Hook Line & Splitter, a Jersey Shore BlueClaws Podcast

We're joined on our latest episode by BlueClaws LHP Matt Osterberg. The left-hander from Coleman, Wisconsin is off to a great start this year and gave up one run in a career-long seven innings last week. He's scheduled to start tonight (June 21st) against Rome. He talks about growing up in Wisconsin playing baseball in a town with a population of just over 800, his collegiate career at St....

BlueClaws RHP Matt Russell sits down on our latest episode. The right-hander talks about going to the same college as Ryan Howard (Missouri State), how he found out he was going to sign with the Phillies, pitching eight innings in a game - across two weeks - last year, and much more.

We're joined today by BlueClaws RHP Orion Kerkering. The hard-throwing right-hander from the University of South Florida sits down to talk about his season, his rise in 2023, and much more. Kerkering grew up in Venice, Florida and was a 5th round pick of the Phillies this year. At the time this episode went up, he had 31 strikeouts in 19.2 innings this year between the BlueClaws and Clearwater...

How many people have played baseball in 10 countries? How many have simultaneously been the team's groundskeeper and relief pitcher? How many still have played for their international team? Mitch Hillert, now the BlueClaws groundskeeper, has done all of that! He's played professionally in Germany, he's played for the Irish National Team, he's played independent baseball in the US a...

We're joined by Ryan McGee of ESPN, who wrote the classic book "Welcome to the Circus of Baseball," about the magical summer of 1994 when he interned with the Asheville Tourists. We go through the summer and Ryan tells us some hilarious stories about the many job(s) he held that year, what he learned, and much more. Plus, he introduces us to some amazing characters that help tell the...

We're joined by BlueClaws RHP Gunner Mayer on today's episode. The right-hander from northern California talks about his baseball journey, how he did not start pitching until his junior year of high school, after which he went to a junior college for one season and then was taken in the 5th round by the Phillies in the 2019 draft. This is his first year with the BlueClaws and he talks abou...

We're joined by BlueClaws RHP Chase Antle on our latest episode. The right-hander from Ohio signed with the Phillies out of Coastal Carolina in 2020 but missed 2021 and 2022 with injuries. He made his pro debut with the BlueClaws on April 8th. We talk about the winding road of his career from Bowling Green to Coastal Carolina to the Covid year, to a pair of missed seasons after surgeries, and...

We're joined by BlueClaws RHP Tommy McCollum on the latest Hook Line & Splitter and talk about his baseball journey, winning a national title in college, the Cape Cod League, signing with the Phillies, meeting Roger Clemens, and much more. Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Judd Shaw Injury Law.

It's been quite a journey for Kennett Square, PA native Nick Ward. He grew up a big Phillies fan, played in the A's system, then two years in the independent Frontier League, for the Adelaide Giants, Team Great Britain in the WBC, and is now playing in his hometown organization with the BlueClaws. We talk to Nick about his baseball journey on this week's Hook Line & Splitter. Hook...

We're joined on Episode 60 of Hook Line & Splitter by BlueClaws IF Jamari Baylor. Jamari, from Richmond, shares his baseball journey, which began when he learned the game with his grandfather at the age of 10. Baylor was a 3rd round pick in 2019 and after spending last year with Clearwater, joins the BlueClaws for the first time this season. Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Judd Sh...

Opening Day is right on the doorstep and we're joined by BlueClaws manager Greg Brodzinski who takes us through the Break Camp Roster, spring training, and talks about his excitement for starting his first season as a professional manager. Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Judd Shaw Injury Law.

We're joined by 2022 BlueClaws C Anthony Quirion, who has had a whirlwind few months - going to Adelaide, where he was a member of the champion Adelaide Giants of the Australian Baseball League, back to Canada for six days, and now to Florida for spring training and the 2023 season. We talk about his time in Australia, how he's grown as a player since last summer, his baseball journey from Canada...

We're joined by BlueClaws manager Greg Brodzinski for part two of our interview with the 31 year old, just appointed as BlueClaws skipper earlier this month. We talk about his baseball journey, growing up a Phillies fan in New Jersey (he played at Bishop Eustace), his managerial style, and much more.  Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Judd Shaw Injury Law. 

We're joined by new BlueClaws manager Greg Brodzinski on episode 56 of Hook Line & Splitter presented by Judd Shaw Injury Law. We talk about his background growing up, his baseball journey, how he plans to approach managing the BlueClaws, his baseball influences, and much more. We're also joined by Judd Shaw, and he tells both his story and that of Sterling, the knight in shining armor! 

With Spring Training on the horizon, we're joined by Matt Gelb, Phillies beat writer for The Athletic. We cover a lot of ground around the organization including:  Andrew Painter and his chances to make the team out of camp Mick Abel, Griff McGarry, Andrew Baker, and some of the other organization young arms Former BlueClaws including Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Rhys Hoskins, Connor Brogdon, Ser...

We go all the way down to Adelaide, Australia where we welcome in 2022 BlueClaws OF Jared Carr. Carr is spending the winter playing for the Adelaide Giants, who lead their division in the Australian Baseball League with two weeks left in the season. We talk about his time there, how he enjoys Australia, best off-day activities, his 2022 season with the BlueClaws - including two appearances on Spor...

For our final episode of 2022, we look back at some of our favorite clips from the season. Hear from the following players: Baron Radcliff, Carlos De La Cruz, Andrew Baker, Jason Ruffcorn, Mick Abel, and Andrew Schultz. We thank everyone for listening and supporting the BlueClaws this season. Have a very Happy New Year and we'll see you in 2023! 

We're joined by Steve Potter of PhilliesBaseballFan.com. Steve covers the Phillies minor league system and has insight on players throughout the organization. We touch on several players that played for the BlueClaws this year or will in the next season or two, his time down at the complex, the Phillies system at large, and much more. 

We're joined by a very special guest, Phillies Farm Director Preston Mattingly as we go over the Phillies system and the 2022 season! We talk about Andrew Painter, Mick Abel, and Griff McGarry among the starting pitching depth at the top of the system, players from the Arizona Fall League, how he integrated himself into the system, learning 200 players and 40+ coaches after joining the Phillies la...

The Phillies are going to the World Series! BlueClaws broadcasters Greg Giombarrese and Tony Graham break it all down from a BlueClaws point of view. We go through the players and coaches that spent time at the Shore and talk about their impact on the 2022 Phillies. We also look at Bryce Harper's home run among the biggest hits in Phillies history, and offer our World Series picks. Go Phils! 

We're joined by BlueClaws RHP Brett Schulze, live from the Arizona Fall League. He talks about following the Phillies from Arizona with several fellow Phillies prospects, playing on the same team as some Astros farmhands with the World Series about to begin, what he's learned as a pitcher in Arizona and this season, his recovery from Tommy John Surgery, growing up in Minnesota playing baseball, an...

We're joined by 2022 BlueClaws OF Marcus Lee Sang on Episode 48. We talk about the Phillie that he connected with as a younger player upon being drafted, his 2022 season, plans and goals for 2023, playing other sports in high school and growing up, hitting two home runs in a game, and much more! 

We wrap up the Phillies minor league season with our annual Year in Review episode, joined by broadcasters Emily Messina of the Reading Fightin' Phils and Mike Ventola of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Each of us offers our Hitter and Pitcher of the Year from each level, some under-the-radar players to watch, and much more! 

2022 BlueClaws IF Kendall Simmons stops by for Episode 46 of Hook Line & Splitter. Simmons joins us from his home state of Georgia, where we review his season, talk about his plans for the off-season, and tell his baseball story. He talks about the draft, hoping the Phillies took him, Jimmy Rollins, almost going to Georgia Tech, former BlueClaws manager Marty Malloy (Simmons' manager in Clearw...

We're joined by BlueClaws OF Baron Radcliff, fresh off an August in which he had two multi-home run games and the highest OPS of any player in the South Atlantic League. We talk about his current streak, adjustments he's made over the course of the season, growing up playing multiple sports, what he's learned over the two years since he was drafted, and much more.