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The show welcomes a professional baseball player from the Cincinnati Reds, known as Captain Chaos. TJ discusses the benefits of playing multiple sports and shares his journey from being a preferred walk-on at the University of Nevada to becoming the most valuable position player in 2016, thanks in part to a motivational tweet. 

His misunderstanding of the MLB draft rule led to him receiving the biggest bonus ever given to an undrafted free agent. TJ recounts his unforgettable debut in the Pioneer League and reflects on the grind of the minor leagues that shaped him. He shares a touching story of being told he was headed to "The Show" and describes hitting a home run for his first MLB hit, which Mookie Betts later traded for a signed bat.

 TJ also discusses the ups and downs of the 2023 season, his outlook for 2024, and his offseason training regime at The Gym LV, operated by Rob Martinez, who specializes in sports-specific training, functional movement, and injury reduction. Additionally, TJ's family has a rich lineage of college basketball coaches at Kentucky, Xavier, and URI.

TJ Friedl Links:

Follow TJ on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tj_friedl6/?hl=en

TJ Player Profile Cincinnati Reds: https://www.mlb.com/player/tj-friedl-670770

Video on TJ 2023 Season Success: https://www.mlb.com/reds/video/tj-friedl-on-2023-team-success

The Gym LV

Website: https://thegymlasvegas.com/

Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thegymvegas/?hl=en

Before the Lights Links:

A Heartbeat & A Guitar: Johnny Cash & the Making of Bitter Tear Docuseries: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/docuseries/bitter-tears

Hire Tommy to Speak: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/public-speaking

Become a BTL Member: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/support

Before the Lights Website: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/

Get Tommy a Glass of Vino: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/beforethelights

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