KPB Podcast

KPB Podcast

By Keep Playing BaseballSports
Download on the App Store

KPB Podcast episodes

  • 27| Demetre Kokoris (Pitching Coach- Toronto Blue Jays Class A Short Season)

    We are excited to bring back Demetre Kokoris, who now serves as the pitching coach for the Vancouver Canadians, the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. You may remember Coach K from episodes 8 and 9, when he was the pitching coach at D2 Point Loma Nazarene. Now that he's in pro baseball, Coach K really opens up and shares an honest view of the college baseball recruiting process. The enthusiasm for helping players and parents through the recruiting process is still there and the information is even better. Listen in for an insider's look at the recruiting process in our wide ranging conversation which gets into the college baseball information at  around the 12 minute mark.

    If you want to connect with Coach Kokoris or have questions, he encourages you to send him a DM on Twitter where you can find him @CoachKokoris. 


    Topics: 

    Projectability, Finding a College Fit, Recruiting, Red Flags in Recruiting, Junior College, JUCO, D1, D2, D3, Offer Deadlines, Social Media, Program Research, College Visits, Scholarship Offers, Decision Making

    1 hr 6 min
  • 26| Matt Kosderka: Head Coach, Lewis & Clark College (D3, Oregon)

    In this episode, we sit down and talk shop with Lewis and Clark College Head Coach Matt Kosderka. The hour-long episode goes quickly as Coach Kosderka drops all kinds of informational nuggets and knowledge about D3 baseball, how to find a college program, recruiting at an academic school, player development, and much more. 

    A standout pitcher at Willamette University, Kosderka was the NWC Player of the Year and drafted by the Texas Rangers. After his pro baseball career ended, Kosderka returned to the Pacific Northwest, where he was elected to the Willamette Athletics Hall of Fame and has found coaching success in the high school and college ranks. Kosderka took over as head coach for the Lewis and Clark College in 2017, and after listening to this episode, you'll see why the future is bright for the Pioneers.

    We found ourselves nodding in agreement as Coach Kosderka shared his knowledge and you won't miss this episode with the founder of the Twitter catching development group, #MaskUpMonday!

    Coach Kosderka on Twitter: @Kosderka18  

    Topics:

    Recruiting, D3 Baseball, Catching, Pitching, Hitting, Player Development, High Academic Schools, Culture, Strength & Conditioning



    1 hr 3 min
  • 25| Max Dutto (Minor League Infielder and Driveline Baseball Hitting Trainer)
    In this episode, we sit down and talk shop with current minor league infielder and Driveline Baseball Hitting Instructor Max Dutto. Dutto's unique path in baseball took him to 3 different college baseball programs and levels before being selected 266th overall by the White Sox in the 9th round of the 2016 Amateur Draft.
    Dutto's college career started at Cal where he played 3 season in the Pac-12. Dutto transferred to Cal State East Bay where he planned to finish his college career with the Pioneers, but a scheduling mistake left him ineligible to play just before his senior season. Taking quick action, Dutto transferred to Menlo College where he was immediately eligible to play for the up and coming NAIA program.
    It was at Menlo College that Dutto played for current Driveline Baseball Director of Hitting, Jason Ochart. As a professional player, Dutto followed Ochart up to Driveline as a trainee following his 2017 season with the White Sox organization. Since then, Dutto has taken on the dual role of trainee and instructor. He currently trains and works as an employee at Driveline's facility in Kent, Washington.
    Dutto's playing career and current work at the forefront of baseball's best player development facility give him the perfect perspective to provide current young players with useful tips and advice. Throughout the converstation, Dutto hits on key themes, like intentional practice, having a plan, being hungry to learn, and much more. You won't want to miss this interview with one of baseball's best young minds!
    Max Dutto on Twitter: @MaxDutto_
    Topics: College Baseball, Recruiting Process, Player Development, Offense, Hitting, Hitter Training, Constraint Lead Approach to Hitting, NAIA, D2, D1
    Episode Notes:
    You can read Dutto's article describing how to use and interpret K-Vest data here: https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2018/11/introduction-k-vest/
    46 min
  • 24| Keynote Address at Catching Academy Camp (12.1.18)
    In this episode, we play the audio from the keynote speech Keep Playing Baseball delivered to high school baseball players and their parents at the Catching Academy Camp in San Mateo, California on December 1, 2018. The talk hits on 4 big picture ideas that can be helpful for players throughout the recruiting process and also discusses the important role that parents play in the recruiting process. We start with the 4 big picture ideas for players, which include:
    1) Knowledge of self
    2) Learning about college baseball and the recruiting process
    3) Creating a personal recruiting plan
    4) "Controlling the Controllables": Keeping the focus on what you can control and controlling your reaction to what you can't
    For more on these 4 ideas in writing, read our blog post on the topic here: https://keepplayingbaseball.org/4-big-picture-ideas-that-will-help-you-in-recruitment/
    Next, we dive into the appropriate role for parents in the recruiting process and talk about how parents can help with an incredibly important life decision without overstepping their boundaries and hijacking the process away from their sons. The five roles we discuss for parents in the recruiting process are:
    1) Be a source of knowledge
    2) Be an academic advisor
    3) Be a source of stability and support
    4) Be a financial advisor
    5) Be a good teammate
    We discuss these ideas at length in writing in a popular blog post, Parents' Role in the Recruiting Process Part 3, which can be read here: https://www.keepplayingbaseball.org/parents-role-recruiting-process-part-3-2/
    Topics...
    Recruiting, Parents in Recruiting, Planning, Learning, Preparation, Academics, Financial Awareness, Teamwork
    21 min
  • 23| Creating a Personal Recruiting Plan: A Review of Recruiting 101 Step 3
    In this episode, we give an overview of Step 3 of our Recruiting 101 resource, Creating a Personal Recruiting Plan. In the podcast, we discuss why it's important to have an individualized recruiting plan and how it will help you improve your chances of finding a college baseball fit.
    This podcast episode should be used with the resources in Step 3 of Recruiting 101, which can be accessed here: https://keepplayingbaseball.org/step3/
    16 min
  • 22| Tyler Jackson (Minor League Pitcher and Former JUCO/D1 Standout)
    There isn't much in the game that Tyler Jackson hasn't experienced, which is why his story and insight provide such a great learning opportunity for those trying to make it to the next level. Jackson's college recruitment had its share of surprises and his college playing career saw stops at 4 different schools in his home state of South Carolina, including University of South Carolina (D1, SEC), USC Lancaster (JUCO), University of South Carolina Upstate (D1, Atlantic Sun), and Clemson (D1, ACC). If that sounds like a whirlwind, his 2 years in professional baseball have seen him make stops at every level of the minor leagues from Rookie Ball to AAA. At each stop in his baseball journey, Jackson learned valuable lessons which he graciously passes on to listeners in this can't miss podcast episode! Who better to learn from than a player who has seen just about everything at the college and professional level? Dive in as we touch on everything from the different levels of college baseball and the intensity of college workout programs to advice on choosing a college team, transferring, and much more!
    Topics: Recruiting, Recruiting Process, D1, Power 5 Conferences, Mid-Major D1, JUCO, Transferring, Pro Ball, Strength and Conditioning, Motivation, Work Ethic, Discipline, SEC, ACC
    1 hr 17 min
  • 21| A Note of Congratulations on Signing Day!
    We just wanted to drop a quick note of congratulations to signees, college coaches, and everyone involved in the signing process. Congratulations to all on making your college baseball dreams a reality! If you are an unsigned senior, there is no need to panic. You still have 9 months to make it happen and KPB is here to help you each step of the way!
    3 min
  • 20| A Conversation About Committing and Signing (with Brian Dempsey)
    We follow up on the recent release of the latest version of our popular article, The Truth About Verbal Commitments, with a discussion about verbal commitments and signing with a college baseball program. This hour-long episode is packed with information as we bring back Episode 7 guest, Brian Dempsey, to tap into his experience and insight. In the free-flowing conversation, we discuss the timing of commitments, the need for patience, the need to make a fully informed commitment decision, and why it's so important to do your research on programs of interest and own your decision. If you are considering your options for the next level, trying to decide the best time to make your commitment decision, or simply want to know more about committing and signing, this episode is for you! Here are some relevant articles and information to supplement the discussion on the podcast.
    Related Resources:
    Don't Commit Until You're 100% Ready: https://keepplayingbaseball.org/dont-commit-ready-2018/
    The Truth About Verbal Commitments: https://keepplayingbaseball.org/the-truth-about-verbal-commitments-2018/
    Investigating College Programs Online: https://keepplayingbaseball.org/investigating-college-programs-online-2018/
    Recruiting 101 Step 8- Evaluating Options and Offers: https://keepplayingbaseball.org/step8/
    Topics: Verbal Commitments, NLI, Signing Periods, Signing, Communication, Development, Patience
    A recent NCAA study on the timing of recruitment and commitments for D1 athletes had some interesting findings in favor of handling the recruiting process in the upperclassmen years and waiting until then to commit. You can read the findings and research report here: https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2017DIRes_DISAACEarlyRecruitingSurvey_%28Oct2017%29_FINAL_20171013.pdf
    1 hr
  • 19| Tyler Cook (Recruiting Coordinator, University of South Carolina Upstate)
    In this episode we are excited to share our conversation with University of South Carolina Upstate (D1, South Carolina) assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Tyler Cook. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Cook is in his 4th season coaching at his alma mater after a brief stint as a coach for Eastern Kentucky University. Cook works with the Spartan outfielders and hitters, as well as helping in number of other capacities, which he discusses during the interview. You won't want to miss this episode as we take a deep dive into D1 mid-major baseball and pick Cook's brain about the daily grind and schedule of college baseball, recruiting, player development, and much more.
    Topics:
    Recruiting, Outfield Defense, Daily Schedule, Communication, D1, Mid-Major Baseball, Hitting, Offense, Program Culture, Program Fit
    38 min
  • 18| What's Better for Recruiting: High School or Travel Baseball?
    In this episode, we answer a popular question from high school baseball parents- what's better for recruitment: high school or travel baseball? We get asked some variation of this question often and it's a good one! Many parents and players ask thinking that the answer will be one or the other. As we explain in detail in the podcast, the recruiting process is hardly so clear cut and the answer to this one isn't black and white either. Listen in to find out why coming up with a diverse recruiting plan and giving yourself multiple ways to connect and be seen by college coaches is best!
    Here is some suggested reading on the topic:
    The Importance of A Diverse Recruiting Plan- https://keepplayingbaseball.org/the-importance-of-a-diverse-recruiting-plan/
    Proactive Recruits Don't Get Missed- https://keepplayingbaseball.org/proactive-recruits-dont-get-missed-2018/
    KPB Recruiting 101- https://keepplayingbaseball.org/kpb-recruiting-101/
    18 min

About KPB Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The best source of college baseball recruiting information on the go! Like all Keep Playing Baseball ("KPB") resources, the KPB Podcast provides free, accessible, and accurate player-to-player information and advice on the college baseball recruiting process.