Beyond the Slash Line Tim Heiman

After years of personal off-field issues, Kevin Taylor's great awakening came in independent ball. Given a second chance with a Major League organization, he is determined to prove that he has the mental fortitude to be a committed player and a better teammate.

For the first time in his career, Xorge Carrillo is now the primary catcher at Triple-A, a level where one promotion can be life-changing. Now that close friends he has climbed the ladder with are making it to the Big Leagues, the dream of playing in the Majors feels so close, yet still so far away.

In the summer of 2007, doctors feared Beck Wheeler would never walk again. Ten years later, the righty from SoCal is gearing up for his seventh professional season and knocking on the door of the Big Leagues. Follow along as he gives insight into the rigors of Spring Training, where the food is provided, but the paychecks aren't.

In a span of 13 months, Adam Kolarek was released by the organization that drafted him, signed by his hometown team, plucked away in the Rule 5 draft, and given a Spring Training Major League invite for 2017. Learn about the lefty from Maryland as he follows his passion all while preparing for his upcoming wedding.

Attempting to conquer the Minor League ladder in the New York Mets organization isn't the only thing on Kyle Johnson's plate. He's also a husband, the father of two daughters, and the founder/CEO of a baseball e-commerce website. Johnson describes the challenges of balancing a career, a family, and a business.

Jayce Boyd, an outfielder in the New York Mets organization since 2012, is the first guest on the Beyond the Slash Line Podcast. Boyd shares the story of his upbringing in Florida, his easy decision to attend Florida State University, and the balance he searches for as he continues life in the Minors.