In this episode, I sit down with Giuseppe Papaccio, Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Seton Hall University.

Giuseppe is one of the most disciplined coaches I've come across. We got into his daily routines, how he defines success as a coach, and why the mental game matters just as much as mechanics. Giuseppe shares how his time in professional baseball shaped the way he teaches hitters today, and we talked through the balance between swing work and mindset that every great hitter needs.

We also dug into how recruiting is changing in college baseball and what players should understand about that shift. Throughout the conversation, one theme kept coming up: preparation, mental strength, and a commitment to continuous learning, and that's true whether you’re coaching, developing hitters, or working to play at the next level.

On X:

Giuseppe Papaccio: @gpapaccio2

Patrick Jones Baseball: @pjonesbaseball

📬 Sign up for the Recruiting Times, my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches.

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with performance and leadership advisor Zach Brandon. Zach spent seven years leading mental performance and coach development initiatives with the Arizona Diamondbacks and now works directly with professional and collegiate coaches.

Zach takes us through his journey. We discuss sports psychology, the significance of individualized mental training, and the role of coaches in player development. We also talk about the nuances of breathwork, the balance between aspirational goals and process, and the importance of self-awareness and intentionality in performance.

Huge thanks to Zach for coming on the podcast and sharing his expertise with us!

On X:

Zach Brandon: @MVP_Mindset

Patrick Jones Baseball: @pjonesbaseball

Zach Brandon's newsletter: Winning With Words — playbook of stories and principles for coaches to elevate their leadership and help their players win the inner game.

📬 Sign up for the Recruiting Times, my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches.

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re doing something a little different—my guest joins us to interview me! Nathan Collier is a content specialist and a former sports journalist. He’s also a baseball dad, middle school coach, and president of his local rec league. 

Nathan takes me through my baseball story. We go through my journey from youth leagues to high school, through my time playing D1 baseball at Xavier, the Independent Leagues, and then into my current role as a college baseball recruitment expert. We talk about our shared love of baseball, the mental side of the game, and the goal of providing honest, straightforward guidance for players, parents, and coaches trying to navigate the college baseball recruiting process. 

We also talk about the all-new Patrick Jones Baseball Player Community, which launches today! You can request to join at this link:

https://www.skool.com/patrick-jones-baseball-2715/about

On X:

Patrick Jones Baseball: @pjonesbaseball

📬 Sign up for my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with M.L. Morgan, the head baseball coach at Norfolk State University. We discuss his journey from being a player to a coach, his experiences in compliance, and the importance of building a strong program. M.L. shares insights on recruiting, the significance of relationships in baseball, and what he looks for in players as a scout.

On X:

M.L. Morgan: @ML_Morgan

Norfolk State University: @SpartanBSB

Patrick Jones Baseball: @pjonesbaseball

📬 Sign up for my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I interview John Yolich, a Chicago teacher, parent, and coach in the Cubs Nike RBI program. We talk about the unique aspects of the Cubs RBI program—its inclusivity, the resources it provides for families, and its focus on developing young athletes as whole people. John shares how he got involved in the program, the importance of mindset in youth sports, the role parents play, and how the program helps players prepare for life beyond baseball. We also discuss ways travel baseball organizations can improve their offerings, regardless of their budget.

Follow Patrick Jones Baseball on X and Instagram

https://x.com/pjonesbaseball

https://www.instagram.com/pjonesbaseball/

📬 Sign up for my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I break down one of the biggest mindset traps I see in college baseball recruiting: the “Division 1 or bust” mentality. A lot of players tell me their plan is to go to a Division 2 or Division 3 school for a year, then hit the transfer portal to move up to D1. But in reality, that mindset usually backfires.

I share why focusing only on yourself and your end goal often guarantees you won’t get there and what kind of mindset actually leads to growth, success, and new opportunities. The players who go on to transfer successfully don’t chase D1. They buy in, go all-in on their current program, and play for the love of the game. That’s what makes them stand out to coaches at every level.

If you’re a high school player or a parent helping your son navigate recruiting, this episode will help you reframe your goals and focus on what really matters.

Follow Patrick Jones Baseball on X and Instagram

https://x.com/pjonesbaseball

https://www.instagram.com/pjonesbaseball/

📬 Sign up for my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Wood, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of South Alabama, a D1 program located in Mobile, AL. We dive into his path through college baseball coaching and what he’s learned evaluating players at different levels of the game. We talk about the mentality it takes to succeed, why preparation separates players who stick from those who don’t, and how the practice environment is different between junior college and Division I.

Michael also gives us an inside look at how NCAA and NJCAA rules shape the way he and his staff recruit, and what he’s really paying attention to when he evaluates high potential recruits. We wrap up by talking about the incredible tradition of South Alabama baseball—why it’s such a special place to play and what makes it a great fit for competitors who want to grow at the highest level.

On X:

Michael Wood: @woodromang153

South Alabama Baseball: @SouthAlabamaBSB

Patrick Jones Baseball: @pjonesbaseball

📬 Sign up for my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I share a story about a player who received a strong offer from a mid-major school — and the advice I gave him for navigating the current college baseball recruiting environment.

For more about Patrick Jones Baseball:

👉 Follow me on X: @pjonesbaseball

📬 Sign up for my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat with Ryan Johansen, former Chicago White Sox Assistant Hitting Coordinator and current Director of Hitting/Co-Director of Player Development at Elite Baseball Training. Ryan and I discuss hitting philosophy, bat speed training, and the importance of mental skills in player development. Ryan shares the core values of hitting, the effectiveness of movement screens, and the significance of empathy in coaching. Ryan also shares insights on how to structure bat speed programs and the necessity of a cohesive coaching culture in youth baseball.

How to connect with Ryan Johansen:

On X: @RPJ1317

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohansenBaseball

On the web: https://www.johansenbaseball.com/

For more about Patrick Jones Baseball:

👉 Follow me on X: @pjonesbaseball

📬 Sign up for my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Keith Madison, former head coach at the University of Kentucky. Keith coached at Kentucky for 25 years! In this episode, we discuss the challenges of coaching, particularly the importance of maintaining balance to avoid burnout. Keith shares personal experiences and insights on how to navigate the pressures of coaching while emphasizing the need for coaches to find balance between their work and their personal lives. We also touch on the evolution of coaching perspectives, the good and the bad of travel baseball, and the writing process behind Keith's new book, "Coaching with Purpose."

Keith's book is available via his website: https://coachkeithmadison.com/

Connect with me on X: @pjonesbaseball

📬 Sign up for my weekly baseball recruiting newsletter – Get insights on college recruiting, player spotlights, and advice for parents and coaches. Subscribe at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruit

⚾ Need Help with College Recruiting? – We help serious baseball players get recruited. Book a 1-on-1 consult at https://www.patrickjonesbaseball.com/recruiting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.