Chasing Baseball Dreams

Bobby Minor
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Parenting

You're spending thousands a year on travel baseball. A better team. A bigger showcase. More lessons. A higher ranking. And you still have no way to know if any of it is actually working. ⠀ That's not an accident. That's the machine. ⠀ Chasing Baseball Dreams is the only baseball parent podcast hosted by someone with no financial stake in where your money goes. I don't run a travel team. I don't sell lessons. I don't coach for an org. I have no reason to steer you in the wrong direction. I'm Bobby Minor... former Division 1 player, 35+ years coaching select baseball and high school, former travel organization director, over 1,000 college recruiting assessments, and a college baseball dad who almost lost 2 sons to this game for 2 very different reasons, with one currently playing college baseball. ⠀ Every episode, I sit down with former Major League players, college coaches, scouts, and baseball dads who've lived through the same grind you're in right now. People who've been inside this industry long enough to tell you the truth about how it actually works. ⠀ Here's what you can expect. ⠀ Real conversations about what actually matters at each age from 8U to signing day. The questions you should be asking before you commit to a team, a coach, or a showcase. The stuff the industry doesn't want you to hear, from people who've been inside it long enough to say it out loud. And the truth about recruiting, development, and where your money is actually going. ⠀ No hype. No recruiting promises. No "get your son seen" nonsense. Just the one voice in this space with full-stack credibility and no financial tie to the machine that's taking your money. ⠀ New episodes weekly. Follow @chasingbaseballdreams on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for daily content between episodes.

  1. 11h ago

    Episode #29 Savannah Bananas' Coach RAC | Should You Miss Church for Travel Baseball?

    Your son's team plays tournaments on Sundays. Your family wants to be in church. And you're worried that missing games could cost him playing time or put him behind. How do you handle that? Savannah Bananas star RobertAnthony Cruz, better known as Coach RAC, joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for a conversation about faith, family, and the decisions baseball parents face. Coach RAC shares his journey from UC Riverside to the Washington Nationals, the heartbreak of being released from professional baseball, and how his faith helped him find purpose beyond the game. We also talk about Sandlot Revival, the faith-based movement that grew from a Savannah Bananas team Bible study into worship nights in more than 20 cities. In this episode we cover: Whether missing Sunday tournament games really puts your son behindHow Christian parents can handle the conflict between church and travel baseballWhat conversations parents should have with coaches before committing to a teamPractical ways families can maintain their faith and church community during a busy baseball seasonHow parents sometimes make their sons feel like their love depends on baseball performanceWhat Coach RAC learned about identity and faith after being released by the Washington NationalsHow Sandlot Revival started and the impact it's having across the countryWhy Coach RAC believes developing your son's character matters more than his baseball careerCoach RAC also shares his personal testimony, what fatherhood has taught him, and why his biggest accomplishments on the baseball field don't compare to what matters most in his life. Whether you're a Christian family struggling with Sunday tournaments or a parent trying to keep baseball in perspective, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before your next season. 🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor ⚾ Guest: Coach RAC (@coach.rac) 🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with players, coaches, and baseball people who can help you think through the decisions you're making for your son. #ChasingBaseballDreams #CoachRAC #SavannahBananas #TravelBaseball #FaithAndBaseball

  2. 11h ago

    Episode #28 90% Development, 10% Games? | Team Moms' Will Armijo on Travel Baseball

    Six games in three days. That's the kind of schedule that makes Will Armijo question what we're doing in youth baseball. Will believes youth baseball should be 90% focused on development and only 10% on playing games. That's a pretty strong opinion coming from someone who runs a baseball academy. Will is a former Division II pitcher at Grand Canyon University who went through Tommy John surgery and some serious setbacks during his playing career. Today, he's the CEO and co-founder of Legendary Prep Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, which was featured on the Paramount+ reality series Team Moms: Baseball. In this episode we cover: Why Will believes young players are playing too many games and spending too little time developingThe D1 obsession and why a bigger-name college isn't always the better opportunityWhat parents misunderstand about 13U and 14U rankings and predicting college baseball potentialReclassifying young players and whether an extra year actually helpsThe injury concerns that come with heavy tournament schedules and inadequate recoveryHow parents can measure whether the money they're spending is actually helping their son improveWhat Will has learned about parents, playing-time complaints, and the pressure placed on young athletesWill also shares what it was like growing up playing baseball in New Mexico, including a high school coach who told him he'd never be good enough to play beyond high school. If you're spending thousands on travel baseball, considering a prep academy, or wondering whether your son needs to play more games to keep up, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before making your next decision. 🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor ⚾ Guest: Will Armijo, CEO & Co-Founder of Legendary Prep Academy 🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast Subscribe to Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts for more conversations about the decisions baseball parents face. #ChasingBaseballDreams #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents

  3. 11h ago

    Episode #27 Ty Buttrey | He Got Cut From Travel Ball, Made MLB, Then Walked Away

    Ty Buttrey got cut from a travel baseball team, was sent down to JV in high school, and still became a fourth-round draft pick who made it to the big leagues. Then, in 2021, he walked away from baseball. What surprised me most during our conversation was hearing Ty admit that he never really loved pitching, even though he loved playing baseball. Ty spent years battling performance anxiety, struggling with his mechanics, and pushing himself to get better. He eventually reached the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Angels, but getting there didn't make those struggles disappear. In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Ty and I talk about his journey from getting cut to pitching in the big leagues, what he learned about himself along the way, and what baseball parents can take from his experience. In this episode we cover: How Ty went from getting cut and being sent down to JV to becoming a fourth-round draft pickWhy the wrong training program caused him to lose velocity early in his professional career, according to Ty, and what he changedWhy Ty believes the mental side of pitching accounts for as much as 70% of successWhat parents should look for when choosing a pitching instructor, hitting coach, or personal trainerWhy being one of the best players at 12U or 13U doesn't tell you how good that player will be years laterHow the pressure to prove other people wrong contributed to Ty's performance anxietyWhy Ty believes American youth baseball spends too much time playing tournaments and too little time developing skillsWhat he wishes he'd done differently growing up, and his advice to parents about pushing their sons without belittling themWhy parents of 12- and 13-year-olds should think carefully before chasing social media attention and NIL opportunitiesOne of the most interesting parts of our conversation came when Ty talked about how much he loved playing baseball but never really enjoyed the part of the game that became his profession. He also shares what parents should pay attention to when their sons start putting too much pressure on themselves, and why he'd encourage parents to help their sons develop interests outside of baseball. If you're a baseball parent with a son who's serious about playing at the next level, this is a conversation worth hearing. Especially if you're trying to figure out how hard to push him, what kind of training he needs, and whether he's still enjoying the game. 🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor ⚾ Guest: Ty Buttrey, Former MLB Pitcher | Los Angeles Angels 🎧 Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast Subscribe for more conversations with former Major Leaguers, professional coaches, and people who've lived the game, with lessons that can help you make better baseball decisions for your son. #BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #TravelBaseball

  4. 11h ago

    Episode #26 Corey Hart | He Coached Vlad Jr. and Yelich. Here's What Parents Get Wrong About Hitting

    Your son looks great hitting in the cage. Then he gets into a game and can't buy a hit. So what's the answer? More hitting lessons? Change his swing? Find a different instructor? Corey Hart spent 18 years coaching professional hitters in the Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins, and Toronto Blue Jays organizations. He's worked with hitters like Christian Yelich and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and he's now an assistant softball coach at Syracuse University. In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Corey and I talk about what parents need to understand before spending more money on hitting instruction. We get into the mental side of hitting, what separates good hitters from great ones, and why some of the advice parents give from the stands might be making things harder for their sons. In this episode we cover: Why a good-looking swing in the cage doesn't always translate into success during gamesHow to tell whether your son's hitting instructor is actually helping him, beyond his batting averageWhat Corey saw in Christian Yelich and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that made them such special hittersWhy getting hitting advice from multiple coaches can leave a young player confusedThe mechanical advice Corey wishes parents would stop yelling during at-batsHow one simple hitting drill helped Martín Maldonado make an adjustment in the minor leaguesWhen hitting lessons make sense for younger players and why Corey believes mindset is just as important as mechanicsWhy Corey would rather send his sons to the right college camp than spend money on showcases hoping they'll get discoveredCorey also shares what he believes separates players who eventually reach the big leagues from those with similar talent who never get there. If you're a baseball parent spending money on hitting lessons, this conversation will give you a better idea of what to look for in an instructor and what actual progress should look like. And the next time your son steps into the batter's box, you might want to think twice before yelling another swing tip. 🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor ⚾ Guest: Corey Hart, Former Professional Hitting Coach | Syracuse University Softball 🎧 Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast Subscribe for more conversations with former Major Leaguers, professional coaches, and people who've lived the game, with lessons that can help you make better baseball decisions for your son. #BaseballParents #YouthBaseball #HittingLessons

  5. 4d ago

    Episode #25 Coach Ferber | What Baseball Parents Get Wrong About Travel Ball, Rankings & Development

    Are baseball parents spending thousands of dollars on travel teams, national rankings, and private lessons without knowing whether any of it is actually helping their son? Coach Jason Ferber, better known as Coach Ferber on Instagram, joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for a conversation every travel baseball parent needs to hear. A former San Diego Padres scout who has worked with some of the country's top young baseball players, Coach Ferber shares what he's learned about player development, youth baseball rankings, recruiting, and the decisions parents face as their sons grow in the game. We get into why he thinks cutting 6U and 7U players is ridiculous, what parents should investigate before joining an expensive national team, and why locking a 9-year-old into one position can hurt his long-term development. He also shares the story of an overlooked young player who became one of the country's top prospects, explains what separates a good hitting instructor from someone who's just selling a swing philosophy, and gives parents practical advice on finding the right coach. And when it comes to college recruiting, Coach Ferber explains why he'd start with local college programs before spending thousands chasing exposure across the country. In this episode: Why early baseball rankings tell you very little about a player's futureThe problem with national travel teams for 8U, 9U, and 10U playersWhat to ask a travel baseball coach before committingWhy young players need multiple positions and other sportsHow to recognize a coach who's developing playersRed flags to watch for with private hitting instructorsWhat college coaches actually evaluate during recruitingWhen a player needs more exposure and when he needs to improveWhat Coach Ferber would prioritize for his own 10-year-old sonEpisode Chapters 00:00 Meet Coach Jason Ferber 02:10 Why you can't predict a player's future at 12U 07:09 The danger of playing only one position 12:08 National teams for 8U and 9U players 14:04 What young players lose without pickup games 16:24 Coach Ferber's take on cutting 6U and 7U players 18:38 Why parents need to investigate travel coaches 22:01 Questions to ask before joining a national team 25:17 Do young players really need national exposure? 29:27 Why youth baseball rankings mean so little 33:59 What parents should focus on instead of rankings 35:38 The story of an overlooked top prospect 37:43 Winning tournaments versus developing players 40:17 What good coaches should teach during games 44:26 How to evaluate a private hitting instructor 49:46 The question to ask before paying for lessons 52:43 Why talented players still need tough coaching 53:59 Tough coaching versus tearing players down 57:16 College recruiting: When showcases aren't working 1:00:07 Why recruiting should start close to home 1:02:38 Where he'd spend money on a talented 10-year-old 1:07:07 The biggest mistake well-intentioned parents make 1:11:07 Bobby's experience with his son Julian 1:12:21 Where to follow Coach Ferber Follow Coach Ferber: Instagram: @coachferber Follow Chasing Baseball Dreams: Instagram: @chasingbaseballdreams If you're a baseball parent trying to make the best decisions for your son, subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for conversations with experienced coaches, former Major Leaguers, and people who know what it takes to develop baseball players. #TravelBaseball #YouthBaseball #BaseballParents #PlayerDevelopment #CoachFerber

  6. 4d ago

    Episode #24 No. 1 in Texas | What Landon Bonner’s Dad Would Do Differently

    Landon Bonner is committed to the University of Oklahoma and ranked No. 1 overall in Texas and No. 11 nationally by Perfect Game for the 2028 class. His dad, Marcus, will still tell you they spent money chasing exposure before Landon needed it. Some of that money would’ve been better spent helping him get better.    In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Marcus and I talk about what he’d do differently if Landon were 10 again. We also get into the college decision. Oklahoma wasn’t initially in Landon’s top five, and Marcus explains what the coaches showed their family that set OU apart from the other schools they spoke with.   In this episode we cover:  - The money Marcus would rethink spending on showcases and exposure at 10, 11, and 12.   - What made hitting instruction worth paying for, and why going to another lesson wasn’t always the answer.   - When they started focusing on recruiting and how much Marcus thinks Perfect Game rankings factored into the interest Landon received.   - Why the Bonners looked back five years to see how many freshmen each program actually played.   - How NIL factored into the decision without becoming more important than an opportunity to get on the field.- The two years of Landon’s ABs Oklahoma’s coaches broke down and the development plan they laid out for him.   - What Marcus would change about the car ride home after a bad game, and how he learned to let Landon come to him.  Before you follow another family’s recruiting plan, hear what this family would change about its own.  🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor   ⚾ Guest: Marcus Bonner, father of Oklahoma commit Landon Bonner   🎧 Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast  Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms. Subscribe for more conversations about the decisions you’re making for your son.   #ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #CollegeBaseballRecruiting #TravelBaseball #LandonBonner

  7. 6d ago

    Episode #23 Team Moms | Joey & Trina Taylor Respond to the Backlash

    Episode description   Joey and Trina Taylor have an answer for people who watched 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐬 and decided they weren’t real baseball parents. The couple joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast to talk about the criticism and the years at the ballpark that came before reality TV. They also explain why they think the show portrayed them accurately, even though viewers didn’t see the whole story.   The Taylors get into the cast drama, including the confrontation Joey says never aired. They also walk through some big decisions for their family. Trina explains how their daughter’s dance opportunities factored into the Arizona move, and both parents share what they’re learning as Jett takes more responsibility for his baseball development.    In this episode we cover:  - Is Team Moms scripted? What Joey and Trina say about the drama and the editing  - Nina’s barbecue and why the singing at the field upset them  - How they’ve tried to keep disagreements between parents from affecting the boys  - Jett’s regional championship home run and what reaching Williamsport meant to their family  - Why Joey challenges the comparison between local Little League teams and national travel rosters  - Their move from Washington to Arizona and why they chose Legendary Prep Academy  - Watching for burnout, letting Jett own his development, and handling struggles against older players  For a parent wondering how hard to push, there’s a moment worth hearing: Joey describes Jett going outside to hit without being asked and without filming it. Trina is seeing him take more interest in his nutrition. They explain what those choices tell them while keeping the conversation open about needing a break. 🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor   ⚾ Guests: Joey and Trina Taylor from 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐬   🔔 Subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for conversations that help baseball parents think through the decisions they’re making for their sons.  Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms.   #TeamMoms #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball #LittleLeague #ChasingBaseballDreams

  8. Oct 1

    Episode #22 Jorden Hussein | Stop Chasing the “Right” Baseball Path | JUCO, Indie Ball & Banana Ball

    Texas Tailgators shortstop Jorden Hussein never planned on playing Banana Ball. His path went from North Shore High School in Houston to Crowder College, Division I baseball at Little Rock, two seasons of independent ball, the Party Animals, and now the Texas Tailgators. At several points, the next opportunity looked nothing like what he originally pictured. That’s exactly why I wanted him on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast. Jorden talks about why he chose JUCO when he had a Division I opportunity, why parents need to be realistic about where their son actually is as a player, and what his own parents got right throughout his baseball career. He also gives one of the better analogies I’ve heard about what a player needs from his dad after a bad game. We also get into Banana Ball. Is the baseball real? Are the games scripted? And after playing inside it, does Jorden believe Banana Ball is actually here to stay? His answer might surprise some traditional baseball people. In this episode we cover: Why Jorden chose JUCO instead of going Division I right awayWhat parents should look at beyond the school name and divisionThe reality check he thinks more baseball parents need about their sonWhat each jump in competition exposed about his own gameWhat his parents did when he struggledWhat NOT to do on the car ride home after your son goes 0-for-4How a phone call he almost turned down led him to Banana BallWhether Banana Ball is scripted and how competitive the games really areWhy he believes Banana Ball is here to stayWhat Banana Ball taught him about slowing the game down defensivelyWhy parents should stop obsessing over statisticsWhat he wishes he could tell his high school selfJorden’s path is a good reminder for baseball parents: your son’s best opportunity may not have the name, logo, division, or path you pictured. Pay attention to where he can play, where he can get better, and where people genuinely want him. 🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor ⚾ Guest: Jorden Hussein, Texas Tailgators shortstop 🎧 Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast Subscribe for conversations with players, coaches and baseball people who can help parents think more clearly about the decisions they’re making for their sons. #ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #BananaBall

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

You're spending thousands a year on travel baseball. A better team. A bigger showcase. More lessons. A higher ranking. And you still have no way to know if any of it is actually working. ⠀ That's not an accident. That's the machine. ⠀ Chasing Baseball Dreams is the only baseball parent podcast hosted by someone with no financial stake in where your money goes. I don't run a travel team. I don't sell lessons. I don't coach for an org. I have no reason to steer you in the wrong direction. I'm Bobby Minor... former Division 1 player, 35+ years coaching select baseball and high school, former travel organization director, over 1,000 college recruiting assessments, and a college baseball dad who almost lost 2 sons to this game for 2 very different reasons, with one currently playing college baseball. ⠀ Every episode, I sit down with former Major League players, college coaches, scouts, and baseball dads who've lived through the same grind you're in right now. People who've been inside this industry long enough to tell you the truth about how it actually works. ⠀ Here's what you can expect. ⠀ Real conversations about what actually matters at each age from 8U to signing day. The questions you should be asking before you commit to a team, a coach, or a showcase. The stuff the industry doesn't want you to hear, from people who've been inside it long enough to say it out loud. And the truth about recruiting, development, and where your money is actually going. ⠀ No hype. No recruiting promises. No "get your son seen" nonsense. Just the one voice in this space with full-stack credibility and no financial tie to the machine that's taking your money. ⠀ New episodes weekly. Follow @chasingbaseballdreams on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for daily content between episodes.

Information

  • Creator
    Bobby Minor
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bobby Minor

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