In youth baseball, the biggest difference-maker often isn’t velocity, exit velo, or perfect mechanics—it's whether a player is allowed to think, compete, and become himself.

In this episode of Unleashing the Baseball Mindset, Dr. Kyle Stull and coaches Dylan Gautreaux and Chris Pike are joined by coaches Scott Martin and guest coach Cory Reynolds for a real conversation about what actually develops players—and what quietly drives them out of the game.

Cory shares how a high school coaching environment with unclear expectations and “my way or the bench” decision-making killed his love for baseball, and how he eventually rediscovered the game through the kind of coaching culture every kid deserves: one built on trust, autonomy, and standards.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Developing a player vs. shaping an identity
Why kids shouldn’t be molded into “robots,” and how limiting autonomy can erase confidence and passion.

✅ Coach ego vs. player IQ
How over-controlling coaching creates fear-based baseball—and why rewarding smart decisions (even when you didn’t call them) changes everything.

✅ The “highway & shoulders” coaching model
Give players freedom to make decisions… while keeping them within clear boundaries that protect the team and the moment.

✅ Letting catchers call games (and why it matters)
A simple shift that builds pitcher-catcher relationships, improves baseball IQ, and creates true ownership.

✅ “Output over outcome”
A powerful reframe for hitters (and all players): you can’t control results, but you can control process, intent, and effort.

✅ The 4 Pillars of Trust every coach should build
Sincerity. Reliability. Competence. Care.
When players trust you, they stop playing scared—and start competing freely.

✅ Player-led teams + accountability tools
How a “players council” can protect culture, improve communication, and address issues coaches never hear in real time.

✅ The dinner table factor
How parent messaging can reinforce coaching—or undo it completely—and what coaches can do to set expectations early.

If you coach youth baseball (or you’re a parent trying to choose the right environment), this conversation is a blueprint for building a culture where kids develop skills and identity: confident, aggressive, resilient competitors who love the game.

Drop a comment: What’s one thing a coach did (good or bad) that changed your relationship with baseball?