Dugout Dish Baseball Recruiting Podcast powered by EMD Baseball

Many players say they want to play college baseball. Fewer are ready for what the process actually asks of them. In this episode of Dugout Dish, Andy and Keith talk honestly about the difference between truly wanting to play at the next level and liking the idea of it. Recruiting is long, demanding, and full of uncertainty, and opting in means choosing a highly competitive environment that rewards time, patience, and active participation.   What we cover:   The difference between really wanting to play college baseball and thinking you do Why the recruiting process is hard, long, and often anxiety-filled for players and families What it means to opt into one of the most competitive environments in youth sports The time, patience, and active participation it takes to get the most out of the process Why the stress and anxiety never go all the way to zero — even for the families we guide through it How hard it can be to navigate recruiting while still playing at a high level Why staying open to new possibilities can make the difference in where you end up Whether your son is just starting to think about college baseball or is in the middle of the process — this episode is an honest conversation every player and family should have before going all in. New episodes of Dugout Dish drop every week. Subscribe so you never miss recruiting and development intel that could change your player's future. Gloves - www.kaligloves.com Diamond College Showcase Camps - www.diamondcollegeshowcase.com Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction(00:00:19) - Desire vs. Commitment to College Baseball(00:02:25) - Cali Gloves Ad(00:03:19) - Diamond College Showcase Camps Ad(00:04:18) - The Recruiting Process Requires Active Participation(00:06:22) - Casting a Wide Net and Finding the Right Fit(00:07:50) - Facing Anxiety and Committing Fully(00:09:00) - Fear of Failure and Going All In(00:10:06) - Closing and Sign Off

Many families believe strong grades will open the door to high academic baseball programs. Grades help, but you still have to be a good baseball player. In this episode of Dugout Dish, Andy and Keith are joined by Jonathan Grosse of Elite National, who spent five years at Brown University, to talk about what high academic recruiting really looks like — from the limited number of spots coaches can support each year to how rule changes, the transfer portal, and the fifth year of eligibility play out at these schools.   What we cover:   The myth that having good grades will get you recruited — and why you still have to be a good baseball player How competitive the high academic world is for student-athletes Why there are limited spots where coaches can support a student-athlete through admissions Roster construction when a program can only support 6–8 student-athletes a year, and why how you build the roster matters Why recent rule changes have less effect on high academic programs, which do not deal in the transfer portal How leagues like the Ivy League restrict student-athletes to four years How a fifth year of eligibility can help players pursue a graduate degree and give D1 players new options for whatever they choose to do next How a degree from a high academic institution, paired with playing college baseball, can change your life and put you on a different trajectory after graduation Whether your son is targeting the Ivy League, the Patriot League, or top academic D3 programs — this episode gives you an insider’s view of how high academic baseball recruiting really works. New episodes of Dugout Dish drop every week. Subscribe so you never miss recruiting and development intel that could change your player's future. Gloves - www.kaligloves.com Diamond College Showcase Camps - www.diamondcollegeshowcase.com Chapters (00:00:09) - Introduction and Guest Welcome(00:01:05) - Defining High Academic Baseball(00:03:49) - Myth: Good Grades Alone Get You In(00:09:35) - Admission Standards Vary by School(00:12:20) - Understanding the Academic Index (and Why Not to Obsess)(00:16:35) - Why Fit Changes Year to Year(00:18:44) - Sponsor: Cali Gloves(00:19:54) - Roster Construction and Limited Admission Spots(00:23:06) - No Flexibility: Positional Roster Planning(00:26:50) - Transfers, Attrition, and Roster Rigidity(00:27:54) - Value of Getting In On Your Own(00:30:55) - Division 3 Late Bloomers and Development(00:34:13) - Sponsor: Diamond College Showcase(00:35:34) - Applying Broadly and Late Recruiting Opportunities(00:37:33) - Impact of NIL and Transfer Portal on High Academic Schools(00:39:14) - The New Five-for-Five Rule and Grad School Opportunities(00:43:39) - Player Paths After Ivy League Eligibility(00:46:30) - Division 3 Five-Year Master's Programs(00:49:26) - Value of the Degree vs Perceived Baseball Level(00:52:11) - Alumni Networks and Life-Changing Outcomes(00:59:49) - Closing Thoughts and Advice for Families(01:04:53) - Outro and Sign-Off

Getting a commitment from a college coach is a huge milestone, but it is not the finish line. Every committed player still has to officially apply to the school, and the admissions process deserves the same attention as the recruiting process that got you there. In this episode of Dugout Dish, Andy and Keith cover what committed players need to have in place with ED 1 and ED 2 deadlines approaching, what else may be required for regular decision, and the mistakes that can put a commitment at risk.   What we cover:   Why every committed player still has to officially apply to the school after committing What you need for the admissions process with ED 1 and ED 2 deadlines approaching What else you might need if you are applying regular decision Why getting your application in by the deadline is non-negotiable Making sure your supporting documents are being submitted and received on time Why you cannot mail in the essay or the other questions on the application — admissions is reading them Taking the application process as seriously as you took the recruiting process Whether your son just committed or is finalizing his decision — this episode makes sure the hard work of recruiting is not undone by a rushed or late application.   New episodes of Dugout Dish drop every week. Subscribe so you never miss recruiting and development intel that could change your player's future. Gloves - www.kaligloves.com Diamond College Showcase Camps - www.diamondcollegeshowcase.com Chapters (00:00:02) - Sponsor: Cali Gloves(00:00:57) - Intro and Technical Difficulties(00:02:01) - College Application Deadlines for Committed Athletes(00:03:33) - Completing Applications Properly(00:05:09) - Sponsor: Diamond College Showcase(00:06:10) - Maintaining Grades and Doing Your Part(00:08:14) - Final Advice on Deadlines(00:09:15) - Outro and Sign-off

The recruits who give the best account of themselves next spring and summer are the ones who use the next eight months well. In this episode of Dugout Dish, Andy and Keith lay out the reality of the recruiting process between now and the 2027 spring and summer seasons, and what players should be doing every week to give themselves the best possible advantage.   What we cover:   The reality of the next eight months of the college baseball recruiting process and why this stretch matters so much The weight room and why getting your body more physical improves your skill set, not just your strength numbers Building a body that can hold up through a long spring and summer in 2027 so you can perform when coaches are watching Academics — staying on top of your grades, or improving them, so you can get into the most schools possible Skill set acquisition on the offensive side of the ball Why defense needs to be a priority this offseason, not an afterthought Catching bullpens and daily infield or outfield prep that will raise your game How the work you put in over these eight months shows up when it is time to perform in front of college coaches Whether your son is a 2027 entering a critical spring or a younger player laying the groundwork — this episode is the plan for making the next eight months count. New episodes of Dugout Dish drop every week. Subscribe so you never miss recruiting and development intel that could change your player's future. Gloves - www.kaligloves.com Diamond College Showcase Camps - www.diamondcollegeshowcase.com Chapters (00:00:02) - Intro: Cali Gloves Sponsor(00:00:57) - Welcome to the Dugout Dish Podcast(00:01:26) - The Critical 8-9 Month Recruiting Window(00:05:34) - Planning Summer Schedules and Getting Seen(00:08:28) - Weight Room Importance and Swing Mechanics(00:12:25) - Balancing Tools vs Swing-and-Miss in Recruiting(00:15:43) - Defensive Work and Daily Reps Matter(00:18:29) - Throwing Programs and Arm Care(00:21:23) - Diamond College Showcase Sponsor Break(00:22:25) - World Series Defense Lessons for College Ball(00:25:44) - Catch Play, Pitching Development, and Quality Throws(00:27:27) - Making Varsity: The First Checkpoint(00:29:12) - Lineup Spots, Roles, and College Off-Season Reality(00:33:38) - Time Management and Preparing for College Workload(00:36:27) - Timing Your Exposure: Don't Rush Showcases(00:38:46) - Avoiding the January Showcase Trap(00:42:30) - Working Hard When No One's Watching(00:46:10) - Closing Thoughts and Sign-Off

The hitters who get recruited next spring and summer are being built right now in the cages. In this episode of Dugout Dish, Andy and Keith talk about why position players need to spend the next six months challenging themselves instead of taking feel-good BP — and how the technology available to hitters in 2026 makes it possible to train against the velocity, breaking balls, and changeups they will face in games, from both right- and left-handed looks.   What we cover:   Why the next six months of offseason work are critical for a position player’s recruiting process Why feel-good BP builds confidence but not the skills that hold up against quality pitching How to be honest about your weaknesses at the plate and build your cage work around improving them How the rise of technology and better pitching machines has changed what hitters can train in the offseason Training against velocity, breaking balls, and changeups so game at-bats feel familiar instead of overwhelming Why seeing both right- and left-handed looks in the cage prepares you for what coaches will watch you face How challenging offseason work translates into a better account of yourself next spring and summer Why the way you train this winter could be the difference between being recruited or not  Whether your son is a 2027 trying to make a final push or a younger hitter building his foundation — this episode is your guide to making the offseason count in the cage. New episodes of Dugout Dish drop every week. Subscribe so you never miss recruiting and development intel that could change your player's future. Gloves - www.kaligloves.com Diamond College Showcase Camps - www.diamondcollegeshowcase.com Chapters (00:00:02) - Cali Gloves Ad(00:01:11) - Intro and Off-Season Focus(00:02:37) - Making Practice Hard: Lessons from College BP(00:04:12) - Modern Technology and Pitching Machines(00:05:35) - Challenging Yourself to Prepare for Games(00:06:34) - Diamond College Showcase Ad(00:07:53) - Metrics vs. Game Performance(00:08:51) - Overreliance on Tees and Front Toss(00:10:17) - Simulating Real Pitches to Improve Hitting(00:11:19) - Closing Thoughts and Sign-off