The Youth Baseball Podcast

What does great player development actually look like?

On this episode of the Grand Slam Garage Youth Baseball Podcast, we sit down with Coach Josh Hammer to talk about the state of youth baseball, developing the whole athlete, and why keeping the joy in the game has to remain at the center of everything we do.

Josh brings experience from NCAA baseball, high school baseball, collegiate recruiting, player development, Trosky Baseball, Driveline certification and his current work with Sacramento City College—but this conversation goes way beyond mechanics.

We get into:

⚾ Why young athletes should be allowed to play, fail and figure things out

⚾ Why coaches need to build the person before building the player

⚾ Keeping baseball fun while still developing competitive athletes

⚾ Playing multiple sports and avoiding the pressure to specialize too early

⚾ The mental game, confidence and responding to adversity

⚾ Character, academics, nutrition, recovery and preparation

⚾ Josh’s “Hustle Points” system for winning the day and winning the week

⚾ What parents can do to support their player without making every car ride home a postgame breakdown

⚾ And why the best coaches never stop learning themselves

One of our biggest takeaways:

Youth baseball is in the memory-making business.

Wins matter. Development matters. But years from now, our kids are going to remember how the game made them feel—and the people who helped them fall in love with it.

Great conversation with Coach Josh Hammer and definitely one we may need a Part 2 for.

🎧 Check out the full episode of Grand Slam Garage!

#GrandSlamGarage #YouthBaseball #BaseballPodcast #BaseballDevelopment #PlayerDevelopment #BaseballCoach #YouthSports #SacramentoBaseball #BaseballParents #BaseballLife

In this episode of The Grand Slam Garage, Coach Camilo Gutierrez sits down with Coach Derek Sullivan, Head Coach at Sacramento City College, for a coach-to-coach conversation about baseball development, youth coaching, and helping young players grow the right way.

Coach Sullivan shares insight from the college level, including how his staff evaluates a season, builds a stronger program, and prepares players for the next step. The conversation also dives into Little League baseball, creating a positive environment, letting kids learn through real game moments, and finding the balance between instruction, competition, failure, and fun.

The episode also highlights the return of Sac City Baseball Camps, a Sacramento baseball tradition focused on fundamentals, skill development, and building a deeper love for the game. It’s a great listen for parents, coaches, and young players looking to better understand how the game teaches lessons far beyond the field.

On this episode of The Grand Slam Garage, Coach Z and Gio welcome Sacramento City College Head Coach Todd Sullivan into the garage for a fun and meaningful conversation about youth baseball, coaching, character, and what it takes to keep growing in the game.

Coach Sullivan shares insight from the Sac City baseball program, what he looks for in players, and why the best athletes are the ones who love getting better every day. The conversation also dives into youth coaching, including how coaches and parents can help young players stay focused, handle emotions, build confidence, and continue having fun while learning the game.

Gio jumps in with fun questions about walk-up songs, favorite baseball movies, jersey numbers, batting stances, and his own experience at Sac City baseball camp. Coach Sullivan also gives a great look into what makes the Sac City camps special, from skill work and competition to the college players helping young athletes fall even more in love with baseball.

This episode is all about the heart of the game: having fun, learning, competing, being a good teammate, and growing one pitch at a time. 

In this episode of The Grand Slam Garage, Gio and Coach Z welcome brothers Siale and Laonie Manu for a fun, honest, and heartwarming conversation about youth baseball, favorite positions, walk-up songs, big hits, and what it means to be a great teammate.

The boys share why they love the game, their favorite memories from the season, the players who inspire their jersey numbers, and the teammates who keep them encouraged in the dugout. From home runs and triples to catcher talk, stealing bases, and classic coach sayings like “glove down, butt down,” this episode captures everything that makes youth baseball special.

Beyond the laughs, the conversation also highlights resilience, sportsmanship, community, and learning to bounce back after tough moments at the plate. It is a great reminder that baseball is about more than wins and stats. It is about confidence, friendships, and growing through the game.

From backyard swings to shining stars, this one is full of big personality, baseball joy, and plenty of laughs.

The Grand Slam Garage welcomes its very first guest! Gio and Coach Z are joined by Maddox, a 7-year-old ballplayer and teammate, for a fun conversation about baseball, snacks, walk-up songs, favorite positions, and life on the field.

Maddox shares why he loves playing second base and pitcher, talks about hitting two doubles in one game, and remembers a big play he made at third. The boys also get into favorite snacks, MLB players, walk-up songs, and what makes a great teammate.

But this episode is about more than baseball. Maddox shows what leadership looks like at a young age — being kind, checking on teammates, and helping others shake it off when the game gets tough. Gio and Coach Z also talk about winning with grace, losing with grace, and learning from every game.

From backyard swings to shining stars, this episode is full of laughs, friendship, and youth baseball heart.

Welcome to The Grand Slam Garage — a new series from the Youth Baseball Podcast.

For Episode 1, Coach Z sits down in the garage with his son, Gio Zaragoza, to talk about youth baseball from a dad, coach, and player perspective.

They talk about Gio’s season with the Yankees, learning how to pitch, goals like making All-Stars, the importance of keeping baseball fun, controlling emotions, learning the strike zone, and what makes the game special at this age. It’s a simple, honest conversation about baseball, family, development, and the lessons kids learn along the way.

From backyard swings to game-day moments, this series is all about celebrating the youth baseball journey — one conversation at a time.

Keep dreamin’ big. Keep playin’ hard. Welcome to The Grand Slam Garage.

#TheGrandSlamGarage #YouthBaseballPodcast #YouthBaseball #LittleLeagueBaseball #BaseballDad #BaseballCoach #CoachZ #BaseballFamily #PlayerDevelopment #YouthSports #KeepPlayingHard

Coach Camilo and I, Aaron Zaragoza, dive into the first few weeks of our Little League season! 

We chat about where the kids are at, how we're approaching coaching these new groups, and what we've learned along the way. Whether you're a fellow coach or a parent, tune in for insights and tips that could help you and your young athletes thrive this season! 

#LittleLeague #YouthSports #CoachingTips

In our latest Youth Sports Podcast episode, Coach Camilo Gutierrez shares why he has players train barefoot. 🦶 

Discover how going shoeless can improve foot positioning, enhance explosive movements, and elevate your game. Coach Gutierrez dives deep into the mechanics and benefits of this unique training method. 

🎧⚾ #YouthSports #BaseballTraining #CoachTips

In this episode of the Youth Baseball Podcast, we sit down with Sacramento City College pitching coach Deskaheh Bomberry for a deep dive into the art of pitching, player development, and what it really takes to compete at the next level.

Coach Bomberry shares his coaching philosophy, the key traits he looks for in young pitchers, and how athletes can set themselves apart in today’s game. From mechanics to mindset, recruiting realities to building confidence on the mound, this conversation is packed with insight for players, parents, and coaches.

Whether you’re raising the next ace or coaching your own squad, you’ll walk away with practical takeaways and a better understanding of what it means to grow as a pitcher.

Tune in and level up your game.

In this episode of The Youth Baseball Podcast, we sit down with Coach Charlie Zamora, co-founder of Warriorz Health & Fitness in Elk Grove, California — a place built to transform lives physically, mentally, and spiritually.

From helping athletes reach peak performance to teaching lifelong wellness habits, Charlie discusses what it means to truly build strength that lasts both on and off the field.

We dive into his coaching philosophy, the importance of discipline, and how building a supportive “family” environment can inspire the next generation of athletes.

Tune in to hear how Warriorz continues to shape lives and why their mission goes far beyond the gym.

#YouthBaseballPodcast #WarriorzHealthAndFitness #CoachZamora #ElkGrove #YouthSports #BaseballCommunity #MindBodySpirit #AthleteDevelopment