Ben Lindbergh talks to two pitchers who topped out at Triple-A in 2025, which was a demotion for one and a promotion for the other. First, he brings back Rangers pitcher Declan Cronin, the only major leaguer alum of Ben’s high school, to discuss a setback of a season that included a mysterious hip injury, compromised mechanics, diminished stuff, a cutthroat release and, finally, Tommy John surgery. Along the way, they cover the urge to play through injuries, joining the Rangers after being unceremoniously jettisoned by the Marlins, what tearing a UCL feels like, the incentives that lead to elbow problems, Declan’s plan to bounce back from a challenging year, MLB-NWSL romances, and competing with other players for wedding dates. Then (1:05:45), Ben talks to White Sox pitcher/sportswriter Duncan Davitt about becoming a journalist on the side, being on both ends of interviews, being blacked out of baseball broadcasts, the plight and importance of local media, his deceptive delivery, being traded and making a 40-man for the first time, what he has to do to earn a call-up, whether pitchers wear protective cups, and much more.

Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”

Link to “TK” journalism term

Link to MLBTR on Soderstrom

Link to Regis High School wiki

Link to Declan’s first pod appearance

Link to Declan’s second pod appearance

Link to article about baseball weddings

Link to Declan t-shirt

Link to MLBTR on Declan’s TJ

Link to list of TJ surgeries

Link to cascade injury article

Link to MLBTR on Declan’s deal

Link to team RP WPA

Link to team RP WAR

Link to staff page at Tread

Link to Tyler Zombro wiki

Link to Paige Monaghan wiki

Link to Paige’s wedding post

Link to Dansby/Mallory article

Link to Peña/Grosso engagement

Link to Duncan strikeout reel

Link to Register feature on Duncan

Link to Sox Machine feature on Duncan

Link to Duncan’s wedding post

Link to Rays prospect ranking

Link to traded prospects ranking

Link to minor league IP leaders

Link to Ben on deception

Link to Indianola IA website

Link to Indianola wiki

Link to J.D. Scholten appearance

Link to Indianola IA sports page

Link to Duncan’s boys’ basketball article

Link to Duncan’s girls’ basketball article

Link to Duncan on the offseason

Link to Duncan on the trade

Link to Duncan on the 40-man

Link to Duncan on Triple-A

Link to Duncan on big league belief

Link to Laurila’s notes column

Link to Ben on the gap in 2025

Link to Ben on the gap in 2015

Link to Davenport on the gap

Link to MLB.com on Abbott Elementary

Link to Schwarber’s 4-HR game

Link to MLB survey question

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