The Baseball and Business Podcast: Recent Episodes

Baseball and Business

Do you want to take your game in baseball and business to the next level? Created by players, for players...Each episode features a current or former MLB, MiLB or college player sharing from their journey as an athlete and within business. The mission of Baseball and Business is to empower current and former pro and college players to reach their full potential on the field and in business. Visit our website at BaseballandBusiness.com or our Instagram page @baseballandbusiness. Podcast Host: Founder of Baseball and Business and former college player, Luke Melms

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With the MLB Draft in less than 2 weeks, we've compiled 42 years of MLB playing experience wisdom and condensed it into 10 minutes. These 3 former players together have a trophy case full of accolades but are much more than just great players. They are all great people which is demonstrated by their willingness to selflessly share from their playing journey on the podcast.

We've pulled out the best couple minutes from past guests to make this unique episode. Here is a quick summary from each clip...

Dale Murphy shares 3 necessary elements he believes need to come together in order to have a long big league career.

Over his 18 year big league career, he hammered 398 home runs while winning back to back NL MVPs, making 7 All-Star game appearances, winning 5 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Slugger Awards. A beloved Brave, his number 3 is retired and still holds 13 franchise records. To listen to the entire episode with Dale, you can listen to Episode 66.

Michael Barrett shared the importance of developing beyond the mechanics of baseball in order to become the best player possible and give yourself the best chance at having a long career. He also shares a humbling story from a Home Opener while playing with the Expos which demonstrates why resilience is a must have skill.

Over his 12 year big league career, he was the battery mate of Greg Maddux, Jake Peavy and Kerry Wood among many others. He also was an offensive weapon winning a Silver Slugger Award in 2005 while collecting 925 career hits. To listen to the entire episode with Michael, you can listen to Episode 68.

Russ Ortiz shared some wisdom from his baseball journey where he won a College World Series at the University of Oklahoma in 1994 before going on to a successful big league career where he would pitch in the World Series in 2002 with the San Francisco Giants.

He developed from a prospect in the Giants organization after being drafted in the 4th round to a successful 12 year MLB career. This included winning 113 games over his career and was named an All-Star in 2003 while taking home the NL win title with a 21 game win season. To listen to the entire episode with Russ, you can listen to Episode 52.

Former pro player Rickey Hill shares from his incredible story which has been turned into a movie called The Hill releasing August 25 starring Dennis Quaid and Colin Ford.

He shares of being born with a degenerative spinal disease yet went on to play four seasons in the minor leagues with the Montreal Expos on Episode 70.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation with Rickey as well as producer Jeff Celentano…

How Rickey and producer Jeff Celentano persevered over 17 years in the ups and down to fund the production and what led to the breakthrough moment to be able to get this story out for all to see
How Rickey earned a second chance at a pro tryout which ultimately led to getting signed by the Expos

3. Why you should go see the movie opening weekend August 25-27

Rickey's story shows that the obstacle which work against you can ultimately be used for a purpose bigger than yourself by inspiring others to reimagine what is possible when they face seemingly impossible scenarios.

To learn more about the movie, you can visit thehillmov.com or the Instagram page.

Former D1 college player Willie Shaw shares from his journey launching his career with NASA to currently living in Nashville working for a VC backed tech startup while songwriting and singing on Episode 69.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

Why he chose to get a knowledge based Bachelor's degree and combined it with a specific skill based Master's degree in Accounting

2. How he used networking to get his foot in the door to launch his career working with NASA

3. He pivoted by taking a risk moving to Nashville to pursue songwriting and singing, why he turned down being on the hit show The Voice and how this led to getting signed by CAA

Willie shares about his role at Remedy Technology, a VC backed tech firm, which is solving a niche challenge in the music industry and has landed Big Machine and Big Loud Records as clients

Willie's story shows how taking calculated risks allows pursuing dreams to happen now versus hoping to go for it one day.

To connect with Willie, you can find him on LinkedIn or his website at willieshawmusic.com.

Former big league vet and Silver Slugger Award winner Michael Barrett shares from his 12 year MLB playing career, coaching in the Nationals organization and getting into business afterwards on Episode 68.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

The setbacks he faced in the initial years after making it to big leagues by 21 after being a 1st round pick out of high school and how he overcame them to have a long big league career. He includes the detailed story of making two costly errors on Opening Day 2000 in front of 52,000 fans as well as being demoted to AAA later in the season.
How current players can navigate playing in an analytics driven world without selling out who they naturally are as a baseball player
While Michael eventually established himself as a catcher, he played between third and catching in the early days of his big league career. He shares how he finds himself in a similar spot today in business wearing multiple hats running the Georgia Roadrunners travel ball program and acquiring his real estate and insurance license only a few years removed from coaching for the Nationals.
The trap of comparison and why it is imperative to focus on running your own race whether it be in baseball or business

Michael's story shows how to go beyond simply realizing a dream by achieving long term success within that dream.

To connect with Michael, you can find him on LinkedIn or his website at barrettbaseball.com.

Former pro baseball player Bob Wheatley shares from his journey to becoming an author and specializing in working with individuals on their personal brand after his playing career at USC and in the minor leagues on Episode 67.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

What Bob did to go beyond what was required which allowed him to maximize his potential and get drafted by the Blue Jays out of college despite not being an All-American or All-Conference pitcher
Why Bob turned what could be deemed failure in not achieving his ultimate dream to become a big leaguer into the foundational idea for writing his book, Our Hearts' Desire
The outline of the three main acts of storytelling and why he referenced hit movies to demonstrate how this common storyline can be found in our own life
The key formula to attracting attention in order to create fans of you and/or your business

Bob's story shows the power of vulnerability and finding a lesson to learn from every situation on and off the field.

To connect with Bob, you can find him on LinkedIn or his website at bobwheatley.com.

2x NL MVP and 7x All-Star Dale Murphy shares from his 19 year big league career, leading his family and using his story to help corporations implement the success principles he's lived out on Episode 66.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

How Dale and his wife Nancy were highly intentional in their relationship and parenting which led to success not just on the field but also raising their 8 children
A story of a big league vet having a difficult conversation with him early in his career during a slump and the importance of leaders speaking up
Why Dale has not gone at it alone in his business ventures whether it be his restaurant, speaking engagements or MVP experiences
The unique MVP experience he is co-leading tailored specifically for business leaders

Dale's story shows that winning in one aspect of life doesn't have to come at the expense of others.

To connect with Dale and learn more about his ventures, you can find him on LinkedIn or his website at dalemurphy.com.

Former pro baseball player Dylan Rheault shares from his time on the mound and afterwards working for an athlete centric company along with starting his own company on Episode 65.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

How treating baseball like a job led to Dylan to adding velocity in pro ball which topped out at 99 mph
Why the fastest way to turning the page as a pro athlete is to understand you can develop into being a professional in a different aspect within business
How Shift Group is helping former pro, Olympic and college athletes land sales jobs with companies nationwide interested in the innate skills of a high level athlete
The problem Dylan faced trying to get clothes as a lean 6'9" guy and the solution he created for himself which led to starting a niche company helping others with 6 foot plus lean bodies

Dylan's story shows the value of creating a solution to address a specific problem.

To connect with Dylan, you can find him on LinkedIn.

This month's episode will give you the chance to hear a recent conversation between current & former pro & college baseball players discussing the future of Baseball and Business heading into 2023 on Episode 64.

Here are key sections from our conversation…

The unique challenges baseball players face in business
The quick history of Baseball and Business

3. The future of Baseball and Business

4. How you can get involved by joining this exclusive network of current & former pro & college baseball players

If you prefer to watch this conversation, go to BaseballtoBusiness.com to see the video and presentation.

Former big leaguer Brandon Beachy shares how switching to pitching led to making it to the highest level and what led to starting a business through the franchise model as his next step after playing on Episode 63.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How Brandon's decision to pivot from a being .300 hitter in college to exclusively focusing on pitching led to getting signed by the Atlanta Braves as a non-drafted free agent and ultimately a big league career

2. The biggest leadership lesson he learned playing under Hall of Fame Manager Bobby Cox

3. How the characteristics of a high level athlete aligned for him to pursue a path in starting a business through the franchise model as well as a consulting practice to help others especially athletes interested in finding the right franchise business

4. What baseball players need to perceive from their playing experience to communicate their value when making the transition into business

Brandon's story shows the power of an opportunity and going all in on it.

To connect with Brandon, you can find him on LinkedIn or can email him at BBeachy@FranChoice.com.

Former college player Kevin Kowalke shares how after building a successful mortgage business for 20 years he made a cross country move and teamed up with a long time friend to pivot into consulting on Episode 62.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Kevin and Luke chat about their paths crossing about a decade ago and how this sparked Baseball and Business to launch

2. Kevin shares why the traditional definition of success is often limiting and how through his journey he's been able to get better clarity on what is possible in the big picture

3. Kevin talks about the toughest challenge he faced going through a painful divorce and how he was able to be better after going through it not only in business but now as a husband and father to two children after getting remarried

4. Kevin explains why he decided to pivot into consulting after 20 years in the mortgage industry and his advice for anyone else who is considering making a career transition

Kevin's story shows that life is a journey of peaks and valleys which have lessons to learn in both places.

To connect with Kevin, you can find him on LinkedIn or text him at 414-315-5555.

Former big leaguer Dirk Hayhurst shares on Episode 61 how he became a New York Times best selling author writing four books, battled anxiety when getting the ultimate call up and his journey on the other side of playing.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Why writing is the most useful tip he recommends in helping process outcomes on the field and how he saw Roy Halladay do the same as a teammate
How he was struck with anxiety when initially called up to the big leagues and getting a shot as a broadcaster on national TV and what he focused on to seek calming his nerves
Why athletes struggle with identity issues when playing ends and why he suggests understanding skill sets and likes versus resurrecting identity in a new career
His advice for former players navigating the interview process and how to best communicate the experiences baseball provides to stand out against other applicants

Dirk's story shows that life is an never ending process of reinventing yourself.

To connect with Dirk, you can visit his website at dirkhayhurst.com or find him on LinkedIn.

Former college player James "J.R." Reid shares on Episode 60 how he is helping big leaguers and high level business professionals navigate the pressure it takes to succeed at the top as a peak performance coach.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Several stories as a D1 baseball player, mentoring athletes while getting his J.D. and MBA at LSU and working as an agent to pro baseball players which give perspective on how to avoid pitfalls and make decisions that get you closer to your desired outcomes
The process current players should use when deciding who work with as key advising relationships such as agents, attorneys, financial advisors, etc.
Why he believes understanding your own core values and vision are key to being equipped to make decisions not just as a baseball player but in every aspect of life
The three areas of life which must be aligned in order to perform at your highest level

J.R.'s story shows how making the right decisions over a long period of time is how to get to where you are desiring to go.

To connect with J.R., you can visit his website at jamesreid.com or on LinkedIn. Additionally, his podcast Coming Up Clutch with J.R. can be heard on all major platforms and comingupclutch.com.

What a year it has been for Baseball and Business! It naturally leads to wonder...what's in store for the future?

To share where we are going, this is a shorter 15 minute podcast episode to wrap up the year sharing exactly that while also including a few sound bites from the live Q&A portion of the three Zoom Meetups we did this year with several former big leaguers as featured guests.

As this year comes to a close, I cannot thank all of you enough for the continued support of our community and movement. Without your involvement, Baseball and Business is nothing.

Yes, these past two years have been tough but we have seen victories despite the challenges. Every week more current and former players come across what we are up to and are excited to find out there is a group of likeminded guys which make up Baseball and Business.

I hope you enjoy these last moments of 2021 and want to see you experience much success in 2022. Happy New Year!

Luke Melms, Founder of Baseball and Business

Former pro player Keenan Long shares on Episode 59 how his company LongBall Labs is helping big league hitters maximize exit velocity by taking guessing out of the equation for when it comes to choosing their gamers.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How a conversation with Joe Girardi in college influenced the trajectory of Keenan’s future as a baseball player and engineering student
How Keenan’s experiment with former MLB player Adam Rosales led to creating LongBall Labs
A story of how Jed Lowrie’s use of LongBall Labs assisted in getting the A’s a win in a specific at bat this season
The rule in baseball Keenan learned has the least amount of application in business

Keenan’s story shows how seeing beyond what currently exists in the marketplace may be what leads to a breakthrough.

To connect with Keenan, you can reach him through their Twitter page @longballlabs1 or by calling/texting 773-870-1968.

Former San Francisco Giants prospect Jeff Burke shares how he successfully transitioned into the business world starting his career with a global company on Episode 58.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How not being able to play baseball for the first time having Tommy John surgery led to valuable perspective that benefited him within and beyond the game
How Jeff's blog to help his grandma keep up to date on his pro ball career led to an offseason internship and the importance of building relationships
Why baseball players shouldn't overlook the discipline it takes to play at a high level and how this directly applies in the business world to set yourself apart from others while trying to get your career off the ground
The importance of understanding being young in business compared to being an older baseball prospect when exiting the game

Jeff's story shows the importance of having a long term focus when developing a career on the field or in business.

To connect with Jeff, you can find him on LinkedIn.

Current Tampa Bay Rays prospect and 2019 4th Round Draft Pick Graeme Stinson shares how he has co-founded athlete-centric data storage company StatStak while playing pro ball on Episode 57.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How an arm injury and the 2020 college season being cancelled led Graeme and his former college teammate Eli Herrick to launch StatStak
How his experience playing under Coach Pollard at Duke helped formulate the mindset to overcome whatever challenges he has faced as a baseball player and businessman
How Graeme believes current pro players can best make use of their time in the off-season
What Graeme wants every player who will be drafted in the future to know before they begin their pro ball career

Graeme's story shows how negative situations can be turned into opportunities with the right perspective and actions.

To connect with Graeme, you can find him on LinkedIn or by email at graeme@statstak.io. To learn more about StatStak, visit the website at statstak.io.

Former D1 college player Jim Convertino shares how he has built a business which now has 700+ pro athletes and entertainers as clients on Episode 56.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Why Jim believes focusing on becoming great at something leads to passion and is how he launched his professional career after graduating from Siena College
How the first 15 years of providing consistency with his high touch service model in the insurance industry allowed him to build a niche working with professional athletes and entertainers over the past 15 years of his career
Why Jim suggests those in a sales role should become the go to for products or services beyond what they sell
Jim's advice for any former players looking to leverage their experience and knowledge of the game in their career after playing

Jim's story shows how building the ideal business takes having vision and daily action over many years.

To connect with Jim, you can find him on LinkedIn or by email at jconvertino@mcgowanpae.com. To learn more about his firm, visit their website at mcgowaninsurance.com.

Former MLB and KBO player Xavier Scruggs shares how baseball set the table for him to launch his second career in sports media on Episode 55.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Why Xavier felt media was the perfect outlet for his second career which has had him working for ESPN, MLB Network Radio and hosting his own podcast
Xavier's mindset as he persevered through 6 seasons between A and AA before making it to AAA which then led to his MLB debut that same season
Xavier and his wife's experience overseas including the challenges of a new team, league and culture
The impact Xavier is making on the next generation of athletes with the goal of long term career development in any field not just sports through Xtraordinary Athletes

Xavier's story shows the importance of having a vision and taking the actions necessary to follow through on it.

To connect with Xavier, you can find him on LinkedIn or on Instagram @xavier_scruggs. To learn more about Xtraordinary Athletes, visit www.xoathletes.com.

Former pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization and at the University of Miami Javi Salas shares how baseball has been the precursor to bigger things in business on Episode 54.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Why Javi returned for his senior year after being drafted by the Twins as a junior and how this led to a historic night throwing only the 23rd perfect game at the D1 level.
Why Javi debated following through on the full time job offer he had already accepted in the fall of his senior year after being drafted by the Brewers in the 10th round as a senior.
How Javi articulated the relevance of his baseball experience within business while applying to MBA programs.
Why Javi decided the pandemic in 2020 created the perfect timing to leave his full time job to pursue his MBA after getting accepted to one of the top programs in the country at Duke University.

Javi's story shows how baseball can be the springboard to success beyond the diamond.

To connect with Javi, you can find him on LinkedIn or Twitter @Feliz_Javidad.

2009 World Series champion and former New York Yankees Director of Strength, Conditioning and Performance Coach Dana Cavalea is the featured guest for Episode 53, our last episode of 2020.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

1. How after playing one year of college baseball Dana realized his most likely path to the majors wasn't going to be as a player which led to an internship and eventually full time job with the Yankees

Behind the scenes stories of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera's routines during their playing career that made them high performers consistently
Why he wrote Habits of a Champion in an easy read 15 short stories format from interactions with Yankees greats and businesspeople along his life
Why Dana suggests drowning out the noise of what other people are doing and instead answering specific questions he poses going into 2021

Dana's story shows champions are made through focusing on being consistent.

To learn more about Dana, visit his website at danacavalea.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Former MLB All-Star Russ Ortiz shares from his 12 year big league career and how he went on to start a business, 2GG Apparel, around his passion for golf afterwards on Episode 52. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

The common trait Dusty Baker, Bobby Cox, Bruce Bochy and Joe Torre shared as managers that empowered Russ and his teammates to succeed on the field
Why Russ and his wife chose to live as if every contract was the last one and the importance of building a strong financial team to create a long term plan
Why Russ chose to invest time being involved within the San Francisco community right out of the gates and continued to do so wherever he played throughout his career
The story behind turning his passion for golf into 2GG Apparel after finishing playing which uses all of the profits to fund charitable causes meaningful to their family

Russ' story shows what it takes to create success in every aspect of life.

To learn more about 2GG Apparel, visit 2GGApparel.com.

Former college player and Founder of Baseball and Business Luke Melms shares the vision for the future of B&B through a few updates on Episode 51. Here are a few of the highlights...

Luke shares how COVID-19 while a negative event has allowed for an internship to develop for a few college baseball players within Baseball and Business and the opportunity available for this to expand
Luke shares what has been going on behind the scenes to develop the opportunity for more engagement within the community
The next possible evolution for the podcast to alternate between the traditional format and a live format
The opportunity for you to share any feedback on how Baseball and Business can become better.

I want to thank everyone for the support that has allowed us to get to 50 episodes. I wanted to use a brief episode to recognize this about creating opportunities for everyone involved. While I've been the one leading Baseball and Business, it is anything but something revolving around me.

I look forward to hearing from you after listening to this week's episode.

Former pro player Brian McAfee shares from his experiences as a student-athlete at Cornell and Duke before being drafted by the Rays and now working at Nike as a Data Scientist on Episode 50. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Brian talks about how he juggled the heavy workload as a student-athlete at Cornell and Duke
Brian shares his underdog story of being drafted out of Duke in the 38th round by the Rays
Brian speaks to how he navigated finding his first job out of baseball to land at adidas which then also led to his current position as a Data Scientist at Nike
Why he co-founded Walk-Off Analytics and created the Seqnzr product to provide quantitative feedback on lineup optimization to baseball teams in order to maximize run production

Brian's story shows how important it is to go all in wherever you are at.

Click here to connect with Brian on LinkedIn.

To learn more about the Seqnzr product through Walk-Off Analytics, visit seqnzr.com.

Former pro player Branden Berry shares how his dream of playing in the big leagues evolved into helping pro and amateur hitters get an edge working for Axe Bat on Episode 49. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Branden talks about his competitive mindset going into playing at the University of Washington and how it helped earn the opportunity to start as a Freshman
Branden shares why he re-enrolled in school within hours of being released by the Marlins
Branden describes how he turned an internship at Blast Motion into a full-time job within a handful of months after proving himself
Branden shares how he got his current job at Axe Bat and why Mookie Betts and other MLB stars are swinging the bat challenging the status quo of how baseball bats are made

Branden's story shows the importance of being able to pivot when new opportunities are ahead.

Click here to connect with Branden on LinkedIn.

To learn more about Axe Bat, visit axebat.com or @axebat on Instagram and Twitter.

We've teamed up to create a special promotion to give the listeners 20% off any non-sale products on AxeBat.com. Use Business20 at checkout to receive the discount. Thanks to Branden and the Axe Bat team for making this happen!

Former MLB player Jim "The Rookie" Morris shares from his incredible story which Disney turned into a movie and the insurmountable odds he has once again overcome beating Parkinson's since the movie came out on Episode 48. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Jim talks about his difficult first stint in pro ball which led to pursuing teaching and coaching and how a bet he made with his high school baseball players propelled him to earn a second chance at pro ball as a 35 year old
He shares the valuable lessons veteran teammates Wade Boggs, Fred McGriff and others shared and the importance of finding those who believe in your dreams
Jim shares his Parkinson's diagnosis after baseball and his miraculous defeat of the disease which his neurologist has never seen
Jim talks about his journey as public speaker and the release of his brand new book Dream Makers which will help you learn how to be your best from surrounding yourself with the best

Jim's story shows the importance of finding the right teammates in life and not allowing others to put limitations on what is possible.

Click here to connect with Jim on LinkedIn.

Get 30% off a signed copy of his book by clicking the link and ordering today.

dreammakersbook.com/signed-copy

Dave Stevens shares his remarkable story as a legless college athlete who also had the chance to play independent league baseball for the St. Paul Saints on Episode 47. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

0:52 Dave describes the challenges he faced growing up without legs in Arizona and the resilience he gained from overcoming these trials

16:16 Dave recounts his tryout for USA Baseball in 1983 on the same field with some of the best talent in the nation at the time including Barry Bonds and Oddibe McDowell

20:00 Dave talks about his experience playing independent league baseball which included a pinch-hit AB for Darryl Strawberry

22:45 Dave describes the development of his career in broadcasting which eventually led to accepting a job at ESPN where he was awarded 7 Sports Emmy Awards over his career

Dave's story clearly shows the importance of focusing on the strengths you do have versus the attributes you don't.

Click here to connect with Dave on LinkedIn. You can also visit his website at davestevensspeaks.com to learn more about Dave and access all his social media channels.

Former MLB player Casper Wells V shares from his 10 year pro ball career and journey afterwards building a career in business on Episode 46.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

What Casper's first call up taught him and allowed him to thrive hitting over .300 his first year in the big leagues
How Casper mentally prepared every day when in a platoon situation
How going back to finish his degree at age 30 allowed Casper to get focused on the long term outlook of his career before getting into the business world
How the advice of a former college teammate helped Casper figure out medical sales would be a great path to pursue after finishing school

Casper's story shows the importance of being prepared for new opportunities especially when they arise unexpectedly.

Click here to connect with Casper on LinkedIn or on Instagram @capwells.

Former MLB player Nick Hagadone shares from his 5 year big league career and how this taught him to focus on incremental growth which he has carried into business on Episode 45. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How Nick went from barely pitching as a freshman to being a 1st round pick as a junior out of the University of Washington
What it takes to be successful coming out of the bullpen in the big leagues
Why Nick and his wife decided to start a business 18 months ago in one of the most competitive and crowded industries globally
Why Nick believes working a full-time job and running the business on the side increases the odds of creating a sustainable business long term

Nick's story shows the importance of having a long term mindset when it comes to reaching goals.

Click here to connect with Nick on LinkedIn. To learn more about Nick's company, visit the website at launchcoffeeco.com or @launchcoffeeco on Instagram.

Former MLB pitching coach and pro player Rick Peterson takes us behind the scenes of constantly being on the cutting edge as a coach on Episode 44.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

What during Rick's college career piqued his interest in studying psychology
Rick selling Jerry Reinsdorf on investing into developing a sports psychology program which allowed him to co-direct it and coach Michael Jordan during his baseball stint
The real story behind Moneyball and Rick's practical use of analytics which gave his pitchers an edge
How Rick turned his experiences into a book as well as speaking to corporations to help leaders reach peak performance

Rick's story shows the importance of challenging the status quo and focusing on finding growth opportunities.

Click here to connect with Rick on LinkedIn. To learn more about what Rick is up to and buy his book, visit his website at rickpetersoncoaching.com.

Former MLB player Daniel McCutchen shares how he maximized his opportunities while playing and how this set him up afterwards to start his own business on Episode 43.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

Daniel's decision to take on a tough economics major while playing at the University of Oklahoma
Daniel's journey overcoming those who doubted him to make it to the big leagues after being drafted in the 13th round
Why Daniel created business cards as a baseball player even though he wasn't doing anything in business while he was playing
Daniel's transition out of baseball into entrepreneurship starting and expanding Big League Car Wash

Daniel's story shows the power of believing in yourself.

Click here to connect with Daniel on LinkedIn. To learn more about his business, visit their website at bigleaguecarwash.com.

Private hitting consultant and former pro player Kevin Wilson shares from his own playing journey and how this led to guiding some of the best hitters in Major League Baseball since 2007 on Episode 42. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How the challenges faced as a player created the desire to create an all-in-one solution between mechanics, the mental side of the game and balancing life for the next generation of hitters
Why Kevin literally goes on walks with his hitters to bring clarity
Why he believes hitters are drowning information and need to "know thyself" more than anything
The importance of finding something beyond baseball to concentrate on away from the field

Kevin's story shows that your calling may be found in some of the hardest challenges you've walked through.

Click here to connect with Kevin on LinkedIn. To learn more about him, visit his website at kwbaseball.com.

Stage 4 brain cancer survivor and former college player Chase Jones shares from his comeback story on the University of North Carolina baseball team and beyond on Episode 41.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How the motivation to return to campus and the baseball field were main drivers that kept Chase going through intense cancer treatments
Why Chase believes every athlete should not overlook the platform they have
How the leadership skills developed on the field led to creating the Vs. Cancer Foundation which has raised over $6 million to date and becoming President of the Wharton Graduate Association while getting his MBA at Wharton
Why Chase decided to get his MBA and what others considering grad schools should consider before they pursue this path

Chase's story shows that the biggest setbacks in life can be used to propel us forward if we persevere.

Click here to connect with Chase on LinkedIn. You can also email him at a.chase.jones@gmail.com. To learn more about the Vs. Cancer Foundation, visit the website at vs-cancer.org.

Former college player Larry Long Jr. shares from his time on the field at the University of Maryland and rise through the tech space in business on Episode 40.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How Larry overcoming a 1 for 24 start as a freshman on his way to starting all 4 years and becoming a team captain prepared him to thrive in sales
Why Larry believes outside of being a pro athlete sales is the best job an athlete can have
What Larry does in leading a team as the Director of Team Sales at Teamworks to empower athletes and coaches through their platform
Practical ideas each of us can participate in to see our country made up of different races move forward together

Larry's story shows the importance of bringing high energy and a positive attitude everyday to your craft regardless of what happened yesterday.

You can reach out to Larry on LinkedIn if you'd like to connect with him.

Former pro player Mike McCarthy shares how after a 6 year pro ball career that touched every minor league level he transitioned into becoming a coach at the AAA level with the Twins on Episode 39.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How Mike really put himself on the map his senior year in college which led to being drafted by the Red Sox in 2011

2. How Mike used most of his free time as a minor leaguer to complete an MBA program

Why he got involved with Baseball Miracles which has taken him around the world sharing the game with children in under-served communities
How proper preparation and developing a growth mindset played a pivotal role in landing a coaching job in pro ball

Mike's story shows the importance of focusing on making every environment walked into better.

You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn or @mmccarthy35 on Twitter and Instagram. To learn more about Baseball Miracles, visit the website at baseballmiracles.org.

Former pro player Todd Blyleven shares how he used his baseball experiences and knowledge to create a career as a pro scout, employee for several large sports companies and now entrepreneur on Episode 38.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How Todd wrestled through several jobs after playing before becoming a pro scout for the Angels and Rockies that signed Troy Tulowitzki among many other MLB players
Todd's advice for any player potentially being selected in the unique circumstances of this year's five round draft
How Todd successfully transitioned into a corporate career around marketing and business development
How Todd used his background as a player, scout and sports business professional to recently launch The Scout Hub, a service giving amateur athletes the ability to be graded by pro scouts and coaches

Todd's story shows the importance of not being complacent and being open to learning new things.

You can connect with Todd on LinkedIn or contact him directly at info@thescouthub.com. To learn more about The Scout Hub, visit the website at thescouthub.com.

Current pro player Anthony Shew shares how he's climbed through the Cardinals organization and become a web developer along the way on Episode 37.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How Anthony's first pro ball paychecks led him to develop to a second skill set to make money on the journey to the big leagues
His story of being 1 of 400+ MiLB players "adopted" by a sponsor to receive financial support through the non-profit Adopt a Minor Leaguer
One of the most important investment choices every baseball player will make
Why Anthony believes doing something other than playing baseball makes him a better baseball player

Anthony's story shows the power of going all in on developing a skill.

Connect with Anthony on Instagram @anthonyshew.

To learn more about Adopt a Minor Leaguer, visit the website at adoptaminorleaguer.com, follow on Instagram @adoptanmilbplayer or Twitter @adoptmilbplayer.

Former pro player Alex Farina shares how a line drive to the face abruptly ended his career and how he's bounced back in business on Episode 36.

Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...

How sending letters to every GM in baseball his senior year cracked the door to getting two workouts and eventually signing with the Brewers
The unfortunate last pitch of his pro career that led to his mouth being wired shut for 4 weeks and forced him to put his attention 100% into business
Why relationships are the most valuable asset and how he's landed each of his jobs

4. Alex's recommendation for anyone who is trying to figure out life after baseball

Alex's story shows the importance of controlling the variables that can be controlled and letting go of everything else.

To connect with Alex, you can find him on Twitter and Instagram @thealexfarina.

Former college player Tyler Scaturro shares how he began his business career working for Pocket Radar in the early startup days 8 years ago and how he's developed into a key player that has made it the established company it is today on Episode 35.

Here are the highlights from our conversation...

How going the JUCO route out of high school helped setup stability on the field and classroom
How Tyler beat out other candidates despite having less experience to get his foot in the door at Pocket Radar which has developed into being the Brand Manager
How social media and marketing evolving while the product itself continuing to mature both have taught him the importance of testing
Why working for a startup can be an advantageous route for baseball players transitioning into business full-time

Tyler's story shows the power of creating an opportunity and running with it.

To learn more about Pocket Radar, visit their website at pocketradar.com or Instagram page @pocketradar.

Former pro player CJ Beatty shares how he used his God given talents and combined them with baseball after stepping off the field to build a business that's empowering the next generation to win on the field on Episode 34.

Here are the highlights from our conversation...

CJ's perspective on how to be prepared to transition from college to pro ball
How CJ's voice was the spark to the global brand The Baseball Motivator has become
Why CJ added making music to his brand and how he's grown to having 500k+ streams
How Richard Petty and Evander Holyfield's brand manager recently became CJ's brand manager

CJ's story shows how not being afraid of your haters and instead going all in on your gifts are the key to success.

To learn more about CJ and TBM, visit his website at cjbeatty.com or Instagram page @cjbeatty44.

Former college player Josh Shapiro shares how he turned a lifestyle on the field into a thriving business on Episode 33.

Here are the highlights from our conversation...

How Josh's passion for the game combined with the early days of social media led to partnerships with some of the biggest baseball brands
The difficult decision Josh made which led to the launch of the Baseball Lifestyle 101 branded store
What made the 2018 College World Series a defining moment for the business
How Josh engaging his targeted audience and current pro players has been a winning combo to grow the business and brand

Josh's story shows the importance of knowing your audience and finding unique ways to provide value.

To learn more about Baseball Lifestyle 101, visit the website at bl101.com or Instagram page @baseball_lifestyle101.

Oakland A's prospect Ryan Gridley shares how through the launch of his business ProCo+ he's created a solution to the financial challenges many minor leaguers face on Episode 32.

Here are the highlights from our conversation...

How Ryan went from being known more for his glove than bat as a freshman at Mississippi State to earning First Team All-SEC honors as junior hitting well over .300 which led to being drafted by the A's
Different challenges playing in the minors has presented which created the idea to launch his business ProCo+
How the platform allows pro players to make money year round while giving amateurs direct access to pros during their season not just in a cage during the winter
Ryan's biggest lesson learned from diving into entrepreneurship and his best tip for anyone else that desires to launch their own business

Ryan's story shows the best way to deal with a problem is to create a solution versus hoping someone else comes along to solve it.

To learn more about ProCo+, visit the website at ProCoPlus.com or Instagram page @procoplus. You can follow him on Instagram @ryangridley10. You can also email him at support@procoplus.com.

Former college player Clayton Gelfand shares how he's turned the page from winning 3 conference championships, a D2 College World Series appearance and playing in the Cape Cod League in undergrad to now maximizing the window of time as a current student in the J.D.-M.B.A. program at Michigan State on Episode 31.

Here are the highlights from our conversation...

How Clayton turned a resume after undergrad strictly with baseball and academic accomplishments into getting valuable hands on work experience including landing an internship at a Fortune 10 company
Why regardless of age or experience everyone should be on LinkedIn and how to use it to create networking opportunities
How a mentor's advice guided him on how to get his first tangible experience which created momentum for additional internships
How sending a cold email led to an internship being created that did not previously exist

Clayton's story shows that the opportunities that exist aren't always the ones obviously in front of us and that action always wins.

Tune into Episode 31 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

This week former pro player and current VP of Product Development at Original Nations Walt Nolen shares his story from playing in the Cubs organization to business executive and now partner on Episode 30.Here are the highlights from our conversation…⚾ How Walt dealt with the promising potential of being drafted as a junior in college to eventually signing as a non-drafted free agent with the Cubs after his senior year ⚾ The key lesson former teammate and big leaguer Sam Fuld taught Walt while playing in the minors that revolutionized his perspective and was a catalyst for thinking long term about business ⚾ How Walt starting a plan after baseball of mastering product development eventually led to combining his business acumen within sports working at Marucci Sports and SKLZ in senior leadership positions ⚾ The importance of finding the right partners to go into business with and key sign when it makes sense to cut the cord from a job to go full time into entrepreneurship...Walt’s story shows the importance of creating a vision and being patient enough to see it through. In the end, our choices to take action not the opinions of others determine how far we can go. Tune into Episode 30 by clicking above or by going to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Former college player and owner of Athletes Brand Kyle Mauch shares the story behind how he has helped 1500 pro athletes fully maximize the platform since starting his company on Episode 29.Here are the highlights from our conversation...1. How a back injury ended Kyle's playing career but sparked going all in on business2. How an ultimatum from Kyle's brother led to Kyle entering a contest to win $50,000 from Go Daddywhich ultimately had him pitching his business idea to Danica Patrick while riding shotgun at Charlotte Motor Speedway3. How Athletes Brand has evolved from a t-shirt company to helping athletes make a permanent impact by standing up for causes they believe in4. Kyle's best tips for current players on how to navigate using social media and their platform while the spotlight is on them...Kyle's story shows that when you know your why you can go beyond where you initially imagined.Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn or go to KyleMauch.com to get his e-Book explaining his legacy formula he's used with athletes. To learn more about Athletes Brand, visit the website at athletesbrand.com or on Instagram at @athletesbrand.

Former college player and current medical school student Jonathan Melms shares from his journey on the field and how this has prepared him for his biggest test on Episode 28. Here are the highlights from our conversation…1. How juggling being a student-athlete at Macalester College prepared Jonathan for med school by being at an academically challenging school while playing baseball 2. Why having the right motives when chasing a significant goal can be the difference between success and failure 3. The importance of creating "teammates" beyond baseball 4. Why creating new dreams around the balance of passion and making the money needed to live the lifestyle you want is a key to balance...Jonathan's story shows that life after baseball can allow us to set our sights on significant goals beyond the field. Baseball and Business is really just another way of saying baseball and whatever life is beyond the field. This is a great example of one of many paths beyond the game.

The transition from playing baseball to business can be one of the most challenging situations that we as baseball players face. This week former college player and Founder of Baseball and Business Luke Melms shares a few questions that have been emailed in recently and shares his thoughts and perspective on Episode 27. Here are the questions that were discussed…1. How do I overcome the struggle with identity and the inability to see exactly what is in store for the future now that playing baseball is done? 2. How do I re-establish myself within a new business community after moving to a new city? 3. How do I find my passion and/or niche after baseball having several interests but unsure which one to pursue? 4. How do I know whether to be patient about the potential to get promoted internally or look for new opportunities outside my current company?...We are all at different points in this journey on the field and/or in business. The beauty of the network is the ability to grow together in both areas.

Former MLB player and 2006 1st Round Pick of the Padres Matt Antonelli shares from the highs and lows of his pro ball career and how this perfectly positioned him to coach after his playing career in Episode 26. Here are the highlights from our conversation…1. Why Matt decided to go to college versus signing after being drafted out of high school 2. How Matt's journey going from draft pick to the big leagues in 2 years would teach him lessons that carried into coaching 3. How Matt juggled being a graduate assistant at Wake Forest, finishing his degree and starting Antonelli Baseball all at once 4. The power of building a brand through social media and specifically video... Matt's story shows that being able to look back without regret is something we should all aspire for in baseball and business. To learn more about Matt, visit his website at antonellibaseball.com. To connect with Matt, you can find him on Instagram @antonellibaseball or his YouTube channel by searching Antonelli Baseball.

Former D1 college player and Navy SEAL Jason Kuhn shares from his time on the mound, in special ops and how both led to starting his company Stonewall Solutions on Episode 25. Here are the highlights from our conversation...1. How Jason went from dealing on the mound for a Top 25 team at Middle Tennessee State to losing complete control as a senior because of performance anxiety otherwise known as the yips 2. The search and struggle to find the same sense of purpose and identity baseball provided which ultimately led to going into the Navy after graduating college 3. Jason describing how he made it through hell week to become 1 of 20 guys in his class of 135 to survive training and earn the opportunity to become a Navy SEAL carrying out special ops overseas 4. How his experiences on the battlefield and baseball field led to starting his company Stonewall Solutions after serving 10 years active military to empower sports teams to be better equipped mentally to win on the field... Jason's story shows that our biggest challenges can become our biggest victories when we reframe them and stay focused on the current moment versus tapping out. To connect with Jason, you can find him on LinkedIn. Visit Stonewall Solutions at stonewall-solutions.com or on Instagram at @stonewall_solutions.

Former pro player and Red Sox draft pick Jeff Natale shares on Episode 24 from his journey in pro ball making it to AAA along with his transition to the other side where he recently took the dive into entrepreneurship. Here are the highlights from our conversation...1. How Jeff was able to get attention of pro scouts and ultimately get drafted by the Red Sox in 2005 as a senior out of D3 Trinity College in Connecticut 2. Jeff's journey from starting in the Florida Gulf Coast League to playing at AAA within the Red Sox and Yankees organizations 3. Jeff's transition after baseball into his first job working at Milton Academy in Connecticut developing high school students and baseball players to be ready for college 4. How Jeff's educational experience personally having a degree, working in education and playing as a pro player has led to starting a company called BAATS, Baseball Academic Advisory Team Support...Jeff's story shows that being the underdog and constantly playing with a chip on your shoulder can go a long ways. In baseball, this translated to nearly having a .300 career average over 6 minor league seasons. In business, he is going against the odds by starting his own company. To connect with Jeff, you can find him on LinkedIn.

Former D1 player Alex Tuccio shares how the idea for starting his business ScoutDay was the byproduct of his own recruiting journey as a high school player on Episode 23. Here are the highlights from our conversation...1. How Alex's transition from Seton Hall to Siena after one semester was an importnat part of the journey that birthed ScoutDay 2. How the initial investor in ScoutDay falling through led Alex to become a better entrepreneur because of having less resources to work with 3. Alex’s recent sale of the business which led to his current role as Head of Growth for :betr, a company started by one of the key employees in the earlier days of Facebook 4. Alex’s advice on how to leverage social media and the window of time as a current player to get a meeting with anyone you want within business...Alex’s story shows that the problems we face today may be a solution waiting to be provided in the marketplace tomorrow. To connect with Alex, you can find him on LinkedIn or Instagram @tuccio.

Former big leaguer with the Red Sox Jonathan Van Every shares from his 8 year journey through the minors before making his big league debut on Episode 22. Here are the highlights from our conversation...1. His experience playing on a defending World Series championship team in Boston along with facing Araldis Chapman and Mariano Rivera 2. Going back to school at 31 to get a Bachelor's degree after pro ball ended 3. How the 8 year journey in the minors before getting to the big leagues helped in the process of navigating finding an industry where his interests and skills best aligned in the business world after experience in several industries 4. The risk Jonathan took to get into his current role in a new industry...Jonathan's story shows that persistence is often the key ingredient needed in order to get where we are ultimately trying to get to.
To connect with Jonathan, you can find him on LinkedIn.

2015 Draft Pick by the Chicago White Sox and current pro player Alex Katz shares from his journey on the field and how this led to co-founding KD Custom Kicks on Episode 21. Here are the highlights from our conversation...1. How Alex's formal education at St. John's University helped him learn first hand from some of the best in the sports business world 2. What sparked the idea to start KD Custom Kicks with his friend Anthony after playing for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic 3. How the business has allowed him to have a better perspective of his on the field goals 4. How KD Custom Kicks was able to help David Wright be sent off in style in the last games of his big league career...Alex's story shows what can happen through the power of a team when complementary skills come together on and off the field. To follow Alex on Instagram and Twitter, his handle on both is @kittyelgato12. To follow KD Custom Kicks, the handle on both is @kdcustomkicks. To visit their website, go to kdcustomkicks.com.

Dugout Mugs Founder and Managing Partner Randall Thompson shares his story of going from preferred walk on in college to playing pro ball in the Blue Jays organization and eventually starting the business after playing on Episode 20. Here are the highlights from our conversation...1. How the beginnings in pro ball and entrepreneurship often parallel 2. What happened while coaching college ball that planted the seed to what eventually became Dugout Mugs 3. How the growth of the business has fueled being able to license with MLB to be in 25 big league stadiums and also licensing with MiLB 4. Why finding a business partner at the beginning has continually challenged Randall to step outside his comfort zone 5. What the Dugout Mug effect is...The Dugout Mugs story once again affirms baseball can be the stepping stone to success beyond the game. To connect with Randall you can find him on LinkedIn. To learn more about Dugout Mugs, visit them on Instagram @dugoutmugs or visit their website at dugoutmugs.com.

2016 2nd Round Draft Pick and current minor leaguer Logan Ice shares from his journey of playing at Oregon State and pro ball in the Indians organization on Episode 19. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...1. How Logan went all out to earn a scholarship offer from Oregon State 2. Logan's experience as a three year starter at national powerhouse Oregon State 3. Logan's thoughts for current college players with the draft only a few weeks away 4. Why Logan is one of 200+ pro players that has become a part of Pando...Logan's story gives a fresh perspective of the grind that pro ball is and the hard work its taken to earn this opportunity. To connect with Logan, you can find him on LinkedIn. To follow his journey in pro ball, follow him on Instagram @loganice03 or @loganice33 on Twitter.

North America Brand Manager of Nike Baseball and Softball Ryan Sudenga shares how playing and coaching college baseball built a foundation for success in business on Episode 18. Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation...1. What led Ryan to pivot out of coaching college baseball to pursue working in the sporting goods industry 2. How Ryan used the skills he developed coaching baseball players in the retail environment leading storefronts for Nike in several locations across the country 3. The move Ryan made that positioned him to earn an opportunity to work at Nike's world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon 4. Ryan's advice for anyone wanting to get into the business world within sports...Ryan's story will resonate because it gives an inside look at what it takes to move around the bases within a world class organization. Whether you are still playing or on the other side, there are many principles that can be taken away and applied in your life. To connect with Ryan, you can find him on LinkedIn.

Baseballism CEO and Co-Founder Travis Chock shares how playing in college led to building what has become an eight figure business with several of his former teammates on Episode 17. Here are a few of the many highlights from our conversation...1. What Baseballism originally was and how it evolved into the apparel company it is today 2. Why Travis' lack of a business degree as a teacher and coach was not a reason he avoided diving into entrepreneurship 3. How Baseballism has grown from an apparel company started in a garage to doing nearly $15 MM in revenue in 2018 with storefronts across the country 4. Why Travis believes living as if there is something to lose before you have it can be the difference between reaching goals and coming up short in baseball and business 5. A brand new announcement by Travis sharing where their next storefront will be opening later this year...This episode is packed with tips and ideas for anyone seeking ways to fully leverage their experiences on the field. The Baseballism story is one that affirms baseball can be the foundation on which everything off the field is built upon. Many of us know the Baseballism brand but through this behind the scenes look will be able to better appreciate what is behind the name. To learn more about Baseball is, visit their website at baseballism.com.

Former college player Brad Marshall shares from playing two sports in college along with getting his undergrad and graduate degree before taking these experiences into the real world working with athletes in Episode 16. Here are a few of the key points we discussed...1. How a mentorship in college with a professor helped pave the path to going to grad school for sports psychology 2. Brad's experiences and process to help athletes and active military to maximize their performance 3. Why asking the right questions is the best way to build trust and how he does this working with teams at FOCUS Unlimited 4. How crossfit has not only allowed him to continue to compete but open doors in business...Brad's experiences as an athlete, student and business professional are all working together in his day to day and is a great example of how to take the investment of what was been done to create wins wherever you're at today. To connect with Brad, you can connect with him on LinkedIn. To learn more about FOCUS Unltd.com, visit their website at focusunltd.com.

Former college player and Founder of Baseball and Business Luke Melms shares what it takes to go about building a network in business the right way. It's no secret that winning in baseball requires a team. However it isn't as obvious in business how to surround yourself with the right people to build a powerful business network. On Episode 15, he shares his best tips on how to focus on this important topic. Here are a few of the key points covered...1. How to put "currency" in the pockets of those in your existing network and new business professionals you meet 2. Ideas to network by having fun versus it being an awkward and forced encounter with strangers 3. How to leverage the emotional connection with those who went to the same high school or college 4. The three types of people that are essential to having in your network to grow professionally long term...Baseball and Business was created to be a vehicle to help connect people and ideas. This episode will give you practical ways to meet the types of people you want to encounter in your day to day.

Former player Patrick Jones shares from his journey playing at Xavier University along with how he's blended coaching and business together in Episode 14. Patrick's story has a repeating common thread that shows what can happen when you aren't left wondering "What if...?". Here are a few of the topics we touched on during our conversation...⚾How a last minute decision led to playing at Xavier University on scholarship ⚾ Why he decided to start his own business as a hitting coach versus continuing to coach in the traditional team environment ⚾Patrick's thoughts for anyone who is wondering where to start when they know where they want to get to but aren't sure how to begin ⚾ The power of social media within coaching and how he's leveraged it in getting his podcast to over 100 episodes that includes current and former big leaguers, coaches, front office executives and others...Patrick's journey shows how baseball and business can be brought together as a coach. There's many paths to success beyond playing and is a great example for those wanting to stay directly tied to the game to hear from.

Former player Matt Phillips shares from his journey playing at Creighton University and professionally overseas in addition to his experiences in Corporate America and starting his own business in Episode 13. Matt's story shows that taking risks are the only way to win in baseball and business. Here are a few of the topics we touched on during our conversation...⚾How he took an unconventional route to playing D1 baseball ⚾Why he rolled the dice to move to Switzerland while working in Corporate America ⚾How Matt started his career working for a Big 4 firm and eventually started his own company Pro Athlete Advantage down the road ⚾What his training squads are doing to push those in business to new levels through training the mind and body in the context of a team... Matt's journey demonstrates the power of stepping outside of the comfort zone time and time again. This regular experience in baseball is an advantage we as athletes can carry over into business to gain an edge against those we compete against in business. To learn more about Matt and his business, go to proathleteadvantage.com.

Current pro player Matt Sergey shares from his journey heading into a new season along with how he's made money beyond the field on Episode 12. Matt originally was drafted of high school by the Brewers in 2007 before going off to play in college. Post college, he has played affiliated minor league ball and indy ball. Here are a few of the topics we touched on during our conversation... ⚾ How an arm injury in college completely changed Matt's perspective on playing ⚾ Why he created a company, Deviate Existence, while playing ⚾ How Matt has turned a passion off the field into an income stream to supplement what he makes playing ⚾ The importance of not going at building a business alone...Matt's story demonstrates what is possible when you decide to just start. Nothing of significance happens overnight in baseball or business. This reality on the field hardwires us as players to be better equipped to create success in business as a result.

Current pro player Pat Biondi shares from his journey heading into his 7th season playing in the Mets organization on Episode 11. Pat was drafted in 2013 by the Mets out of the University of Michigan and reached AAA in 2018. Here are a few of the topics we touched on during our conversation... ⚾ The perspective playing minor league baseball has developed both on and off the field ⚾ Why he created a lifestyle brand, The Elevate Movement, to unify and create positive change ⚾ How baseball players can find a way to clear their mind off the field to improve their performance on the field ⚾ How Pat focuses on cutting off negative emotions to win the mental side within baseball, business and life... Pat's story demonstrates what it looks like to have healthy boundaries in baseball, business and life as a whole. As Pat describes, he feels baseball mirrors life better than any sport. You can follow Pat on Instagram @patbiondi5 or visit his website at TheElevateMovement.com.

Former big leaguer Brendan Harris shares from his 15 year pro ball career and transition after the game on Episode 10. Brendan currently works for the Los Angeles Angels in player development and pro scouting and has worked for Seventy Six Capital in their Athlete Venture Group. Here's a few of the topics we touched on during our conversation...⚾The experience of playing in Game 163 and the postseason ⚾Going back to school after finishing on the field to get an MBA at The Wharton School ⚾Brendan's advice on networking and building relationships for both current and former players ⚾Why Brendan believes being a baseball player extends well beyond wearing the jersey...Brendan has been a student of the game and business which is why he's found success as a player and after. His experiences on the field became a spring board to everything he's gone on to do between getting his MBA and working for the Angels and Seventy Six Capital. To connect with Brendan, you can find him on LinkedIn.

2005 7th Round Draft Pick Brandon Roberts shares from his seven year minor league career and seven years in business full time on Episode 9. Brandon is currently a Sr. Director of Global Sales Operations at MINDBODY after being promoted six times since starting. Here's some of what you'll hear by tuning into this episode... ⚾ Brandon's pro ball story playing through AAA and how multiple injuries made him realize baseball is only a chapter of life ⚾ How Brandon finished his undergrad degree during the offseason and started an MBA program while playing pro ball ⚾ The story of landing a part-time sales job with MINDBODY during the 2011-12 offseason ⚾ The three success principles pro ball taught him to carry into business...These practical tips have been the foundation to how he has earned six promotions with a growing company that was just acquired for nearly $2 billion. Brandon's lowest career average at any level was .284 (AA) and had an overall career .293 average in pro ball. I know you are going to enjoy listening to how he's unlocked success in both baseball and business. To connect with Brandon, visit him on LinkedIn.

Former D1 player and current college coach Lou Bernardi is our featured guest on Episode 8. In addition to coaching, Lou serves on the Board of Directors for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award and Foundation. He shared the history of the award and how MLB players are using their platform to give back to those who have served our country along with their families. Now in his ninth year coaching, he shares his story of choosing between coaching and getting a "regular job" after transitioning out of playing. He also gives his advice for anyone aspiring to get into coaching. This episode is packed with a lot of takeaways from one of the most interesting coaches in college baseball. To learn more about the Act of Valor Award and Foundation, go to actofvaloraward.org.

Former college baseball player Jim Cavale shares from his experience as a successful entrepreneur on Episode 7. He is a 3-Time INC. 5000 Entrepreneur, an annual award that INC. Magazine reserves for America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies. He is currently running his fourth company, Influencer. The company serves sports team brands by aggregating their internally-produced content and their current player, coach, recruit and former player social media channels. He shares why he started the company, how he sees opportunities for current players to maximize their time while on the field along with the importance of building a complete team to win in entrepreneurship. This episode is filled with a lot of takeaways. To learn more about Jim, go to JimCavale.com. To learn more about Baseball and Business, visit our website at BaseballandBusiness.com or our Instagram page @baseballandbusiness.

Former Stanford Cardinal and St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer Andrew Summerville joined us on Episode 6 to share from both his journey in baseball and business. Here’s some of what you’ll hear by tuning into this episode… 1. How Andrew was able to leverage his on the field experience to get business experience while playing in the Cardinals organization 2. The transition to working for Pando full time after retiring recently due to injuries 3. How Pando has de-risked the careers of 150+ pro baseball players Andrew has a unique story that is valuable to players at any stage in their baseball or business career. Baseball and Business empowers current and former pro and college baseball players to win on the field and in business. To learn more about Baseball and Business, visit our website at BaseballandBusiness.com.

We dive into leveraging the platform that is LinkedIn. While most episodes will have a featured guest, there will be weeks where we hit on a specific topic that is actionable. Episode 5 covers two aspects of LinkedIn... 1. The basics of creating and maximizing your LinkedIn profile 2. A proven method to building and growing your network with business professionals you want to get to know

Former college player Mike Karpinski shares from his journey of turning success on the field into success in business which includes reaching the six figure mark by age 24. Here are the highlights from our conversation... ⚾The challenges of figuring out if the first job after graduation was the right fit long term ⚾Learning the IT industry within a sales capacity ⚾His advice on finding long term success in business

Former St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer Jake Gronsky comes on the podcast to share how baseball being a game of delayed gratification prepared him for playing the long game as a writer. Here are a few of the highlights...Jake talks about how a broken bone by a hit by pitch in the minors led to building a relationship that would come full circle after the game, how publishing A Short Season opened the door to partner with David Eckstein to be currently writing his memoir and why Jake believes passion isn't something anyone should blindly follow.

Former New York Mets minor leaguer Jeremy Wolf shares from realizing his dream of being drafted along with his journey in the minors. Due to some unique circumstances that included a career ending injury, he felt compelled to create More Than Baseball. It is an organization designed to help make sure minor league players have basic necessities. His vision is to see minor leaguers play the game without worrying about needs such as equipment among others. Tune in to this great episode with our first of many guests.

On Episode 1, we dive into four main questions...... 1. Who is Baseball and Business for? 2. What does Baseball and Business do? 3. What are guys getting out of being involved with the network? 4. What will the podcast be about going forward? We are excited about the future of the network and this podcast. The guests that will be coming on have a lot to share from their journey in baseball and business. To learn more about Baseball and Business, go to our website at BaseballandBusiness.com or on Instagram @baseballandbusiness.