The Baseball Forward Podcast

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode (#108) of The Baseball Forward Podcast, Ross sits down with the catcher for the Texas Tailgaters of the world famous Banana Ball Championship League, Mr. Taj Porter. Taj shines light on all things Banana Ball and opens up about the path that lead him here. Follow Taj Porter on...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode (#107) of The Baseball Forward Podcast, Ross sits down with Head Coach of the Tarleton State University Texans, Mr. Fuller Smith. Coach Smith reflects on the 2026 campaign, winning a WAC Championship, making the Austin Regional and much more. Follow Coach Smith on X: @fsmith27...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode (#106) of The Baseball Forward Podcast, Ross and Jim break down the NCAA D1 Men's College World Series experience. The two talk about what it takes to get to Omaha and what Omaha means to college baseball. Jim tells stories of his two National Championships while coaching at L...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Aaron Cunningham as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode (#105) of The Baseball Forward Podcast, Ross and Aaron break down the newly proposed NCAA five-for-five rule change and how it will affect college rosters and players. The two also discuss how players are benefiting, now more than ever, by having an advocate throughout the...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode (#104) of The Baseball Forward Podcast, Ross sits down with Justin Sherman, Play Ball Ambassador for MLB and owner/founder of JustinTime Baseball . The two discuss the ins and outs of coaching youth baseball players and best practices for developing younger ball players. Justi...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode (#103) of The Baseball Forward Podcast, Ross sits down with Brent Haring, Head Coach at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA. Coach Haring digs in on the current state of college baseball and offers up advice to players, coaches and parents. From playing in the Southland...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode (#102) of The Baseball Forward Podcast, Ross and guest Jeremy Fouts , discuss the importance of nutrition in sports and for athletes of all ages and skillsets. Their focus is 1) Understanding what sports nutrition is and is not, 2) The role it plays in high-performing athletes...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode (#101) of The Baseball Forward Podcast, Ross and guest host, Aaron Cunningham break down the college baseball recruiting process and what every player should know. Their focus is 1) When the recruiting process starts for a baseball player, 2)Understanding college options and b...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. On today's episode of The Baseball Forward Podcast #100, Jim and Ross reflect on 100 episodes of the podcast and what a long, strange trip it's been! They dig on the importance of learning, self-coaching and they give some sound advice for baseball players, coaches and parents.  01:13 Reflecting...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Dallas College North Lake Blazers, Mr. Jimmy Martin. Here’s Episode 99 of The Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Episode 98 of The Baseball Forward Podcast features Logan Harrington. Ross Hawley talks with Logan about the post-grad route, who it makes sense for, and why it can be a strong option for players still developing and looking for the right fit. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with one of the most highly regarded Right-Handed Pitching Prospects in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, Mr. Hayden Durke. Here’s Episode 97 of The Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Baseball Coach for the Cisco College Wranglers in Cisco, TX, Mr. Cam Vega. Here’s Episode 96 of The Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Aaron Cunningham as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. The focus of today’s episode of Recruiting 101: High School Tryouts & College Camps. This is Episode 95 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with a sophomore LHP for McLennan Community College in Waco, TX, Mr. Carson Bailey. Here’s Episode 94 of The Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Head Baseball Coach at Brookhaven College in Dallas, TX, Mr. Shaquille Thomas. Here’s Episode 93 of The Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Baseball Coach for the Dallas Baptist University Patriots, Mr. Tyler Johnson. Here’s Episode 92 of The Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the widely popular, vintage ballplayer of Banana Ball's newest team, The Indianapolis Clowns, Mr. Fisher Polydoroff. Here’s Episode 91 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com . Episode Chapter Markers:...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with a LHP for The Texas Tailgaters of Banana Ball, Mr. Christian Davis. Here’s Episode 90 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com . Episode Chapter Markers: 02:30 How Christian got into Banana Ball 07:15 Is...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s episode is dedicated solely to the college recruiting process. This is Recruiting: 101 with Aaron Cunningham and Ross Hawley on Episode 89 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .   Episode Chapter Markers: 03:45 Player exposure...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with World Series Champion and former MLB RHP, Mr. Chad Durbin. Here’s Episode 88 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .   Episode Chapter Markers: 00:01:15 Intro and breakfast talk 00:05:40 Chad's optimi...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator for Weatherford College, Mr. Tanner Rockwell. Here’s Episode 87 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .   Episode Chapter Markers: 03:00 Reasons for Weathe...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s episode features a new monthly segment we’ve added to the show, dedicated solely to the college recruiting process. This is Recruiting: 101 with Aaron Cunningham and Ross Hawley on Episode 86 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.c...

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with an Assistant Coach for Ranger College, Mr. Pat Day. Here’s Episode 85 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Head Coach of the Saint John’s University Johnnies, in Minnesota Mr. Scott Lieser. Here’s Episode 84 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit  https://baseballforward.com .