On today’s episode of The Hitting Zone, Mitch Thomas is joined by Hunter Hisky for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about the current state of youth baseball — and whether we are truly developing athletes.

Pulling perspective from the opposite end of the state, this episode moves through real questions facing families and programs today:

• Do team labels like AA, Major, and AAA really have value?
• Does level truly impact development?
• Are coaches focused on developing players — or collecting talent to win games?
• What questions should parents be asking when selecting a program?
• Do we have too many clubs?
• Why does recreational baseball feel like it’s disappearing?

The conversation isn’t scripted — it’s exploratory and honest. It challenges assumptions and digs into what development should actually look like.

At the center of it all is one question:

Are we really developing athletes?

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