Now he's committed to TCU.

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.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents

30: Shane Greene | MLB Players Feared Their Dads More Than the Media Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

Some Major League players were more afraid of talking to their dads after a bad game than facing the media.

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

29: Savannah Bananas' Coach RAC | Should You Miss Church for Travel Baseball? Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Your son's team plays tournaments on Sundays. Your family wants to be in church. And you're worried that missing games could cost him playing time or put him behind.

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

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