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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!

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All Episodes

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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45:32

Chris Roycroft's Journey to the Majors | Keep...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/09

On this episode of Keep Klimbing, Brett Graves is joined by Chris Roycroft, bullpen pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, to talk about his journey to the Major Leagues. Chris walks through his path from high school baseball to Aurora College, and the development process that helped him continue to climb levels and earn his opportunity at the highest level of the game. Together, Brett and Chris discuss what growth really looks like for pitchers who may not follow the traditional or expected path

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56:58

Youth Baseball Health Check: Inside the Rawlings...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/07

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’re joined by the Rawlings Tigers, sitting down with Aaron Jaworowski, President & Founder, and David Birkby, General Manager, to discuss what development and training actually mean for young players. We dive into realistic expectations across age groups, including conversations around what proper

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49:39

Developing a Winning Culture at the D2 Level w/...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/06

On this episode of Baseball 101, host Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins sits down with Tim Gurnow, Head Coach of the McKendree University Bearcats Baseball, to unpack what it takes to build and sustain a winning culture at the Division II level of college baseball.Coach Gurnow brings firsthand experience leading the Bearcats — a program in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference — and discusses how the right culture impacts recruiting, year-round training, practice planning, and overall

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58:22

The KC Suburban Effect: Missouri & Kansas Baseball...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/05

We have Andy Urban of Prep Baseball joining the show this week along with Staley Head Coach Dionandre Josenberger as we head to Kansas City for a weekend of baseball. We break down players to watch for the upcoming season and get Andy’s take on some of the top teams in the KC area. We also expand the conversation to the Kansas side of the state, highlighting top players and programs that continue to make the KC region one of the strongest baseball hotbeds in the Midwest. On the Missouri side, the

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80:56

From the Big Leagues Back Home: Nate Orf on Player...

YBMcast ·

2026/02/04

We have Nate Orf, former Francis Howell standout who played professionally with the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics, joining us on the show. After his time in professional baseball, Nate returned to his hometown to work with youth athletes, bringing his baseball journey full circle.Joined by Kevin Moulder of Prep Baseball, we talk with Nate about his path through the game and how those experiences now shape the way he views player development. The development process can be a tricky one, and

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533 results

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