The Black Baseball Mixtape

Let me be clear; Minority Baseball Prospects is changing the landscape for Black baseball.

In just a few years, MBP is disrupting the standard, predominantly white ecosystem of youth, travel, and college baseball to bring exposure to some of the best minority players in the country.

MBP's mission statement reads as follows: Minority Baseball Prospects' mission is to promote the game of baseball worldwide by hosting the highest quality events for minority baseball prospects while providing meaningful opportunities and information to minority players, families, MLB organizations, college coaches, and fans. Of course, that sounds amazing. But who runs this operation? Where did this fantastic (and much-needed) vision come from?

The answer is Atlanta-based coach Alex Wyche. And he is our guest on the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast.

Coach Wyche is the founder and CEO of MBP. After a successful high school and college playing career, he moved right into coaching in the Atlanta area. Before starting MBP, Wyche led the historic power Redan High School for six years. Wyche has coached countless collegiate signees and several pro players. There is no better person to run an organization designed to teach and expose Black baseball players worldwide.

You should find this episode entertaining and educational.

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Follow and support Minority Baseball Prospects. @MBPTakeover

You and find BBM on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. @BlackbaseballMixtape

I rarely get the opportunity to feature Black professional players from my hometown of Richmond, Virginia, so I could not pass up the extraordinary chance to have Kyle Battle on the Mixtape. Kyle is a prospect in the Yankees organization. He signed with the Yankees in 2021 as an undrafted free agent following a stellar career at Old Dominion University. Last season, Kyle played for the Tampa Tarpons (A) and the Hudson Valley Renegades (High A).

Kyle is a fantastic young man on and off the field. On this Mixtape episode, we talked about his unique journey to professional baseball, his great support system, and his goals of giving back to the game during and after his playing days.

Like many pro players, Kyle enjoys pro baseball's diversity and international flair. He loves learning about his teammates and being able to play baseball for a living. We'd be rooting for Kyle even if he wasn't from Richmond, VA, but it's an added bonus that he is. VA STAND UP - TWO UP - TWO DOWN.

Detroit Tigers prospect Justyn-Henry Malloy is the latest fantastic guest on the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast.

On this episode, JHen talks about his baseball journey, his amazing support system, navigating the challenge of being an elite Black player at the high school level, transferring schools in college, entering the draft, and much more.

Justyn-Henry had an excellent 2022 in the Braves organization. He went from High A to AAA in one season. This offseason, he was traded to the Tigers and listed as the #7 prospect in the Tigers organization.

He is heading to his first major league Spring Training in a few weeks!

You will find Justyn-Henry to be a cool, confident, well-rounded young man. He is hungry and humble, and earnest about being the best baseball player he can be. I am confident once you hear this podcast, you will be a JHen fan, like me.

Side note: The BBM podcast has broken into the top 100 baseball podcasts on the Apple charts. Your support of this project/podcast has been amazing! Please continue to support the Black Baseball Mixtape by subscribing to the podcast and rating the show (5 stars, please).

You've heard the expression "wise beyond your years." That is the feeling I got speaking with Orioles fundamentals coach Troy Marrow. Coach Marrow has seen a lot in baseball and is just getting started.

Before joining the O's staff, Marrow played his college ball at North Carolina Central University. He did a coaching stint with USA Baseball, George Washington University and ultimately was accepted into the first-ever MLB Diversity Fellowship. A job that placed him away from the field and in the front office for the San Franciso Giants. Marrow returned to the field last year after some time away from the game.

On this episode of the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast, Cheats visits with Coach Marrow, and they discuss his storybook journey, his role as fundamentals coach, how he views the game, and what it's like to be a Black man placed in all of these unique, exciting, and sometimes isolating roles.

Coach Marrow has a passion for the game that is contagious. He thrives on competition and, one day, wants to be a manager at the highest level. Given all that he's been through, I wouldn't bet against him.

Please subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape everywhere podcasts are available. You can watch this episode and all of these episodes on the Black Baseball Mixtape YouTube page.

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Another 2023 Dream Guest is joining us on the Black Baseball Mixtape. Edwin Jackson could be "the most interesting man in baseball." He is a 20-year pro, MLB All-Star, World Series Champion, and Team USA Silver Medalist. He has thrown a no-hitter. He played for an MLB-leading 14 teams. And, he is a founding Board member of the Players Alliance.

On this episode of the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast, Cheats talks with Edwin about his work with the Players Alliance, his storybook career, and the current state of Black baseball.

The Players Alliance is focused on correcting inequities within baseball at every level. Edwin believes direct action in underserved communities is crucial to this work. The Players Alliance is also working to eliminate the barriers that cause many Black players to be overlooked and ultimately underrepresented in our game.

This episode also covers some legendary players Edwin teamed with throughout his career. We touch on how he utilized his support system during challenging times. And, how he is adjusting to retirement. This is a fantastic episode, loaded with gems and insight. You don't want to miss it.

Please follow and subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape on IG: @Blackbaseballmixtape. Subscribe to the Players Alliance @playersalliance and Edwin at @Ejack36.

D'Andre Smith, 21, has dreamed of playing pro ball since he was in middle school. He did the weight training, the skill work, the private workouts; he played high school ball, then travel ball, and flirted with going pro before he committed to USC. Following his sophomore season at USC, it was time to make the move. He entered the 2022 draft and was selected by the Mets in the 5th round.

D'Andre is now adjusting to pro ball. He has a consistent routine that he vigorously pursues every day. But now, instead of working out around his college teammates and peers his age, he is working out beside fellow pro players, some at the highest level of the game.

On this episode of the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast, we spend time getting to know D'Andre; and all he hopes to accomplish in the game. He is a genuine, humble, well-rounded person. It's impossible not to like him, and root for his success.

Thank you for checking out the podcast. Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

You can follow D'Andre on Twitter at @DAndreSmith04 and on IG at @DAndreSmith

Del Matthews is MLB's Vice President of Baseball Development.

I know that sounds awesome, but what does that really mean? It means he is one of the few people working at MLB HQ dedicated to ushering in a new generation of Black American players. Through his role at the MLB Development office, he assists programs like the DREAM Series, the Hank Aaron Invitational, and the recently announced Swingman Classic. These programs (and several more) provide elite Black amateurs a taste of pro baseball.

Del, a former pro player, moved to the executive side in 2004. He grinned as an intern for the Cubs, worked for the Arizona Fall League, and ultimately landed in the front office of the Chicago White Sox for six years. He then moved to MLB HQ in 2016.

Del understands what it takes to succeed on the field and in the front office. His path is not for the faint of heart, but it emphasizes what is possible if you identify a goal and remain committed to achieving success. You don't want to miss this podcast.

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Thank you for your tremendous support. Please follow BBM on Twitter @BBallMixtape and IG: @BlackBaseballMixtape

On this episode of the Black Baseball Mixtape podcast, Cheats is joined by Dodgers organization outfielder Bubba Alleyne. Bubba was drafted in the 19th round of the 2022 draft after completing a historic career at the University of Maryland. His career highlights include Big Ten Player of the Year, 2022 Golden Spikes Semifinalist, 2022 Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American, 2022 Baseball America First Team All-American, 2022 NCBWA First Team All-American, 2022 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-Region East Team, 2022 First Team All-Big Ten, 2022 D1Baseball Second Team All-American, and 2022 NCAA College Park Regional All-Tournament Team. He finished his Maryland career second in home runs, extra-base hits and runs scored. I could go on, but I'll stop there.

Even with his on-field success, Bubba still has much to prove. It was not always easy at the University of Maryland. He used his competitiveness, self-confidence, and support system to endure some tough times at College Park. He keeps those principles today as he works to move up the ranks of pro baseball.

This conversation has a little bit of everything. The highs and lows of pro ball, and, of course, we talk about race and the challenges he faces as a Black player in 2023.

Lock in with us. Please rate and review the Black Baseball Mixtape: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-black-baseball-mixtape/id1654357631

Note: Bubba is a very busy man. He did this podcast over his phone. Please forgive the sound quality.

Please follow the Black Baseball Mixtape on IG: @BlackBaseballMixtape and Twitter: @BBallMixtape

Coach Bianca Smith is our esteemed guest for Mixtape Talk 016. She also happens to be the second person on our 2023 Podcast Dream Guest List to join the Mixtape.

Coach Smith made history in 2021 when she was hired as a coach by the Boston Red Sox organization. The hire made her the first Black woman ever to serve as a professional baseball coach.

While Coach Smith may have burst on many people's radars with her historic hire, she has a journey made for Hollywood. She played softball and club baseball at Dartmouth. She earned two post-graduate degrees (one in law), interned in MLB front offices, and served as a volunteer coach at the college level. She applied for job after job after job, rarely hearing back from D1 programs and pro clubs. She worked seven paying jobs simultaneously, along with a volunteer coaching position. She earned her stripes to make history.

Our free-flowing conversation is fun and authentic. We touch on Coach Smith's coaching style and philosophy, analytics versus the eye test, and how players respond to her instruction. We also discuss how life has changed for her since her hire. It's a fantastic talk. Coach Smith is genuine, passionate, extremely knowledgeable, and even a bit funny; in her own way.

It was indeed an honor to have her on the Mixtape. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Please subscribe, share, and rate the Black Baseball Mixtape. We really need your support to expand the mission.

Best,

Cheats @BlackBaseballMixtape - IG - @BBallMixtape (Twitter)

Black Baseball Mixtape Friends, Welcome to 2023!

I'm so glad you found us. This year will be filled with dynamic podcast guests and fun Black baseball banter. Last year, I created a Dream List of guests for 2023, and I hope to deliver as many as possible throughout the year.

My first guest in 2023 is Bruce Maxwell, starting catcher for the Cañeros de Los Mochis. Bruce is in his 11th season of pro ball. He has played all over the world (the US, Mexico, Germany, etc.). In 2017, while playing for the Oakland A's, Bruce was the first (and only) MLB player to take a knee during the national anthem for social justice. Maxwell's actions came in response to President Donald Trump's comments that professional football franchise owners should fire players who knelt during the anthem. He remained the only MLB player to protest by kneeling until 2020, when the league allowed for "Black Lives Matter" patches and organized league-wide kneeling for social justice in the aftermath of the nationwide protests of the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.

In this first part of our two-part interview, Cheats (Black Baseball Mixtape) talked to Bruce about making a professional home in Mexico and how he has adjusted personally and professionally since 2017. Maxwell has been open and authentic about his journey, the good and bad. His friends and support system has changed since 2017, but he has found joy in the game, and peace within himself.

Bruce Maxwell was right. He took a stand when others did not. He has suffered penalties that most of us don't fully understand. I am honored to have him as my first guest of the Black Baseball Mixtape Podcast in 2023.

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