The Baseball Forward Podcast

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the widely popular, vintage ballplayer of Banana Ball's newest team, The Indianapolis Clowns, Mr. Fisher Polydoroff. Here’s Episode 91 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com. Episode Chapter Markers: 03:15 The spirit and heart of Fisher 06:45 Banana Ball over traditional route of baseball 17:30 Ole Knuckles key to a knuckleball 23:05 Fisher's style 35:00 The intentionality of Fisher's day-to-day 40:30 Training for baseball  

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with a LHP for The Texas Tailgaters of Banana Ball, Mr. Christian Davis. Here’s Episode 90 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com. Episode Chapter Markers: 02:30 How Christian got into Banana Ball 07:15 Is there competition between Banana Ball and MLB 12:50 Expectations and the business of Banana Ball 20:30 How this experience has helped Christian 29:00 Being on the road 32:35 MLB and Banana Ball mixed 42:20 Elevating the next generation advice    

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s episode is dedicated solely to the college recruiting process. This is Recruiting: 101 with Aaron Cunningham and Ross Hawley on Episode 89 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.   Episode Chapter Markers: 03:45 Player exposure to college programs 11:50 Late bloomers 15:25 Traveling for travel ball 25:00 Regional recruiting 39:10 Transfer portal conversation

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with World Series Champion and former MLB RHP, Mr. Chad Durbin. Here’s Episode 88 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.   Episode Chapter Markers: 00:01:15 Intro and breakfast talk 00:05:40 Chad's optimistic outlook on life 00:11:05 Maturing and smiling at adversity 00:18:20 Winston Churchill mindset 00:22:30 Mentality on the mound for developing pitchers 00:28:45 Chad talks about his wife finding out he was a big leaguer 00:36:00 What pitchers should be doing in December 00:40:45 Learning to throw breaking pitches 00:47:30 Understanding what pitches you should throw 1:00:05 How to learn about baseball analytics 1:05:00 Chad's thoughts on Tommy John and his son's experience

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator for Weatherford College, Mr. Tanner Rockwell. Here’s Episode 87 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.   Episode Chapter Markers: 03:00 Reasons for Weatherford success 07:05 Premium JuCo's destination schools now? 13:50 Specific steps to get noticed by Weatherford 16:10 Pro mindset in recruits 21:45 Methods of recruiting 25:00 How Tanner Rockwell became a coach 31:20 Transitioning from a player to a coach 35:10 Advice for baseball players - elevating the next generation 42:03 Why do you coach? 46:15 Advice for youth coaches 50:45 Common denominator in successful players

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s episode features a new monthly segment we’ve added to the show, dedicated solely to the college recruiting process. This is Recruiting: 101 with Aaron Cunningham and Ross Hawley on Episode 86 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.   Episode Chapter Markers: 04:10 The start to the recruiting process 08:08 Getting a coach to notice you 11:10 Best way to communicate with college coaches 16:45 Choosing the best program 23:15 NCSA talk, other recruiting services, who to trust 28:50 College levels breakdown 35:50 Including your coach in the recruiting process

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with an Assistant Coach for Ranger College, Mr. Pat Day. Here’s Episode 85 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Head Coach of the Saint John’s University Johnnies, in Minnesota Mr. Scott Lieser. Here’s Episode 84 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with a former OF/1B for the Texas Rangers, Mr. Jason Botts. Here’s Episode 83 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Head Coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, Mr. Steve Sabins. Here’s Episode 82 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s episode features a new monthly segment we’ve added to the show, dedicated solely to the college recruiting process. This is Recruiting: 101 with Aaron Cunningham and Ross Hawley on Episode 81 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with longtime Miami Marlins Scout, Mr. Scott Stanley. Here’s Episode 80 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the head baseball coach of the Augustana University Vikings in majestic Sioux Falls, SD, Mr. Tim Huber. Here’s Episode 79 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the winningest baseball coach in Baylor University history, Mr. Steve Smith. Here’s Episode 78 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. Learn more about Coach Smith's Does God Care About Baseball? For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with one of the best Mental Performance Coaches in North America, my good buddy, Mr. Curtis Pelletier. Here’s Episode 77 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Head Baseball Coach at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, Mr. Jim Chester. Here’s Episode 76 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com. This episode of the Baseball Forward Podcast is brought to you by The Bertrand Team. Experience. Service. Excellence. Serving Dallas-Ft. Worth and North Texas, visit https://bertrandteamrealestate.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the High School Director for The Hunter Pence Baseball Academy, in Houston, TX. He’s also the creator and administrator for the very popular Texas High School & Travel Baseball Facebook Group. He’s Mr. Aaron Cunningham. Here’s Episode 75 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com. This episode of the Baseball Forward Podcast is brought to you by The Bertrand Team. Experience. Service. Excellence. Serving Dallas-Ft. Worth and North Texas, visit https://bertrandteamrealestate.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with Prep Baseball Report’s #7 ranked incoming freshman for the 2026 season, a RHP for the LSU Tigers, Mr. Marcos Paz. Here’s Episode 74 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com. This episode of the Baseball Forward Podcast is brought to you by The Bertrand Team. Experience. Service. Excellence. Serving Dallas-Ft. Worth and North Texas, visit https://bertrandteamrealestate.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with one of the most recognizable baseball figures on social media, @CoachRayAllDay himself, Mr. Ray Navarrete. Here’s Episode 73 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com. This episode of the Baseball Forward Podcast is brought to you by The Bertrand Team. Experience. Service. Excellence. Serving Dallas-Ft. Worth and North Texas, visit https://bertrandteamrealestate.com.

Join hosts Ross Hawley and Jim Schwanke as they elevate the next generation of ballplayers and coaches. Today’s guest conversation is with the Head Men’s Basketball Coach for Northern State University in amazing Aberdeen, SD, Mr. Matt Wilber. Here’s Episode 72 of the Baseball Forward Podcast. For more episodes and content, visit https://baseballforward.com. This episode of the Baseball Forward Podcast is brought to you by The Bertrand Team. Experience. Service. Excellence. Serving Dallas-Ft. Worth and North Texas, visit https://bertrandteamrealestate.com.