The RosterPilot Show

Guest: Chris Thompson | Senior Manager of Baseball & Softball Programs, Cubs Charities

Travel baseball and softball have become increasingly expensive, but what if families didn't have to pay thousands of dollars for their kids to compete?

Chris Thompson oversees baseball and softball programming for Cubs Charities, including Cubs Nike RBI, an organization with 10 travel teams that operates at no charge to participating families.

But the program goes well beyond what happens on the field.

In this episode, Chris joins Patrick Jones to discuss how Cubs Nike RBI approaches player development, coaching, academics, and building relationships with families.

Chris also shares practical advice on running efficient practices, developing assistant coaches, evaluating players beyond their statistics, and creating an environment where young athletes can succeed.

The conversation explores two challenges facing travel baseball and softball: stay-to-play tournament policies and the shortage of umpires.

In This Episode

Why young coaches often struggle with communication and accountability

How to structure practices to maximize repetitions and minimize wasted time

Why coaches should focus on reinforcing fundamentals instead of constantly introducing new drills

What Chris has learned from Tim Corbin, Nick Saban, Patrick Murphy, and other successful coaches

The biggest issues facing travel baseball and softball

How Cubs Nike RBI provides baseball and softball opportunities without charging families

Why academic support and personal development are central to the program

How Chris evaluates players beyond batting averages and physical tools

What travel organizations should expect from parents

How to build a consistent culture across multiple teams and coaching staffs

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Chris Thompson's coaching background

02:03 – Advice Chris would give his younger coaching self

04:14 – Lessons from teaching that translate to coaching

05:49 – Balancing new information with fundamentals

09:08 – Coaches who have influenced Chris's philosophy

13:49 – How to run more efficient practices

16:29 – Developing and managing assistant coaches

18:17 – The biggest problems in travel baseball and softball

21:20 – How the Cubs Nike RBI program operates

25:08 – Academic coaching and opportunities beyond baseball

28:35 – What Chris looks for in players and families

30:33 – Why character and accountability matter more than statistics alone

33:59 – Advice for parents of travel athletes

35:07 – The Cubs Nike RBI tryout process

36:58 – Offseason training and player development

39:11 – Managing 10 teams and multiple programs

41:15 – How to learn more about Cubs Nike RBI

Connect with Cubs Nike RBI

Email: [email protected]

Follow Cubs Nike RBI on Instagram, Facebook, and X for program information and upcoming events.

About RosterPilot

RosterPilot is the recruiting operating system built for college baseball and softball coaches.

Evaluate. Recruit. Manage.

rosterpilot.com

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What does it take to play at one of the top junior college baseball programs in the country?

In this episode of the RosterPilot Show, Patrick Jones sits down with Logan Hullette, Recruiting Coordinator at Walters State Community College, to discuss how the program recruits, develops, and prepares players for Division I baseball.

Logan shares an inside look at Walters State's development philosophy, including why the program prioritizes live at-bats, competitive reps, and creating a professional-style environment. He also breaks down what their coaching staff looks for when evaluating high school players, the velocity benchmarks for incoming pitchers, and why seeing players compete in person is such an important part of their recruiting process.

The conversation also explores the advantages of junior college baseball in today's recruiting landscape, how the transfer portal has changed opportunities for high school players, and why finding the right program matters more than simply chasing the Division I label.

Topics Covered:

Why Walters State emphasizes live at-bats and game experience

How Walters State evaluates and recruits high school players

What it takes to compete at an elite JUCO program

Why JUCO can be a better developmental path than going directly to Division I

Pitching velocity benchmarks for incoming recruits

How the transfer portal impacts JUCO recruiting

The importance of academics, work ethic, and finding the right fit Episode

About RosterPilot: RosterPilot is the recruiting operating system built for college baseball coaches.

Evaluate players, organize recruiting information, and manage your roster in one place.

Learn more: https://rosterpilot.com

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Colton Hahn is the hitting coach at Transylvania University and brings experience coaching at both the Division I and Division III levels.

In this episode, Colton shares his perspective on coaching and recruiting across different levels of college baseball, stories from his time in the game, and what makes Transylvania University and Lexington, Kentucky, a unique place for student-athletes.

We discuss:

• The differences between coaching at the Division I and Division III levels
• Colton’s approach to hitting and player development
• Recruiting at the Division III level
• Lessons and stories from his coaching career
• What Transylvania University offers student-athletes
• Building a career in college baseball

Follow Colton on Twitter

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In this episode, Phil Shallenberger shares insights on building a values-driven baseball program at Messiah, emphasizing character, culture, and strategic recruiting. He discusses how focusing on individual growth and team culture creates sustainable success and how parents and coaches can support young athletes.

Chapters

00:00 The Savannah Bananas Experience

03:00 Building a Culture at Messiah College

06:03 Recruitment Philosophy and Team Dynamics

09:10 The Importance of Character in Recruitment

11:57 Creating a Supportive Environment for Players

14:48 Niche and Identity of Messiah College Baseball

17:59 Facility Upgrades and Future Aspirations

22:18 Recruiting Strategies and Geographic Reach

26:04 Balancing Family and Coaching Life

30:07 Navigating Parental Involvement in Recruitment

37:17 Encouraging Youth Sports Participation and Identity

Resources

Messiah College Baseball - https://www.messiah.edu

Phil Shallenberger on Twitter - https://twitter.com/philshallenberger

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In this episode, I sit down with Cam Lanzilli, college pitching coach and former professional pitching development specialist with the Baltimore Orioles, to talk about what elite pitching development actually looks like behind the scenes and what most coaches and families are getting completely wrong.

Cam breaks down why recruiting pitchers who "throw strikes" is the wrong way to think about command, what focal point training is and why it changes everything, and how he uses data and movement profiles to develop pitchers individually rather than forcing them into a one size fits all system.

We also get into the Tommy John epidemic, why low volume training in the fall is actually the smartest thing a pitcher can do. He also mentions what he saw in a preferred walk-on that nobody else wanted that turned him into a scout magnet by the end of the season.

This conversation is a must listen for pitchers, parents, and coaches who want to understand what modern elite pitching development actually looks like and why uniqueness beats everything else in recruiting.

Topics Covered:

0:00 Intro

0:08 Is "recruit guys who throw strikes" actually true or just a social media trend

3:55 What acquiring strikes actually means and why zone rate alone is misleading

4:45 How focal point training works and why pitchers should stop throwing to their target

7:35 What the average pitch miss differential is in the MLB and what it means for development

8:39 What Cam would teach hitters knowing everything he knows as a pitching coach

10:35 A simple breakdown of focal point vs target and how pitchers can use it today

13:45 What Cam learned about patience from his mom being an English teacher

15:58 The biggest differences between developing college pitchers and professional pitchers

19:00 Why Cam keeps fall workloads intentionally low and what he is actually building toward

21:39 The real reason Tommy John injuries spike at the start of every season

25:03 How Cam gets pitchers to buy in when they are resistant or listening to someone else

25:36 Why Cam always has a reason before asking a pitcher to make a change

27:43 When is the right time for a pitcher to get a biomechanics assessment and 3D motion capture

29:42 The preferred walk-on nobody wanted who became a scout magnet by the end of the season

32:34 What Cam looks for first when he watches a pitcher and why uniqueness beats everything

36:53 The advice Cam would give every player and family navigating the recruiting process today

Follow Cam Lanzilli:

Twitter/X: https://x.com/LanzilliCam

 https://x.com/eckerdbaseball

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In this episode, I sit down with Clay Martin, pitching coach at the University of Pittsburgh, to talk about what it really takes to compete on the mound at the highest level of college baseball and what separates pitchers who get there from those who don't.

Clay breaks down his journey from Division III to the ACC, what he learned building one of the best pitching staffs in Division II at Seton Hill, and what the biggest adjustments have been in his first year coaching in the ACC at Pitt.

We also get into the development side, why Clay believes failure is the most underrated tool in a pitcher's growth, what he would do completely differently if he could coach young pitchers over again, and what he saw in national Pitcher of the Year Ian Korn before anyone else did.

This conversation is especially valuable for pitchers and families trying to understand what the jump to elite college baseball really looks like and what coaches are actually evaluating when they recruit at the highest level.

Topics Covered:

0:00 Intro

0:05 What it was like competing at the ACC Tournament for the first time

2:00 The biggest adjustments Clay has made coaching in the ACC at Pitt

3:47 How TrackMan is changing the strike zone in college baseball and what it means for pitchers

5:45 What made Seton Hill one of the best Division II programs in the country

7:37 The biggest lesson Clay took from his time at Seton Hill

8:57 What is Seton Hill's secret sauce for recruiting good players year after year

10:51 The real talent difference between Division II and ACC baseball

13:00 How Clay recruits pitchers to fit the park and the program at Pitt

14:37 Is struggling to put hitters away a mental problem or a mechanical one

16:09 Command first or velocity first and which pitcher Clay would rather recruit

18:00 The resources at Pitt that give pitchers a real developmental edge

19:46 The one thing Clay wants to do better as a pitching coach next season

22:02 The biggest coaching lesson Clay learned working with 14U travel ball players

24:37 Why keeping it simple is the most underused tool in player development

25:51 When Clay realized Ian Korn had what it took to become national Pitcher of the Year

28:22 Was there ever a hidden gem Clay found that other schools overlooked

31:00 Why Clay calls Pittsburgh a dream job and what makes Pitt a special place to play

Follow Clay Martin and Pitt Baseball:

Twitter/X: @ClayMart_

Instagram: @therealclaymartin

Twitter/X (Pitt Baseball): @Pitt_BASE

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In this episode, I sit down with Nick Flesher, recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at Milligan University, to talk about what it really takes to get recruited as a pitcher and what college coaches are actually evaluating when they get you on the phone.

Nick breaks down how Milligan builds their recruiting classes, why transparency with recruits matters more than selling a dream, and how their unique stackable aid system makes a high-academic school more affordable than most families expect.

We also get deep into the development side, why Nick doesn't call pitches during games, how he builds relationships with pitchers before he builds their mechanics, and what he's learned from being wrong in front of his players.

This conversation is especially valuable for pitchers, parents, and families trying to understand what coaches are really listening for during that first phone call and what separates the guys who get offers from the ones who don't.

Topics Covered:

0:00 Intro

0:04 What late May looks like for a coaching staff after the season ends

1:02 Why JUCO guys wait longer to commit and how Milligan operates around that

2:09 How Milligan's recruiting process works across all three coaches

3:35 The stackable aid system and how Milligan makes tuition more affordable

4:41 How late Milligan will go on a recruiting class and why

6:00 FaceTime campus tours and how Nick started using them for out of state recruits

7:22 Nick's personal portal journey from JUCO to Southeastern Louisiana to Tuskegee

8:26 Why Milligan is fully transparent with recruits about roster spots and roles

9:33 What Nick listens for the moment a pitcher picks up the phone

11:00 Why Milligan doesn't call pitches and the thumbs in vs index out philosophy

14:00 How Milligan's catchers are trained to become an extension of the pitching coach

14:57 The pitcher who went from struggling starter to a key contributor and what changed

18:20 What it looks like when Nick admits he was wrong to a pitcher mid-season

19:46 The hardest conversation Nick has had with a player and what he learned from it

22:39 Why getting to know a pitcher as a person comes before developing him as a player

23:10 What Nick attributes Milligan's 40-plus win seasons to over the last several years

24:32 Nick's favorite pitch to teach and why the knuckle ball is his secret dream

26:01 How Nick teaches a seam-shifted changeup to supinator pitchers

27:00 The hardest pitch to improve and what Nick does to fix a dead-zone fastball

28:00 Velocity or command first in recruiting and the minimum velo Nick will consider

29:15 The most underrated trait in a pitcher

29:52 The biggest recruiting red flag Nick sees

31:23 The most unexpected thing Nick has witnessed at a showcase or recruiting trip

Follow Milligan Baseball:

Twitter/X: @BuffBallMBB

Twitter/X (Nick): @CoachFlesh

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In this episode, I sit down with Justin Ebert, hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Greensboro College, to talk about what it really takes to develop as a hitter at the college level and what high school players and families should be doing right now to prepare.

Justin shares how his background in psychology shapes the way he communicates with hitters, why mental resilience matters just as much as mechanics, and how he builds individualized routines that set guys up for success from day one.

We also get into the recruiting side of things, how Greensboro evaluates players, what intangibles they look for beyond tools and stats, and how the transfer portal has changed the landscape for high school showcases.

This conversation is especially valuable for high school players and families who want to understand what college coaches are actually looking for and how development, attitude, and fit can matter more than rankings or division level.

Topics Covered:

0:00 Intro

0:53 Justin's origin story and path from player to coach

3:46 Why psychology changed how Justin coaches and communicates

4:45 How he helps hitters manage failure and stay mentally even

6:10 The biggest gap for incoming freshmen, building a routine

7:31 How Justin builds individual drill routines for each hitter

8:30 Tee work and underhand toss philosophy at Greensboro

9:55 Where Justin learned his hitting philosophy and who influenced him

11:13 Using visual cues instead of mechanical adjustments

11:48 Batter's box positioning and two-strike approach

14:38 Justin's experience playing travel baseball with the Canes

16:31 What Justin learned coaching travel ball with Team Elite and the Canes

18:34 How the recruiting landscape has changed since he played

19:46 Players who surprised him during the recruiting process

21:10 How the transfer portal has changed showcase baseball

21:17 When Greensboro starts recruiting and how they build their classes

25:37 The type of player and person Greensboro looks for

26:58 Why Greensboro College baseball is a family and what makes it different

29:03 Life in Greensboro, the city, campus, and culture

30:16 Best local food spots in Greensboro

32:10 Campus life, housing, and living situation for players

33:46 Facilities and why coaching matters more than resources

35:27 What Justin will do differently in his second year as hitting coach

Follow Greensboro Baseball:

Twitter/X: @GCPrideBaseball

Instagram: @GreensboroCollegeBaseball

TikTok: @GCBaseball

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In this episode, I sit down with Nate Cole, recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at Harvard University, to talk about what it actually takes to play baseball at one of the most selective schools in the country.

Nate walks through Harvard’s recruiting process, what they look for academically, how they evaluate players beyond stats and rankings, and why being a great student alone is not enough to play at the Division 1 level.

We also get into the development side of Harvard baseball, including how Nate works with pitchers, how they use technology and data, why some players need more simplicity instead of more information, and what separates players who succeed at the college level.

This conversation is especially valuable for players and families who want to understand the balance between academics, baseball ability, work ethic, and finding the right fit in the recruiting process.

Topics Covered:

What Harvard looks for in baseball recruits

How academics filter the recruiting process

Why GPA, SATs, and AP classes matter

The importance of challenging yourself early in high school

How Harvard evaluates players in person

Why Harvard recruits nationally for small classes

What families misunderstand about Ivy League recruiting

Why being “an Ivy League kid” is not specific enough

The type of player Harvard baseball wants

Why players need to be self-driven

How Nate develops pitchers at Harvard

Using technology, data, and video in player development

Why some players overthink and need to simplify

The role of passion, work ethic, and love for baseball

How baseball can open academic opportunities

The biggest mistakes families make in recruiting

Why fit matters more than logos, rankings, or scholarships

Follow Nate Cole:

X: https://x.com/NateCole33

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In this episode, I sit down with Maryville College head coach Clint Helton to talk about Division III baseball, recruiting, player development, and what it really takes to build a winning program.

Clint shares his path from playing at Maryville to becoming the head coach, how the program has grown, and what he looks for when recruiting players. We also dive into the misconceptions around Division III baseball, why the right people matter as much as talent, and how Maryville has built a culture where players take ownership of their development.

We also get into pitching strategy, why pitchability matters more than velocity at certain levels, how Maryville uses data, and what makes the school and Knoxville/Maryville area such a unique place to play college baseball.

• Clint’s background as a Maryville player and coach
• His transition from assistant coach to head coach
• What he would tell his younger coaching self
• Why recruiting is about finding the right player and the right person
• How Maryville evaluates makeup during the recruiting process
• What high school players misunderstand about Division III baseball
• Why D3 baseball can be much better than people think
• The importance of self-directed work outside team practice
• How Maryville structures its fall development period
• Why pitchability, command, and off-speed usage matter
• How Maryville’s staff tracks competitive pitches and uses data
• What makes Maryville College and the surrounding area appealing
• The history of Maryville baseball, including its 150th season

Clint Helton: @CHelt29

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