To the Majors

The crew dives into the origins of To The Majors before welcoming Buck Showalter for a masterclass in baseball leadership and longevity. Buck reflects on his humble beginnings, JUCO dominance, and transition into coaching that led to his first opportunity with the Yankees. He shares stories about managing legends like Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter while keeping the game evolving. Buck opens up about standing on principle, leading one of the biggest turnarounds in MLB history, and stops in Arizona, Texas, Baltimore, and New York. The conversation closes with insights on communication, developing young talent, and whether he still has the itch to manage.

The crew welcomes Vernon to the show for an in-depth look at his baseball journey from humble beginnings to MLB stardom. He reflects on first picking up the game, nearly heading to Texas, and being drafted by the Blue Jays. Vernon shares stories from playing in Australia, earning respect, and his unforgettable “welcome to the majors” moment. He discusses his first full season, becoming an All-Star, and competing against the game’s best. The conversation covers signing a massive 7-year deal, leaving Toronto, watching a young Mike Trout, adapting to a changing game, and finishing his career with the Yankees.

The crew welcomes Austin to the show for an incredible deep dive into his baseball journey. He reacts to Kevin Pillar’s CRAZY catch before reflecting on his early inspirations and choosing between basketball and baseball. Austin opens up about being drafted by the Yankees and nearly walking away from a million dollars, highlighting why mentality is everything. He shares moments where he almost quit, the grind of the minor leagues, and starting his career in Detroit. From playing with Miguel Cabrera to learning from great veterans, Austin details his rise to the majors, debut, 2012 World Series run, and closes with honest reflections on career regrets.

The crew welcomes Cole to the show for a deep dive into his incredible baseball journey. Cole reflects on building an early commitment to the game and what it meant to be labeled a baseball prodigy. He walks through getting drafted in the first round and arriving in Philadelphia before detailing the grind of reaching the Major Leagues and making his big-league debut. Cole shares stories about building the Phillies, competing in the World Series, and being part of elite pitching staffs. The conversation covers a Yankees World Series run, his first extension, throwing a no-hitter, a trade to Texas, the intense Blue Jays 2015 series, the Jose Bautista brawl, realizing the end of his career, and the Hall of Fame ballot.