From Phenom To The Farm

Hindsight may suggest Karsten Whitson was wrong to turn down a $2 million bonus out of high school, instead opting to pitch for Florida. But he doesn't necessarily see it that way. On today's episode, Karsen and Kyle talk... Turning down $2million as a 1st round pick Entering college with 1st round pick expectations Pitching in Omaha as a freshman Having shoulder surgery during draft year...

On this week's episode, Kyle is joined by Eric Sim, the self-proclaimed king of JUCO ball and someone who has a ton of fun doing what so many players are trying now: Hit and throw with more velocity. Eric details his path through professional baseball, his goals & more in a fun conversation. Talking points include... Assimilating to Canadian baseball culture while speaking no English.  Lif...

Zach Von Rosenberg was a sixth-round draft pick by the Pirates in 2009. Now, more than a decade later, he has signed with the Minnesota Vikings to chase a career as an NFL punter. He joins the show to discuss his athletic career, including... - Winning four consecutive high school state championship games. - Being signed away from his dream school. - Adjusting to the pro ball priority of developme...

2002 Cubs first-rounder Luke Hagerty joins the pod to discuss his career, including his 2019 comeback in which he returned to organized ball as a 37-year-older touching 99 mph, more than a decade after the yips derailed his professional career. The guys also talk... - Taking his only Division I offer as a "project" - Sharing a rotation with the 1st overall pick his junior year of college a...

Former minor league LHP Tyler Watson is today's guest. The guys talk... - The value of playing junior college baseball. - Struggling bouncing between arm angles and battling injuries.  - The importance of the conversation around mental health in baseball.  - Thinking about your future after baseball during your career.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: htt...

Yonder Alonso left the University of Miami an All-American, two-time participant in the College World Series, and first-round pick who’d go on to sign a $4.55 million contract with the Reds. Without some wise foresight and guidance from his parents, he might’ve left the school a week into his freshman year, or not even attended at all. Alonso is the latest guest on From Phenom To The Farm. They ta...

Former big leaguer Barry Enright is the latest guest on From Phenom To The Farm. Kyle and Barry talk... Having success as a freshman at Pepperdine. Facing Tulo and Longoria in an NCAA regional. The importance in having borderline-outsized confidence in yourself. The benefits of playing in foreign leagues.  A good story about golfing with Kevin Na.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/bran...

Marcus Nidiffer has seen a lot of different types of baseball. On today's episode, he talks... Facing aces and tough crowds every weekend in the SEC.  Life in the Cape Cod league.  Trying to stick as an undrafted free agent. The pros and cons to playing Indy ball. What makes a guy catch for 7 years in Indy ball.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://re...

Dan Straily discusses his path from small town Oregon to the big leagues and talks about the ups and downs of his journeyman career through professional baseball. Talking points include... Going from high school benchwarmer to the big leagues.  Starting a playoff game as a rookie. Being a part of a big mid-season trade.  The benefits to being a journeyman. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle....

As data filters throughout all levels of the game, some can forget the it's still a game played by human beings. Bob Tewksbury joins to talk the nerves, insecurities and anxieties facing pro baseball players today. Talking points include... 80's minor league lifestyle stories. Trying to fit in as a rookie on the 1986 Yankees with future HOFers and Lou Pinella managing. Pitching against fut...

Thanks to Gift Ngoepe for joining the show! Discussion points include... Growing up quite literally living at a baseball field in South Africa Being beaten down by the heat and workload of the GCL in his first pro season Frustration of his glove being big-league ready but his bat struggling to catch up Losing his mother during his first AA season Becoming the first player from the continent of Afr...

Ty Kelly is our latest guest! Among the talking points... The art of being a utilityman Making a good decision to transfer after his freshman year Tough living and eating conditions in the minors Getting the call after a long wait in the minors Playing in the WBC for Team Israel His work with Advocates for Minor Leaguers Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https:...

Today's episode features Brandon Wood, the one-time mega-prospect with the Angels whose career fizzled in the majors. Our wide-ranging conversation talks... Coming to terms with the word 'bust' Coping with anxiety Finding his love for baseball again Being recruited by Augie Garrido Passing on tough lessons learned to a younger generation Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/bra...

A.J. Achter was a cold-weather school 46th-rounder with a dream. That dream, making it to the big leagues, was eventually realized, but the road traveled wasn't easy. In our latest episode, Achter talks... How to succeed in cold-weather baseball. His mentality to make it to the bigs as a 46th round pick Valuable Arizona Fall League experience The day-to-day life of a MLB reliever Life on the f...

One of Minor League Baseball's best personalities, Tim Dillard, is the latest guest on From Phenom To The Farm. Among the talking points... - Life as a draft-and-follow in junior college - Facing childhood heroes (Mike Piazza and Chipper Jones) as a minor leaguer - Dealing with the shuffle between AAA and the big leagues - The mental hurdle of switching to sidearming - The secret to being a gr...

Longtime big league righthander Russ Ortiz joins to discuss the mental approach to working on throwing strikes, battling through injuries, and what it’s like to share a clubhouse with Barry Bonds. Among the other talking points... - Experience pitching in the College World Series - The best parts of All Star Weekend - Best food city in MLB Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privac...

Over the past few months, we've asked guests of the pod to share their World Series and postseason experiences. We've pieced together the highlights, including fun answers from Brandon Guyer, Billy Butler, Chad Durbin, Russ Ortiz & more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Current Cubs 3B coach and former big league outfielder Will Venable joins the pod to discuss his career. Among the topics... Balancing baseball and basketball with an Ivy League course workload at Princeton Having your dad as your coach in MiLB Can thank his mom for giving baseball a shot Playing in March Madness against two future NBA players (TJ Ford & PJ Tucker) Importance of figuring out w...

Billy Butler carved out a 10-year MLB career in a relatively short amount of time, rocketing through the minors to Kansas City. He talks his big league career, the joys of competing for a World Series juxtaposed to several years spent playing for losing teams, & more. Among the other highlights... - A run-in with George Steinbrenner at a pre-draft workout - Hitting his way to the big leagues a...

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm’, former big leaguer Cody Decker joins to discuss his career, from UCLA to retirement. He will walk us through how he embraced the fun in baseball throughout the highs and lows of the minor leagues. He’ll talk bad paychecks, waiting for a call that might never come, and perhaps the greatest prank of all-time.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcirc...

Brett Lorin walked onto an Arizona team with College World Series dreams and bountiful talent. Yet he eventually came to the tough conclusion his future -- especially to help his professional aspirations -- would need to be in another program's rotation. The righty talks navigating the transfer market in college, his seven-year pro career, the frustrations of repeating A-ball, what it's li...

Brandon Guyer joins the pod to discuss his career arc, which began as a two-sport star in high school. He details his initial struggles at Virginia before blossoming into a UVA Hall of Famer, a winding path through the minors, his penchant for getting hit by pitches as a big leaguer, and what it's like to play in a World Series. Thanks to Brandon for spending the time! You can follow him on Tw...

Fire-balling Carter Capps is mostly known for his unusual hop-step delivery that was later outlawed by MLB. But what's less discussed is his path to pro ball, which began as a Division II catcher before a pitching change unlocked an ascension to the majors. Capps discusses his path, how he became a pitcher, betting on himself in the Cape Cod League, dealing with Tommy John surgery, his funky d...

Richie Shaffer has experienced the highs. He was a first-round pick, appeared in the Futures Game and played in the College World Series. His first big league hit was a homer. But he's also dealt with the lows -- wrecked confidence in the minors, a roundabout trip to indy ball to rediscover his passion for baseball. Shaffer joins the pod to talk his journey, plus his newfound pursuits outside...

Zack Dodson's 10-year pro career has spanned five countries on three continents. He takes us through the winding journey, beginning with a draft night surprise that landed him in Pittsburgh, how he was conned out of $75,000, coming back to baseball after multiple suspensions and so much more. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy