Claim OwnershipCatch Up with JP
Subscribed: 0Played: 0
Subscribe
© 2025 Catch Up with JP
Description
I catch up with former professional baseball players to see what they’ve been up to since their playing days ended.
25 Episodes
Reverse
Send us a text Former MLB reliever Dominic Leone opens up like never before. From growing up in Norwich, Connecticut, to going undrafted out of high school, to carving out an 11-year Major League career across 10 organizations—Leone’s story is about obsession, resilience, and identity beyond the uniform. In this interview, Dominic reflects on: • Being overlooked because of his size • The unexpected bullpen move that fast-tracked him to the big leagues • The mental toll of injuries, tr...
Send us a text Baseball development in America has never been more competitive—or more fragmented. Travel organizations promise exposure, private instructors chase quick fixes, and parents spend evenings shuttling kids from lesson to lesson in search of something that actually works. In the middle of that whirlwind, one former big leaguer has carved out a different path. In Palmetto, Florida, Kory DeHaan is quietly building something unusual: a training culture rooted not just in reps ...
Send us a text Former Cleveland Indians pitcher Jason Stanford has worn many hats in his life, but none, he says, have carried quite the same meaning as the one he wears today. A little over a year ago, Stanford established Frontline to Field, a nonprofit dedicated to serving veterans, first responders, their families, and the next generation of youth baseball players.
Send us a text Trayvon Robinson admits that as a younger player, there were instances where he might not have conducted himself maturely. Being suddenly brought up to the Major Leagues by the Seattle Mariners and then swiftly relegated to the bench was a challenging experience that required time to overcome. Now, 37 years old and the hitting coach of the Lancaster Stormers, Robinson is only appreciative of the game and everyone that guided him through it. He was named player/coach for the&nbs...
Send us a text In this conversation, Trayvon Robinson shares his journey from a challenging upbringing in South Central Los Angeles to his experiences in Major League Baseball. He discusses his debut with the Seattle Mariners, the emotional struggles he faced, and the lessons learned throughout his career. Trayvon reflects on the importance of mentorship, resilience, and the impact of personal challenges on his professional life. Now a hitting coach, he emphasizes the significance of guiding ...
Send us a text Growing up in a neighborhood plagued by violence and limited opportunities, Trayvon Robinson knew early on that escaping that environment would take more than just dreaming—it would take relentless effort. Trayvon was never tempted to turn the criminal activity that many of his peers chose. Baseball took him to not-so-distant neighborhoods with luxurious gated communities, well-furnished baseball programs, and rosters full of recruited prospects. He utilized commitment and his ...
Send us a text In this episode, Jeff Perro interviews Jay "Smiley J" Jackson, celebrating his career in baseball and discussing his transition to coaching. Jay reflects on his journey from being drafted by the Cubs to making his major league debut, his experiences playing in Japan, and his new role as a pitching coach. He shares insights on retirement, the importance of mindset, and his initiatives to help young athletes through the S.M.I.L.E Zone. Jay emphasizes the significance of positivi...
Send us a text In this conversation, Ty Buttrey shares his journey from being drafted by the Red Sox to his experiences in the major leagues with the Angels. He discusses the challenges he faced, including burnout and the pressures of maintaining success. Ty reflects on his decision to retire from baseball, explore new passions, and eventually return to the sport, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and pursuing what truly matters in life. In this conversation, Ty Buttrey shares his ...
Send us a text On the field, Bobby Scales was known for his intelligence, leadership, baseball wisdom, and work ethic. Off the field, he is one of baseball's most respected thought-leaders and people-developers. After retiring from professional baseball in 2012, Bobby Scales seamlessly transitioned into roles that leveraged his vast knowledge of the sport. His post-playing career has been defined by his contributions to both player development and broadcasting, proving that his expertise exte...
Send us a text On the field, Bobby Scales was known for his intelligence, leadership, baseball wisdom, and work ethic. Off the field, Bobby Scales is one of baseball's most respected thought leaders and people-developers. Bobby had a long career that spanned both Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Scales played college baseball at the University of Michigan after joining the team as a walk-on before being selected by the San Diego Padres in the 14th rou...
Send us a text The Campanis family has built a remarkable legacy in baseball, spanning three generations and nearly 85 years. In this conversation, we take a closer look at the life and baseball career of Jim Campanis Jr, son of Jim Sr. and grandson of Al. Al Campanis started his baseball career in 1940 as a shortstop for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although his playing career was brief, it was his management roles that truly defined his legacy. He became a key player in the Dodgers or...
Send us a text "I always tell people I had two careers. Had my first part of my career from 03 to 07. I don't really talk about 7 to 10 because that was 'The Grind Years,'" Jerome Williams says, " The second part of my career was from 11 to 16. You rarely get a second chance. I got that second chance." To begin the first phase, Williams was the 39th pick of the San Francisco Giants of the 1999 MLB Draft. He garnered a lot of praise and attention during his ascent to the big leagues. He ...
Send us a text In this conversation, Alex Liddi shares his journey from growing up in Sanremo, Italy, to making it to the Major Leagues with the Seattle Mariners. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of his baseball career, including the decline of baseball in Italy, his experiences in the U.S. leagues, and his time playing in Mexico and other international leagues. Liddi reflects on his retirement from professional baseball and his plans for the future, including a focus on community inv...
Send us a text Summary In this episode of Catch Up with JP, host Jeff Perro interviews former MLB pitcher Steven 'Paco' Rodriguez, who shares his journey from growing up in Miami as a Marlins fan to becoming a key player in the Dodgers bullpen. Rodriguez discusses his college experience at the University of Florida, his transition to professional baseball, the challenges he faced with injuries, and his eventual shift to coaching and mentoring young players. He emphasizes the importance of di...
Send us a text Chris Gissell did not become a recognizable name via a long MLB career. He did, however, become a VERY recognizable name in amateur coaching circles. Through Chris' mindful approach of teaching the game to young players, he has amassed a very large social media following. He has also built a very large library of free documents and educational materials on his website BaseballDudes.com.
Send us a text 10-year MLB veteran Jason Michaels is now running a training center in Tampa called The Big League Approach. In addition to the usual pitch-hit-field curriculum, Michaels' teachings include the mental side of the game. https://thebigleagueapproach.com/ https://www.facebook.com/bigleagueapproach
Send us a text I made this episode of me talking about myself because I don't want to have to talk about myself. I will be the LEAST interesting person on any of these shows, so any time spent talking about myself will be time wasted. This will be the most you ever hear of my voice. I filed this as a "Bonus Feature."
Send us a text Ever Magallanes' advice for active professional baseball players is to "Play until you can't play anymore." He lived that advice. After 8 years playing affiliated professional baseball in the US, he played 12 more years in Mexico. That alone is an interesting story. He also tells us about his 11 days in the big leagues with Cleveland, and his time coaching and managing the Mexican National Team in the World Baseball Classic and other international competitions. He talks about h...
Send us a text Bronswell Patrick pitched professionally for 18 years. In addition to throwing baseballs well, he's also an excellent storyteller. In this episode, we discuss making his MLB debut after a decade in the minor leagues, playing in Korea, Taiwan, and Mexico, and giving up Sammy Sosa's 61st home run in 1998. And many other fun and educational topics. An incorrect version of this episode was posted earlier. This corrected version was posted Wednesday 3/12/2025 at 8:30p...
Send us a text Australian Glenn Williams signed with the Atlanta Braves in 1993 with an attention-grabbing $950 signing bonus. He spent 10 years in the minor leagues before making his Major League debut in June 2005 with the Minnesota Twins. He's also represented his country in many international competitions as both a player and a coach. He was named GM of Team Australia in 2015. In 2021, he became the CEO of Baseball Australia. He now overseas the growth and development of baseball at all l...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States