In this episode of The Hard Truth, Jeremy Fouts sits down with Matt Reynolds—retired MLB player and proud dad—to talk mindset, nutrition, recovery, and the grind from high school to the pros. Matt shares lessons from his time with the Mets, Nationals, Royals, and more, opening up about mental resilience, performance under pressure, and what separates athletes who make it from those who don’t. Whether you’re a parent or an aspiring athlete, this episode is full of practical advice, real stories, and hard truths you need to hear.

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:27 – Personal background and life in Tulsa

05:27 – Difference between high school, college, and pro ball

07:41 – The grind of playing 162 games in the MLB

09:00 – Moments of wanting to quit or self-doubt

10:29 – Mental spiral from being overlooked

11:22 – What separates players who make it from those who don’t

13:00 – Importance of visualization and mental preparation

15:02 – Approach to nutrition and its impact on performance

16:35 – Role of recovery: sleep, hydration, and tracking

18:00 – What Matt would fix about his high school nutrition

19:55 – Life lessons from MLB and how they shaped him

21:31 – Handling pressure and expectations on the big stage

23:52 – Advice for the overlooked athlete

25:37 – Toughest pitcher Matt ever faced

28:04 – Most memorable big league moment

31:59 – Favorite stadium to play in and why

32:48 – Pregame routines and superstitions

33:39 – Life after baseball: family, coaching, new career

34:53 – Applying baseball lessons to everyday life

37:39 – Final hard truth takeaway from Matt

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