Nine Years Old, 324 Pitches—Time to Draw the Line

After a week off to shake a nasty bug, host Deven Morgan is back on “the world’s most dangerous youth baseball podcast” with his most passionate episode yet. Deven opens with quick hits—AxeBat and 3A Athletics discounts, new Driveline Academy camps—then dives into a heartfelt recap of his son's High School team's postseason run and the power of true senior leadership. From there he pulls no punches on coaching culture, contrasting supportive environments with programs that shame kids into playing scared. The centerpiece rant tackles a jaw-dropping case of pitch-count abuse: a nine-year-old who threw 324 pitches in one weekend and the tournament operator who shrugged it off. Deven explains why tournament providers must adopt MLB Pitch Smart-style limits, likening the current “not our problem” attitude to the era of child factory labor. Along the way he deconstructs toxic “tough-love” memes, explores flow state, and reminds parents that the real goal is nurturing a lifelong passion for the game. Raw, funny, and unfiltered, this episode is a call to protect kids and preserve baseball’s future.

00:00 Introduction and Housekeeping

06:48 High School Baseball Experience

11:06 Coaching Culture and Leadership

20:12 The Impact of Coaching Styles

30:09 Youth Sports and Performance Mindset

39:15 Understanding Flow State in Sports

41:46 The Impact of Parental Pressure on Young Athletes

44:57 Pitch Count Abuse in Youth Baseball

56:03 The Responsibility of Tournament Providers

01:01:06 Creating a Safe Environment for Young Athletes

01:09:59 The Importance of Passion in Youth Sports

Links

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Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

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Train bat speed and barrel accuracy with our Youth Underload Smash bat - just $79!

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⬇️ Host ⬇️

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