Travel baseball has officially gone off the rails.

In this episode of Behind the Lineup, we dive into the wild world of 10U and 12U travel baseball: the miles families are driving, the money being spent, the private coaches, the personal trainers, the lessons, the tournaments, and the never-ending pressure to keep up.

We talk about how youth baseball has become a full-blown business, and we call out Perfect Game for capitalizing on the “Keeping Up With The Joneses” culture that has taken over the game. Parents are chasing rankings, exposure, status, and validation, while many kids are being pushed into a version of baseball that looks more like a showcase industry than a childhood sport.

At the same time, we have to tip our cap to Perfect Game’s business model. Whether people like it or not, it clearly works, and they continue to cash in on the egos, dreams, and fears of parents who want their kids to be the next big thing.

We also get into the absurd stories of parents claiming Major League organizations are paying for their kids to travel and play in tournaments, which would raise serious amateur status questions if true.

This episode is about the chaos, ego, money, pressure, and absolute craziness that has become travel baseball in 2026.

4,667 players were in the transfer portal as of June 15th. Coaches are filling roster spots faster and earlier than ever before — and if you don't have a plan, you are already behind.

In this solo episode, Quinn McGrath breaks down the complete, step-by-step recruiting blueprint that every high school player and baseball parent needs right now. No fluff, no vague advice — just a clear, actionable roadmap to getting seen, getting noticed, and getting offered.

Whether you are a 2027 grad trying to lock something in this summer or a 2028 grad just starting to figure out the process, this episode meets you exactly where you are.

Here is everything we cover:

⚾ The NCAA Clearinghouse — what it is, why it matters, and when you need to register before it costs you an opportunity at the D1 or D2 level

⚾ Class year reality check — what 2027s and 2028s should realistically be targeting right now and why being honest about your level is the smartest move you can make

⚾ The scholarship truth nobody tells you — D1 programs have 11.7 scholarships for an entire roster, and most players are getting partial money. Here is how to navigate that

⚾ Building your Twitter/X recruiting presence — what to put in your bio, what to post, and the one critical rule that most players break without realizing it is hurting them

⚾ Highlight film vs. skills video — what coaches actually want to see and why sending your recruiting email before your film is ready is one of the biggest mistakes you can make

⚾ Choosing the right travel program — why coaches recruit off rosters and how to find the program that gets you in front of the right people

⚾ The radius strategy — how to build a smart school list at every level using geography, academics, and realistic self-assessment

⚾ Writing outreach emails that actually get responses — the difference between a personalized email that opens a door and a generic copy-paste that gets deleted instantly

⚾ What to do when a coach responds — how to keep the conversation moving, when to visit, and the difference between an unofficial and official visit

⚾ Camps and showcases — why they are absolutely necessary for 99% of players and exactly how to use them to maximize your exposure

⚾ Red flags to avoid — the six recruiting mistakes that players and parents make that quietly kill their chances before they even get started

This process is going to take hard work, time, and rejection. Sounds a lot like playing baseball, doesn't it? But if you execute this blueprint with focus and intention — you will get recruited.

Quinn's DMs are open. If you are lost, overwhelmed, or have questions — reach out.

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What does it actually take to build one of the most dangerous offenses in college baseball — and then do it again at the next level?

In this episode, Host Quinn McGrath sits down with University of Minnesota assistant coach Connor Gandossy — one of the most respected hitting coaches and recruiting minds in the college game today.

Coach Gandossy takes us through his full journey — from his playing days as a standout catcher at Saint Louis University, where he won three Atlantic 10 championships and helped set the school record for wins, to his first coaching stops at Jefferson College and SLU, where he began building the player development foundation that would define his career.

We walk through his seven seasons at Creighton, where he transformed the Bluejay offense from the ground up — bumping the team batting average by 11 points in his very first season, leading the BIG EAST in hitting for the first time in program history, reaching the NCAA Regional finals, and sending 28 players to professional baseball. That includes Alan Roden, who walked on in 2019 and was selected 98th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays after winning BIG EAST Player of the Year — one of the most remarkable player development stories in recent college baseball history.

Then we get into the move to the Big Ten — joining Minnesota in 2024 and helping the Gophers crack the top ten in the conference in home runs while developing Weber Neels into an All-Big Ten Second Team catcher in year one.

In this episode we cover:⚾ What playing catcher teaches you about hitting and player development⚾ How to completely rebuild an offense's identity from day one⚾ Turning a walk-on into a top-100 draft pick — the Alan Roden story⚾ What it takes to land Top 50 national recruiting classes at the mid-major level⚾ How data and technology have changed the way hitting is taught at the college level⚾ What the next evolution of offensive development in college baseball looks like⚾ Advice for young coaches who want to build a career in hitting and player development

Whether you're a hitter trying to take your game to the next level, a coach looking to sharpen your development philosophy, or a recruit trying to understand what separates elite programs from everyone else — this conversation is loaded from start to finish.

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What does it take to build winners everywhere you go?

In this episode, Quinn McGrath sits down with Gardner-Webb Head Baseball Coach Jim Chester — a coach who has spent over two decades turning struggling programs into contenders at every level of college baseball.

Coach Chester takes us through his full journey — from his first days as an assistant at Seton Hill University in 2003, to his first head coaching job at Mercyhurst North East, to building a dynasty at Penn State Greater Allegheny where he went 239-84-1, made six USCAA World Series appearances, and won the 2011 Chuck Tanner Collegiate Manager of the Year Award.

We walk through the turnarounds — including Lock Haven, where he inherited a 13-28 program and turned it into a 32-18 team with a draft pick and five All-Conference selections — and Barton College, where he engineered what was recognized as the biggest Division II turnaround in the country in 2019, earning Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year honors in the process.

Then we get into the jump to Division I — taking over Gardner-Webb, navigating COVID, and building the Runnin' Bulldogs into a Big South force. In 2023, Gardner-Webb knocked off Northwestern, Michigan State, No. 13 Campbell, and No. 16 Duke — the kind of wins that put a program on the national map. We also talk about Mason Miller, who Coach Chester discovered at Waynesburg University, and what his rise to the MLB means for the Gardner-Webb program.

In this episode we cover:⚾ What it really takes to turn around a struggling program fast⚾ How to build a winning culture that sustains itself year after year⚾ Recruiting at the D2 and D1 levels — and how to win battles against bigger programs⚾ The jump from Division II to Division I and what surprised him most⚾ How his coaching philosophy has evolved over 20+ years⚾ Where Gardner-Webb baseball is headed and what a Big South championship run looks like

Whether you're a coach, a player, a recruit, or a baseball family — this conversation is loaded with insight on what it takes to build something that lasts.

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In this episode, we sit down with Troy Marrow, founder of The Infield Factory, a baseball training company focused on infield development, mental performance, and building complete athletes.

Troy brings a unique background to the conversation, combining experience as a former high-level player, college coach, professional baseball staff member, and educator. As a player at North Carolina Central University, he was a three-time captain, All-Conference performer, and ABCA/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region selection. His journey later led him into coaching and baseball operations, with stops at George Washington University, NCCU, USA Baseball, the San Francisco Giants, and the Baltimore Orioles, where he served as a Fundamentals Coach.

Throughout the episode, Troy shares lessons from his playing career, his time with elite baseball organizations, and his experience helping more than 20 players sign professional MLB contracts. The conversation dives into what separates great infielders, how mental performance fits into player development, and why leadership, maturity, and off-the-field growth matter just as much as skill work.

Troy also discusses the vision behind The Infield Factory, his philosophy on developing infielders, and what players, parents, and coaches need to understand about the modern player development landscape.

This episode is a valuable listen for infielders, coaches, parents, and anyone interested in the process of developing athletes physically, mentally, and personally.

Looking to work with or get in touch with Troy? Follow him and DM him on Instagram @coach_troy06

In this episode of Behind The Lineup, we are joined by Coach Mike McCarry, head baseball coach at Lackawanna College.

Since taking over the Falcons in 2018, Coach McCarry has built one of the most consistent junior college baseball programs in the country. Under his leadership, Lackawanna has made four NJCAA Division II World Series appearances, won four Region 19 championships, captured four District titles, and produced numerous All-Americans, Players and Pitchers of the Year, four-year transfers, and professional baseball players.

We dive into Coach McCarry’s coaching journey, beginning with his time at La Salle University and Stephen F. Austin, where he developed as a pitching coach, recruiter, and player development leader. From there, we discuss how he built sustained success at the JUCO level despite constant roster turnover, what recruiting looks like for junior college baseball, and the biggest misconceptions players and coaches have about the JUCO route.

Coach McCarry also shares his thoughts on using social media in today’s recruiting landscape, how being active on X has helped him promote his program and players, and why visibility matters for JUCO athletes looking for four-year opportunities.

We also look ahead to Lackawanna’s move to NCAA Division II and the PSAC East Division beginning in 2026. Coach McCarry breaks down what will change with recruiting, scholarships, roster construction, scheduling, and competition — and what will remain the same as the Falcons take the next step as a program.

Finally, we close with what Coach McCarry looks for in future Lackawanna players and what recruits should do to get noticed by him and his staff.

This is a great conversation for players, parents, and coaches who want to better understand junior college baseball, player development, recruiting, and what it takes to build a winning program.

Follow Behind The Lineup for more conversations with coaches, players, and baseball minds from across the game.

In this episode of Behind The Lineup, we take a deep dive into the Boston Red Sox from the aftermath of the 2018 World Series championship through the firing of Alex Cora in 2026. What started as one of baseball’s most successful 21st-century franchises quickly turned into a period defined by confusion, contradiction, and organizational dysfunction.

We begin with the warning signs after 2018: the departure of Dave Dombrowski, the push to cut payroll, the hiring of Chaim Bloom, and the investigation surrounding the Red Sox sign-stealing scandal. From there, we break down the defining moment of this era: the Mookie Betts trade. That move set the tone for years of uncertainty in Boston.

Season by season, we look at the highs and lows of the post-Mookie era: the disastrous 2020 pandemic season, the surprising 2021 ALCS run, back-to-back last-place finishes, major roster turnover, the Rafael Devers extension and eventual trade, the Craig Breslow era, the rise of young talent, the return to the postseason in 2025, and the disastrous 2026 offseason that ultimately ended with Alex Cora being fired.

The central question of this episode is simple: what exactly is the Red Sox plan?

From Mookie Betts to Rafael Devers to Alex Cora, Boston has repeatedly moved on from franchise-defining pieces without proving it had a better direction in place. This episode examines how one of baseball’s most iconic organizations went from championship standard to organizational uncertainty — and why the “Curse of Mookie Betts” may still be alive and well in Boston.

On this episode, I sit down with Spencer Sundahl — a former college baseball player, current MLBPA-certified agent with SSM, and law student — for a conversation packed with insight for players, parents, and coaches trying to better understand today’s baseball landscape.

A San Diego native, Spencer shares his path from playing college baseball at Cal State Los Angeles to building a career in player representation. We talk about his journey through the game, what led him from player to agent, and how his experiences in baseball, business, and sports administration helped shape the work he does today.

We also take a deep dive into what player representation actually means. Spencer breaks down the differences between an advisor, NIL representative, and professional agent, what representation really looks like at the high school, college, and professional levels, and when athletes truly need someone in their corner. He also shares valuable perspectives on draft decisions, pro ball vs. college, NIL opportunities, honest feedback, and what families should look for before signing with an agent.

This episode offers a real look at the business side of baseball and the realities that come with pursuing the game at the next level.

Follow SSM on Instagram! @ssmfirm

In this episode, I break down my Top 10 sports nostalgia moments, with a couple of honorable mentions thrown in for good measure. From Backyard Baseball and MLB 2K to Sunday Night Baseball, NHL on NBC, Lob City, Little League memories, and the old SportsCenter era, this list is a trip back through the teams, players, events, and sports culture that made growing up a fan so much fun.

I also open with a bigger idea: why nostalgia hits so hard in the first place. My take is that nostalgia is powerful not because the past was perfect, but because it feels safe. Looking back on moments that have already been resolved can make them feel warmer, simpler, and more meaningful. This episode is all about revisiting those sports memories that still stick with us and asking what made them so special.

Whether you agree with my list or think I left something off, this is a fun one for anyone who loves sports and remembers the eras, moments, and feelings that made fandom great.

In this episode, I sit down with Coach Zak Blair — former All-American player, professional baseball player, college coach, scout, and now the owner of B2 Baseball and B2 Fastpitch in Ohio.

Zak’s journey through the game is one built on performance, resilience, and purpose. From growing up in Jefferson, Ohio, to earning Under Armour All-American honors in high school, he went on to compete at the Division I level at Winthrop before transferring to Mercyhurst, where he put together a record-breaking season and earned All-American recognition. His summer in the Cape Cod League further cemented his reputation, as he became an All-Star, the only Division II starter in the All-Star Game, and the recipient of the Daniel Silva Sportsmanship Award.

We talk through his path from college standout to being drafted by the Chicago Cubs, the lessons he learned in professional baseball, and how his experiences in scouting and college coaching helped shape the philosophy he brings into player development today.

Zak also shares the vision behind B2 Baseball and B2 Fastpitch, what separates the organization from others, how he develops both the physical and mental side of athletes, and what players and parents often misunderstand about recruiting.

This episode is full of insight for players, coaches, and parents who care about long-term development, doing things the right way, and building something that lasts.

Interested in the B2 Bulls? Check it out here: https://b2baseball.com/