x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

YBMcast

YBM brings the experience of top baseball Coaches, Club Directors, Youth Instructors, and Prep Scouting in the Midwest. For the most comprehensive Youth and Prep Baseball talk. We want to become your source for news, commentary, and perspective. Not to mention our live stream of Game 7 Championship games, the GAC game of the week, local community events, and PBR Missouri Showcase events.Subscribe to the Midwest Report and YBMcast Today!

sports baseball

All Episodes

55:57

Youth Baseball Health Check: Inside Legacy...

YBMcast ·

2026/03/07

This marks the third and final Youth Baseball Health Check of the season here on Youth Baseball Midwest. We visited Legacy Performance Academy to sit down with Josh Kranawetter, Youth Baseball Coordinator, and Mike Ott, Founder and Owner of Legacy Performance Academy, to continue our conversation about the overall health of youth baseball. We like to talk baseball, so we decided to do a health check on the state of youth baseball — focusing on the 7U to 14U age groups as we head into another spring

en

60:36

Pitching Development at the Youth & High School Level...

YBMcast ·

2026/03/06

On this episode of Baseball 101, host Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins sits down with Andy Marks of Mach 1 Baseball to talk about pitching development at both the youth and high school levels. From early fundamentals to advanced preparation, Andy shares insight into what proper pitching development should look like as athletes progress through the game. The conversation focuses on building a strong foundation, understanding how development evolves as players mature physically, and avoiding common

en

58:17

Illinois High School Teams to Watch in All Classes |...

YBMcast ·

2026/03/05

Dave Wiggins is hosting this episode of Baseball Talk and is joined by Cody Massey, Head Coach at Maryville Christian School and founder of Buzzin' Baseball, along with Diego Solares of Scout Connect. Together they break down high school teams to watch across Illinois for the upcoming season, taking a look at each classification from Class 1A through Class 4A. Illinois baseball continues to produce outstanding programs across the state, and today we take a deeper look at some of the teams that could

en

52:51

Best High School Baseball Rivalries | Baseball Talk |...

YBMcast ·

2026/03/04

We are going to have some fun today with Dave Wiggins Recruits Baseball Director and HC of Principia high school. Do you remember the best rivalries from high school? There is always that one team you remember that we all loved to beat, and they loved to beat you!The St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports just published an article that looked at rivalries and what makes them special and memorable. We are going to break down some of the best baseball rivalries here today and we want you to join in and let us

en

67:12

Are We Really Developing Athletes? | The Hitting Zone...

YBMcast ·

2026/03/03

On today’s episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Hunter Hisky for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about the current state of youth baseball — and whether we are truly developing athletes.Pulling perspective from the opposite end of the state, this episode moves through real questions facing families and programs today:• Do team labels like AA, Major, and AAA really have value?• Does level truly impact development?• Are coaches focused on developing players — or collecting talent

en

47:58

Defining the JUCO Experience Through Development |...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/27

Today’s episode is Part 2 of the crossover conversation between The Hitting Zone and Baseball 101. In this segment, Dave Wiggins has Michael Yeager, Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator at Johnson County Community College, walk the audience through what the JUCO experience truly looks like from the inside. From facilities and expectations to structure and strategy, Coach Yeager defines what development actually means at the junior college level. They break down: • What daily life looks like

en

70:33

YBM Game of the Week 2026 Preview | Baseball Talk |...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/26

We are joined by Kevin Moulder, Scouting Director for Prep Baseball Missouri, and Dave Wiggins (Head Coach at Principia Christian & Recruits Baseball Director) as we discuss the upcoming YBM Game of the Week slate for the 2026 season. As we march toward our YBM Season Opener, we take an early look at players and matchups from around the state and discuss some of the games we’ll be spotlighting throughout the season. We’ll break down the teams we are keeping an eye on, players who could make an

en

63:23

Inside IHSA Baseball & Border Battle Preview |...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/25

oday’s Baseball Talk brings us into Illinois baseball with a special guest from the Illinois High School Association, Associate Executive Director Sam Knox, who oversees baseball for the state. This gives us an opportunity to better understand what goes on behind the scenes and the relationship between the IHSA and your local high school programs. From rules oversight to postseason structure, we take a closer look at how Illinois baseball operates at the highest level. We’re also joined by Diego

en

46:09

Development or Marketing? Are We Measuring the Wrong...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/24

Today’s episode is Part 1 of a crossover conversation between The Hitting Zone and Baseball 101. Mitch Thomas is joined by Dave Wiggins (Host of Baseball 101) and Michael Yeager, Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator at Johnson County Community College, for an honest discussion about what development really looks like in youth baseball. They simplify the conversation down to three core issues: • If development is the goal, why do we measure success by rings and roster size instead of

en

25:28

Showcase Season: Who It’s For & How to Define Success...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/23

This week on Keep Klimbing, Brett Graves visits Premier Pitching’s Fenton, MO location to sit down with Andrew Schwaab, Facility Coordinator, to talk all things showcase season. Showcases are a major part of today’s recruiting landscape — but they aren’t for everyone, and they aren’t one-size-fits-all. In this episode, Brett and Andrew break down: • Who showcase season is truly a good fit for • What real preparation looks like before stepping on the field • The difference between exposure and

en

54:15

Youth Baseball Health Check: Inside Midland Baseball...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/21

We like to talk baseball, so we decided to do a health check on the state of youth baseball — focusing on the 7U to 14U age groups as we head into another spring and summer season. In this episode, we sit down with representatives from the Midland organization, Matt Shadow and Jason Stahl, to discuss what development and training actually mean for young players within a structured club environment. We dive into realistic expectations across age groups, including conversations around what proper

en

66:44

Recapping the Scout Connect Winter Showcase |...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/20

On this episode of Baseball 101, host Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins is joined by Brian French to recap the Scout Connect Winter Showcase that took place this past Saturday. After spending the day evaluating talent, talking with players, and observing the event firsthand, Dave and Brian break down what stood out — from player preparation and performance to the overall environment of the showcase. They discuss: What players did well at the event How athletes can better prepare for showcases The

en

66:55

MOKAN Invitational Recap: Players, Teams & Early...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/19

We have Andy Urban of Prep Baseball joining the show as we take a look at the MOKAN Invitational held a couple weeks ago at Mac N Seitz in Kansas City, MO. We have Andy Urban of Prep Baseball joining the show along with Brian Ash, Head Coach at Southern Boone, as we take a look at the MOKAN Invitational held a couple weeks ago at Mac N Seitz in Kansas City, MO. We watched and spoke with a group of Kansas athletes along with some Missouri athletes that we will see on our 2026 live stream schedule

en

66:33

Road to Opening Day: Rules, Districts & All-State...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/18

We are working our way toward Opening Day 2026, and today we bring together a strong lineup to get you ready for the season. Scott McGee, Head Coach at Willard High School, joins us to talk about that season opener and what it takes to prepare a program for the start of a new year. We are also joined by Daryl Bradley, Assistant Executive Director of MSHSAA, who oversees baseball for the state. We discuss what’s new with rules, potential class movers, and when we can expect to see the official 2026

en

68:05

Who Really Develops the Player? | The Hitting Zone |...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/17

On today’s episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Josh Cathcart of Hitting Done Right for a powerful and honest conversation centered on one big question: Who is truly responsible for developing the player? Is it the travel coach? The hitting instructor? The strength coach? The parent? The high school program? Or the athlete themselves? Mitch and Josh unpack the layers of accountability in modern player development and challenge the idea that growth can be outsourced. They discuss

en

36:07

The Pitch Design Phase: Developmental Fit &...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/16

This week’s episode of Keep Klimbing was filmed at the Premier Pitching Wentzville location, as Brett continues building on the foundation laid in recent episodes — workload balance, velocity phases, pitch arsenal construction, and sequencing — by stepping into the next critical stage of development: The Pitch Design Phase. This episode covers:• Understanding developmental fit — not every pitch fits every arm• Workload-informed timing and when to introduce design phases• Biomechanical determinants

en

50:51

From STL to the Next Level: Pitching Development with...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/13

On this episode of Baseball 101, host Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins is joined by Chad Gendron, whose baseball journey began in St. Louis and extended through the collegiate and professional levels. The conversation starts with Chad’s playing background and the experiences that shaped his understanding of pitching at higher levels of the game. From there, the focus shifts to the present — his work with Elite Pitching Development, where he serves as the Lead Instructor and Director. Together, they

en

60:58

Illinois Baseball & Scout Connect Showcase Preview |...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/12

We are joined today by Diego Solares to talk Illinois baseball and the upcoming Scout Connect Showcase happening this weekend at The Sports Barn in Wood River, IL. Youth Baseball Midwest will be on-site with our cameras as some of the best players in the state take the field — all working to continue developing their skills and grow as athletes. Evaluating players is one of the most difficult jobs in the game. At the end of the day, every coach is looking for one player to fill a specific need on

en

62:24

Around the State: Breaking Down Missouri Scout Days |...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/11

We are taking a little trip around the state with Kevin Moulder, Director of Scouting for Prep Baseball. In this episode, we break down three major Scout Day events:Marucci Midwest in Springfield, MORawlings Tigers in Chesterfield, MOMidland Baseball in O’Fallon, MOEach event gives athletes the opportunity to understand exactly where they are in their development journey. From measurable metrics to on-field evaluations, these showcases provide clarity on what it takes to continue developing the

en

61:00

What Does an Individual Development Plan Really Look...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/10

Stepping back inside The Hitting Zone today is Shane Eames, as he joins Mitch Thomas for a deeper conversation around Individual Development Plans — what they should look like versus what we are currently seeing across youth baseball. Mitch and Shane break down what actually belongs in a meaningful development plan, how it should evolve with the athlete, and why so many plans today miss the mark. They continue to expand on topics they’ve touched on in previous episodes, reinforcing the importance of

en

538 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN