Have A Seat with Jason Benetti and Dan Dickerson

Detroit Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris joins Dan and Jason to talk all things Tigers - from building the winningest team in baseball this year to the details that drive long-term success. Harris breaks down what goes into an MLB trade, how the front office balances decisions and non-decisions, and why applying pressure to opponents is a core priority. He also shares how the staff identifies adjustments for players and offers insights into the development paths of prospects like Colt Keith, Dillon Dingler, Troy Melton, and others. Harris explains how intentional feedback in the Minors translates to wins in the Majors, while also reflecting on life with his young daughter, what’s been most fun about this season, and how every player plays a role in pursuing the ultimate goal: a World Series title.

On a special edition of Have a Seat, Actor Tom Selleck joins Jason and Dan to discuss not only his career, but his love for the Tigers and the sport of baseball. What were some of his first memories of the Tigers? How did he get into acting as a business major on the basketball team at USC? Selleck shares how he went from acting in commercials to his iconic role in Magnum P.I. How did he make the Olde English D an iconic logo? How did he continue to stay connected with the team? Selleck shares his stories of batting practice at Tigers Stadium and the spring training he spent with the team to prepare for his role in Mr. Baseball.

Tigers' rookie pitcher Troy Melton joins Dan and Jason to discuss the first month of his Major League career. Melton discusses his transition from a starting role to the bullpen and how he has approached every appearance. How does his confidence help him through outings? What makes his mentality fit so well with this Tigers pitching staff? How does a younger pitcher balance emotion? As a preferred walk-on at SDSU who didn’t start pitching until his collegiate career, Melton had his sights set on being a major league baseball player. How did he learn to adjust to a new position and new roles? What valuable lessons did he learn at SDSU about keeping his composure on the mound? How do you separate being a fan vs being a player? Melton shares stories of his childhood in California, his love for the sport of hockey as well as baseball, and how he navigated his time so far as a Tiger

Tigers' utility man Zach McKinstry joins Jason and Dan to discuss his journey from being a 33rd round draft pick to an All-Star. What work did he put in during the offseason? How did teammates, coaches and his family help him to grow? How important is it to continue learning about the nuances of the game? McKinstry emphasizes the importance of “being your own biggest fan and playing your game” and how that mentality has carried him through her career. He shares stories of his childhood and the love for learning more about the game of baseball. What influence did his brother have on him? How did being "the dirtiest kid of the field” translate to his mentality playing baseball today? How does the importance of the mental side of the game translate into what McKinstry and this Tigers team have done this season? Hear about McKinstry (as well as Jason and Dan’s) daredevil side, his experience at his first All-Star game and his connection with his nephew.

All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres joins Jason and Dan to discuss his journey from Venezuela to the MLB. What was it like to leave home at 13 and move to the U.S. at 16 for baseball? How did he navigate the transition? How does the importance of family drive success? Torres touches on the importance of appreciating every aspect of the game and embracing the opportunity to play baseball as he shares his journey through the Cubs and Yankees organizations. How has he viewed his experience in the postseason? What are his conversations with his teammates throughout the game? Torres shares how his maturity at the plate has grown, what he remembers from his 2018 and 2019 All-Star seasons, and his thoughts on this season’s Tigers team.

Tigers' catcher Dillon Dingler joins Dan and Jason to discuss his role this season, what he has learned so far and the mechanics of the catching position. What are his conversations on the mound with Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty? What are his favorite plays to make? What are the hardest parts of the season as a catcher, and how does he use his power? Dingler discusses his childhood as a three-sport athlete and winning the state basketball championship in high school. What made him choose baseball? What was it like playing different roles at Ohio State? How did he use the minors to grow as a player? We hear about Dingler’s music preferences, clubhouse debates, and what kind of kid he was growing up. Dan and Jason also give insight into their favorite aspects of play-by-play.

Tigers designated hitter Colt Keith joins Dan and Jason to discuss his childhood, while playing youth baseball. Keith dives into family road trips, how wrestling has impacted the way he plays baseball, and shows how many states he lived in growing up. How did he find baseball in a family of wrestlers? What was it like moving multiple times all over the country? Keith talks about his adjustments from year-to-year and learning to adapt when struggles come up. As a young player, what is his mindset like? What does he see in the batter's box? What was his experience coming up through the Tigers farm system? We also learn about the origin of the name Colt, his movie ranking list, and what his go-to wrestling move was.

Tigers left fielder Riley Greene joins Dan and Jason to talk about how important the communities that players have in and out of the clubhouse are, and how those relationships have helped Greene through 162 games in a season. What role have his friends and family played in his life? How does this Tigers clubhouse compare to teams from his past? Greene discusses his journey from being drafted at 17 to his game now. How did his parents and coaches help shape him at a young age? What has this season looked like to him so far? And lastly, Greene answers the most important question of all...does he want it today?

Tigers Manager AJ Hinch sits down with Jason and Dan to discuss what makes this Tigers team so special. What are the methods behind moving player positions? How does a manager handle “pitching chaos”? How do you take player personalities and use them to maximize strengths? AJ dives into the mindset of the players and how they have all bought into the next man up mentality. We also hear about how clubhouse upgrades have helped the players, what AJ was like as a kid and hear questions from the clubhouse straight to the podcast.

Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson joins Dan and Jason to discuss his journey with the Tigers since he was drafted in 2020. What have the ups and downs of the first three seasons been like? What has changed for him this season? Torkelson dives into his mentality in the batter's box as well as his defensive mindset. How do players create a moment in a high-pressure situation? How do power hitters look at each at-bat? We also hear about the impact Barry Bonds had on Torkelson growing up, learn about his favorite time of day at the ballpark and hear about his days playing Little League baseball

Tigers pitcher Casey Mize sits down with Jason and Dan to discuss his strong start to the year. How has he changed? What did 2024 feel like coming back from injury vs. the start of the 2025 season? Casey talks about how challenging it was to not be able to compete for nearly two full seasons and his new perspective on the other side of adversity. He also shares his experience being drafted first overall, how his dad helped him develop his splitter and what he might want to do when he retires from baseball.

In the final episode of the regular season, former Tigers players and current broadcasters Dan Petry and Andy Dirks join Jason and Dan to recap the 2024 season. What have we witnessed over the past six weeks? The guys take turns identifying pivotal moments and key plays from the final stretch. What player has made the most significant developmental jump this season? If the Tigers clinch a postseason berth, which guy will you be most ecstatic for in the clubhouse? Also in this episode, Dirks and Petry recount their favorite single day in a Tigers uniform, relay their best parenting advice, and share what they’d be doing if it weren’t for baseball.

Tigers pitcher Tyler Holton sits down with Jason and Dan to discuss his impressive 2024 season. How did he make the transition to high-leverage reliever appear so seamless? Holton details the origins of his self-confidence and how it’s helped him be successful in several areas of life. Tyler also explains the building blocks behind creating a new pitch and the data he utilizes throughout that process. What is a “flow state” and how do high-performing players manage to channel it? Also in this episode, we learn about Tyler’s first job as a delivery driver, his love for all things Florida State, and which of his teammates is most vocal in the clubhouse after a win.

Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows joins Jason and Dan to discuss his early season struggles, bouncing back after a stint in Toledo, and maintaining joy throughout the entire process. What is it like to be a part of the youthful core the Tigers are building around? Meadows walks us through “the catch” he made in Seattle, including the mental and physical prep behind a home run robbery. When was the first moment that Parker realized he was fast? Also in this episode, Meadows expounds on his close-knit family, his competitive background in ping-pong, and lets us in on which teammate is a terrible three-point shooter.

Tigers 2024 first round draft pick Bryce Rainer sits down with Jason and Dan to recount his journey from Harvard-Westlake standout to professional baseball player. The former two-way star explains why he ultimately made the decision to move away from pitching. How has Rainer’s swing evolved over time? What was his first visit to Detroit to like? Also in this episode, Bryce shares his hottest food takes, favorite home run memory, and recalls swimming in Vin Scully’s pool.

2024 National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee Jim Leyland joins Jason and Dan to discuss his odyssey from Tigers minor leaguer to the illustrious halls of Cooperstown. The Skipper explains how growing up in a big family helped shape his appreciation for managing different personalities. How did the Tigers become his first love? Leyland recounts balancing his boss role on the field with being a father, brother, and friend figure in the clubhouse. How did he manage to consistently get the most out of his players? Ahead of his number retirement ceremony at Comerica Park, Leyland recalls some of his favorite Tigers memories including fostering a winning culture in 2006, advocating for a young Justin Verlander, and his genuine appreciation for Detroit fans.

Detroit rookie Wenceel Pérez sits down with Jason and Dan to discuss his journey to the Big Leagues, one that began as a 16-year-old international free agent signing in 2016. What was it like moving to a foreign country at such a young age to pursue his dream? The Dominican Republic native recounts learning to switch-hit as a kid, as well as his recent transition from shortstop to outfielder. Manager A. J. Hinch describes Pérez as “fearless.” Where does his confidence and seemingly endless trove of joy come from? Also in this episode, we learn about what it’s like to face Aroldis Chapman, why triples are fun, and why we all need to try “La Bandera Dominicana.”

Tigers starting pitcher Reese Olson sits down with Jason and Dan to discuss his second season in the big leagues. The 24-year-old explains how he earned his “silent assassin” moniker and his reputation as a weight room monster. The guys delve into some pitch sequencing discussion, and Reese recounts the development of both his change-up and his slider. Which pitch is his favorite to throw? Also in this episode, we learn why catch partners are significant, why pitchers enjoy golfing, and where the typically stoic Reese channels his emotional output.

Tigers President of Baseball Operations, Scott Harris sits down with Jason and Dan to discuss the challenges facing hitters in MLB, and how players like Riley Greene have rebounded from early adversity. We’ve seen flashes of what the team can do offensively this season, but the goal is to create more consistent run support for Tigers starting pitching, Harris explains. How is the organization building Detroit into a destination, a place that players equate with continual improvement? Also in this episode, Harris delves into his process for evaluating decisions (and non-decisions), highlights several Tigers prospects, and explains why being a new dad will humble you in an instant.

Grosse Pointe native and Academy Award-winning actor, J. K. Simmons joins Jason and Dan to discuss his lifelong Tigers fandom. What got him hooked on Detroit baseball as a kid? How does a hard-working thespian with over 200 acting credits manage to watch nearly every Tigers game? Simmons recounts how he based his character Frank Perry in “For Love of the Game,” off former Tigers manager and newly elected Hall of Famer, Jim Leyland. If we compare Simmons’s acting career to that of a historic Detroit ballplayer, who would he be? We also learn about J. K.’s youthful operatic ambitions, what it’s like to play a sociopath, and the beauty of baseball and acting as team sports.