Chasing Baseball Dreams

How hard should you push your son in sports? And how do you know when you're pushing too hard?Matt Barnes spent 14 seasons in the NBA, won a championship with the Golden State Warriors, and helped build All The Smoke into one of the biggest names in sports podcasting. But some of his strongest opinions have nothing to do with professional basketball. They're about parents and what's happening in youth sports.In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Bobby Minor sits down with Matt to talk about raising his own sons, why he waited until his twins were ready to take training seriously, and why he believes too many parents are turning their kids' sports into a job before they're ready.Matt also shares a pretty incredible story about Kobe Bryant training his twins, explains why he wouldn't make a 10-year-old specialize in one sport, and talks about the pressure parents put on kids who aren't developing as quickly as their teammates.In this episode, we talk about:⚾ Why Matt believes parents are one of the biggest problems in youth sports🏀 Why he waited until his twins were 13–14 before pushing them into serious training🔥 What Kobe Bryant told Matt's sons about their basketball dreams⚾ Why he believes 10-year-olds should still be playing multiple sports💪 Why young athletes need to learn how to compete for playing time instead of immediately changing teams👨‍👦 How Matt handled coaching his own sons without giving them special treatment💰 Why he believes youth sports have become too focused on making money🏆 What Matt learned about Kobe Bryant as a teammate, friend, and father⚾ Why he launched All The Smoke Baseball and what he hopes to bring to the game❤️ What he hopes his sons remember about him, regardless of how far they go in sportsOne thing that really stood out to me was how Matt handled his twins' development. He knew exactly what it took to play professionally. He had the experience, the connections, and the ability to start training them seriously at a young age.But he waited.He wanted them to show him they loved the game enough to put in the work themselves.That's something worth thinking about if you're a baseball parent trying to decide when to push your son, when to back off, and how much of this journey should be driven by him.Whether your son is playing 9U travel baseball or getting ready for high school, there's a lot in this conversation that will make you think.ABOUT THE PODCASTThe Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast is hosted by Bobby Minor, a former Division I baseball player, longtime coach, and college baseball dad. Through conversations with professional athletes, coaches, and people who've lived the game, Bobby helps baseball parents think through the decisions they're making for their sons.Subscribe for new episodes and conversations about player development, travel baseball, recruiting, and raising young athletes.🎧 Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.#MattBarnes #YouthSports #BaseballParents

What if your son isn't getting playing time because he needs to get better? And what if his college baseball opportunities don't come until the spring of his senior year?2025 Mexican Baseball League MVP Nick Torres joins Bobby Minor on the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast to share his journey from an overlooked high school player to a fourth-round MLB Draft pick, professional baseball in Mexico, and an MVP season that earned him another opportunity with the New York Yankees organization.Nick's junior year of high school, he barely played and was used only as a pitcher. His senior year, he won conference Player of the Year. He didn't receive his offer from Cal Poly until late April of his senior year.After more than a decade in professional baseball, Nick has plenty to say about what young players need to develop and what parents should be paying attention to.In this episode, we cover:Why Nick wishes he'd played multiple sports longerHow he went from barely playing as a junior to conference Player of the Year as a seniorWhy his college recruiting process came down to the final weeks of his senior yearWhat parents should consider before leaving a team over playing timeWhy hitting approach and the mental game can separate players at higher levelsHow parents can help their sons handle slumps without adding more pressureWhy comparing your son to other players can hurt his developmentWhat Nick learned from being released twice, playing in Mexico, and eventually winning league MVPThe characteristics Nick believes make a player somebody coaches want on their teamIf you're raising a young baseball player and wondering whether he's on the right team, developing fast enough, or falling behind other kids his age, this conversation is worth your time.🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor | Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast⚾ Guest: Nick Torres | 2025 Liga Mexicana de Béisbol MVP📱 Follow Nick on Instagram: @n_torres93#ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball #NickTorres #YouthBaseball #CollegeBaseball

From an undersized high school player with almost no recruiting interest to playing Banana Ball in front of 81,000 fans. Party Animals infielder Mikey Ballard's baseball journey didn't follow the path most parents expect.On this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Bobby Minor sits down with Mikey to talk about his journey from Lake Mary High School to Division II Eckerd College, his transfer to Division I Louisiana Tech, independent professional baseball, and eventually the Party Animals.Mikey shares how he nearly gave up on playing college baseball before one final showcase changed his opportunities. He also explains why playing time mattered more than the name on his jersey, how growing up undersized affected his recruiting, and why his parents' simple advice, "Be Mike," still matters to him today.In this episode, we cover:Why Mikey nearly gave up on college baseball before receiving a late walk-on opportunityHow playing Division II baseball prepared him for success at Louisiana TechWhy he believes actual game experience matters more than chasing a Power Five roster spotHow backyard Wiffle ball, multiple sports, and playing with friends helped develop his athleticismWhy teaching young hitters big-league mechanics can sometimes do more harm than goodThe two words his parents taught him that he still puts on his gloveHow he went from independent baseball to playing in front of 81,000 Banana Ball fansWhy he believes 80 to 100 games a year can be too much for 10-, 11-, and 12-year-oldsIf you're a baseball parent wondering whether your son is falling behind, whether he's on the right team, or whether a Division I offer should be the ultimate goal, Mikey's story gives you plenty to think about.The decisions you make for your son should be based on what actually helps him develop, not what looks impressive to everybody else.🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor | Chasing Baseball Dreams⚾ Guest: Mikey Ballard | Party Animals, Banana Ball📱 Follow Mikey: Instagram @michael_ballard14 | TikTok @mike.b14🔔 Subscribe to the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast for conversations with professional players, coaches, and baseball parents about the decisions that matter throughout the baseball journey.#BananaBall #PartyAnimals #BaseballParents #TravelBaseball #CollegeBaseball

Why are baseball parents flying 8-year-olds across the country for travel baseball? Former MLB pitcher Jay Jackson questions the youth baseball rankings, expensive tournaments, and pressure that have become so common at an early age.Jay spent 17 years playing professional baseball, including time with six Major League teams and in Japan. In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, he joins Bobby Minor to share what he learned about player development, choosing the right opportunities, handling disappointment, and helping young players enjoy the game.In this episode we cover:Why Jay believes parents put too much importance on baseball rankings for 8U–12U playersThe money families spend flying young players across the country for travel baseball tournamentsHow Jay went from being projected as a second-to-fourth-round draft pick to getting selected in the ninth roundWhy he chose Furman University and how academics, family, and his relationship with the coach influenced that decisionWhat playing professionally in Japan taught him about fundamentals and the quality of practiceWhat Jay looks for in young pitchers that parents often overlookWhat a dad should say to his 12U pitcher after giving up six runsThe emotional story of his son spending 166 days in the NICU and what Jay hopes his children remember about himJay also shares the years he spent waiting for his Major League opportunity, what happened when he didn't make Toronto's Opening Day roster despite a strong spring training, and why he created the S.M.I.L.E. Zone to help young players with the mental side of baseball.If you're a baseball parent trying to decide which teams, tournaments, rankings, and opportunities are actually worth your money, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before you spend another dollar.🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor⚾ Guest: Jay Jackson, former MLB pitcher and founder of the S.M.I.L.E. Zone🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams PodcastConnect with Jay Jackson:Instagram: @jaxland58S.M.I.L.E. Zone community: https://smilezone.app/🔔 Subscribe to Chasing Baseball Dreams on YouTube so you don't miss future interviews with Major League players, coaches, and baseball parents. You can also listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.#JayJackson #YouthBaseball #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #ChasingBaseballDreams

Ben Jacobus started in center field, hit leadoff as a freshman, and helped Corona del Sol win the 2025 Arizona 6A state championship. Now he's committed to TCU.His dad, Brian Jacobus, played professional baseball after being drafted by the San Diego Padres. He's coached high school baseball, run travel baseball organizations, and experienced the recruiting process firsthand as a parent.One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation? Brian built Ben's baseball development around preparing him for high school, and he believes there are things high school baseball provides that travel ball has a hard time replicating.In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Brian shares the decisions they made along the way, including some he'd handle differently.In this episode we cover:What Ben experienced winning a state championship as a freshman and why high school baseball was so important to his developmentWhat high school coaches look for when deciding whether a freshman is ready for varsity baseballWhy Brian believes choosing the right coach matters more than playing for a famous travel baseball organizationHow Brian handled being both Ben's dad and his coach, including the mental side of the gameWhy Ben reclassified from the 2028 to the 2027 graduating class, and Brian's concerns about holding players back to gain an age advantageHow TCU recruited Ben, what happened when other schools entered the picture, and why Ben ultimately chose TCU over Arizona StateThe red flags parents should watch for before committing to a travel teamWhy Brian believes families waste money on national tournaments and showcases before their sons are readyBrian also shares something he wishes he'd emphasized earlier in Ben's development, even with all his years of experience playing and coaching baseball.If you're spending money on travel baseball, preparing your son for high school, or starting to think about college recruiting, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before making your next decision.🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor⚾ Guest: Brian Jacobus🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams PodcastSubscribe for conversations with players, coaches, and baseball people who can help parents think more clearly about the decisions they're making for their sons.#ChasingBaseballDreams #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents