Baseball Recruiting Confidential

In this bonus episode, host Justin Musil is joined by Northern Illinois University Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. Justin and Coach Kunigonis cover all types of questions related to COVID-19 and the impact it will have on college baseball and the recruiting process.

Winning a World Series is the pinnacle of professional baseball. Craig Counsell has reached that pinnacle twice. Counsell, a long time MLB player and 2019 MLB Manager of the year of the Milwaukee Brewers, joins Host Justin Musil on the podcast. Justin and Craig discuss his journey to the pinnacle and the lessons he learned in winning two world series rings.

Many lessons can be learned from people who have made it to the big leagues. In this episode, Host Justin Musil talks to former 19 game MLB winner Shawn Estes. Shawn continues to be around the game today as a San Francisco Giants commentator. From a small town kid to the big leagues, this is his story and the lessons he learned along the way.

Leadership is a key ingredient to winning and building a great culture. Many people think of the coaching leadership in a program,  but player leadership is equally as important. Host Justin Musil is joined by PITT baseball pitching coach Jerry Oakes. Justin and coach Oakes discuss leadership and what qualities are sought after by college coaches. The key qualities that make an impact on a program...

Adversity strikes frequently in the sport of baseball and in life. Success often follows challenges and overcoming difficult circumstances, so how does a player overcome it? The ability to handle adversity can define a player's career. Host Justin Musil is joined by University of Louisiana-Monroe Head Coach Mike Federico. Justin and Coach Federico discuss strategies on how players can use adversit...

Players are always looking for ways to separate themselves. This episode features the communication aspect and how players can effectively communicate to gain an edge in the recruiting process. On this episode, host Justin Musil has a conversation with Ohio University Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Mitch Mormann. Justin and Mitch take on this important topic so players understand how co...

Recruiting at a high academic D3 school has major challenges for coaches. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by Middlebury College Head Coach Mike Leonard. Justin and Coach Leonard talk through many key topics. Are high academic D3 coaches able to help players get into school? How do they assess their potential recruits? What type of talent do they recruit? What is the time commitment fo...

One of the Colorado Rockies top prospects, Terrin Vavra, joins the podcast to discuss his unique journey to the University of Minnesota and to MiLB. Once a small, undersized high school player, he became an All-American and a 3rd round draft pick in the MLB draft. Also joining Host Justin Musil on this episode is Jeremy Musil, the scout that fell in love with Terrin's ability early in high school....

The stakes are high. Every offer a college coach makes, comes with major risk. The offer is a calculation of many different components that help coaches make that decision. Coaches have a job on the line and they have to get the majority of their offers right. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by University of Iowa Recruiting Coordinator Marty Sutherland. Justin and Coach Sutherland giv...

This episode exposes the major challenges personally, academically, and athletically, for players making the jump from high school to college. This transition is often overlooked or unknown to players and their parents. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by UMASS Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Nate Cole. Justin and Coach Cole share their thoughts and give rare insight to help...

Host Justin Musil is joined on this episode by former Southern Miss and current Minnesota Twins outfielder Matt Wallner. Matt's journey to get to Southern Miss is one of the most unique recruiting stories you will ever hear. He went from uncommitted in May of his senior year, to a three time all-american and the 39th overall pick in the MLB draft. It is a story you don't want to miss. This is Matt...

Making an immediate impact as a freshman is a tall task for any player. Why is it so difficult and what can players do to prepare themselves before they leave for school? It's a huge challenge but knowledge is power and this episode gives players the information they need. Host Justin Musil is joined on this episode by University of New Mexico baseball recruiting coordinator Jon Coyne. Justin and...

Successful college players can come from anywhere. Many are late bloomers, from remote locations, or simply overlooked. Every college coach wants to find the great players that others missed out on. On this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by Miami (OH) University Assistant Coach Justin Dedman. Justin and Coach Dedman take listeners through this rarely talked about subject and how college coac...

Hitting is one of the hardest things to do in sports. Evaluating those hitters is equally as difficult for college coaches and pro scouts. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by Vanderbilt University Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Mike Baxter. Justin and Coach Baxter take a deep look into what hitters can do to impress college coaches. It's much more complicated than you may thi...

Players and parents often go through the recruiting process trying to gain clarity by reading into coaches actions and words. Coaches do their best to be transparent but decision making can also be difficult. It can become a guessing game that is difficult for players to understand. Host Justin Musil is joined on this episode by Bryant University Head Baseball Coach Ryan Klosterman. If you are try...

College coaches recruit players based on their academic and ability level. The most challenging part of evaluation is the physical ability. However; it is more than the player's ability, it is also the coach believing their developmental strengths fit the player. On this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by Abilene Christian University Assistant Coach Craig Parry. The two take this subject deep...

Most people think of off-field habits and decisions as the main evaluation piece for player character and make up. There is some truth to that. However; in this episode host Justin Musil gets into on-field make up and how that impacts a player's recruiting process. Justin is joined on this episode by Citadel baseball Recruiting Coordinator Aaron Gershenfeld. Justin and Coach Gershenfeld look at th...

Every college coach in the country wants to be around players they enjoy working with on a regular basis. Coaches each have their own definition of what that looks like to them. On this episode, host Justin Musil breaks this down with University of Central Florida Assistant Coach Nick Otte. Justin and Coach Otte take a look at what this means and how players can become a player every coach wants t...

College coaches at high academic schools have the challenge of finding talented players who also meet their academic standards. High academic schools take different strategies in the process and still aim to land the most talented players they can. Host Justin Musil scans this topic and gives his advice to players and families going through the process. Justin is joined on this episode by Davidson...

Players and parents going through the recruiting process need to understand how to build positive relationships with college coaches. Host Justin Musil gives his tips on how to build those relationships and how they can be a major asset in the process. Also discussed is why players need to surround themselves with people who are highly respected in college baseball. Justin has Loyola Marymount Uni...

It's episode number 50! Host Justin Musil reflects back on the 49 episodes prior to this one. He has learned a lot from the guests he has had on and from the people he works with on this series. He has also learned a lot about himself through this series so far. This podcast reveals more of Justin's personal side and gives the listeners more insight on who he is.

It is next to impossible to go through the recruiting process without players comparing themselves to others. It often starts when someone else commits to a school. It can create tension and stress for a family to see other players committing, while they are still uncommitted. This episode focuses on the problems and solutions with the comparison game. Host Justin Musil is joined by University of...

Radar guns have been an integral part of scouting pitchers for decades. College coaches and pro scouts rely heavily on them for evaluating. It's not just about velocity, they provide data on spin rates too. The radar gun has been vital to scouting pitchers but there is more to it. On this episode, Host Justin Musil takes on the other keys to evaluating pitchers that rarely get talked about. Justin...

One of the biggest challenges any coach faces is trying to build a program into a powerhouse. It takes talented players, but also players who fit the culture and coaching style. On this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by University of Tennessee Head Baseball Coach, Tony Vitello. Justin and Coach Vitello go in depth on how he turned the program around. They also talk about the players he looks...

There are many differences in what pro scouts look for in comparison to college coaches. They evaluate countless high school players but they do so from different lenses. Not all great college prospects are pro prospects. There are key similarities and differences and they are explored on this episode. Host Justin Musil, who has experience scouting in MLB and college baseball, is joined by Univers...