Today's episode features former Major Leaguer, Xavier Scruggs. He and I played against each other in the minor leagues a few times and I saw him on ESPN lately doing some announcing for the Korean Baseball Organization, KBO. I had track him down and dive into his college career at UNLV and also his long road in the minors before getting called up by the St. Louis Cardinals. He also played for the Miami Marlins and we discuss his time with them including learning lessons from Barry Bonds and Ichiro. He ends up getting the opportunity to play professionally in Korea so we explore the different world out there for him. Xavier is also a podcaster and content creator. Check him out @xavier_scruggs to follow his brand, XO Athletes and his new podcast, "On Deck With X"As always you can follow me on Instagram: @tootallsportspodcastTwitter: @TooTallSportsEmail: [email protected] subscribe, 5 star rate, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Also, you can listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Google Podcasts.If you would like to watch the interview, Subscribe to the show on our YouTube Channel: Search - Too Tall Sports Podcast

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I was lucky enough to network and recently meet with Todd Blyleven. He is the son of Hall of Fame pitcher and Minnesota Twins broadcaster, Bert Blyleven.  Todd played professionally himself in the minor leagues and grew up in Orange County just like me, among other places.We discuss his early years growing up in the clubhouse with his dad and learning a ton about baseball and work ethic from so many great players over the years. We dive into his high school, college and pro career combined with the life lessons he learned along the way. Todd ended up becoming a scout after his playing days were over and was very successful at bringing talent into the World Champion 2002 Angels organization and the Colorado Rockies. He signed big name players like Troy Tulowitzki and Ian Stewart to name a few. We also talk about his business marketing career and how it led him to become the CEO of his new company The Scout Hub.On another note, Todd was there the night of the tragic shooting in Las Vegas at the country concert near Mandalay Bay three years ago. He pulls back the curtain on a crazy night for him and his family that he'll never forget... You don't want to miss this.Enjoy and please SUBSCRIBE, RATE 5 STARS ON APPLE PODCASTS!Email: [email protected]@TooTallSportsPodcast - Instagram@TooTallSports - Twitter

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My guest today is a former big leaguer, Houston Astros Draft Pick in 1999 and proud Long Beach State Dirtbag. Mike is part of the illustrious group of major league players to come out of LB St. He explains his upbringing and how he came to be a pitcher in junior college. Then he goes through the process of becoming a Division 1 pitcher and eventually getting drafted by Houston. He has plenty of great stories for us and really dives deep into his somewhat unlikely rise to making it in the show. Make sure to stick around toward the end for some real insight into those great Astros teams in the mid 2000's including guys like: Biggio, Bagwell, Berkman, Clemens and Pettitte. That group made it to the World Series against the Chicago White Sox, and Mike got to pitch in the Fall Classic himself.Enjoy the episode! Please remember to Subscribe, Rate 5 Star on Apple Podcasts, and Leave a review to help the show get some exposure so we can expand our great listening base of fans!Follow me:Instagram: @tootallsportspodcastTwitter: @TooTall SportsFacebook: Search - Too Tall Sports PodcastYouTube:  Search - Too Tall Sports PodcastThank you all! 

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We get the opportunity to talk to a true student of the game today, Justin Ramsey. The Double-A pitching coach in the Baltimore Orioles organization opens up to us about his life and climb in the coaching ranks. He and I discuss his playing career starting in Sacramento, CA. Going the Junior College route at Sac City, and making his way to becoming one of the best relievers in Oral Roberts University history. He always knew he wanted to be a coach and we dive into his success and rise with Division 1 and Division 2 baseball programs. He shares some great stories along the way and even one scary situation during his independent ball days that ended up being life threatening as well. We discuss his Division 2 National Championship run at Nova Southeastern and the talent they were able to bring in from the state of Florida. Lastly, we go into his current situation and what it's like to coach pro ball without any of the school distractions, just baseball all the time!Enjoy the episode, please don't for get to subscribe, 5 STAR, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and visit our Too Tall Sports Podcast - YouTube channel to watch the episode as well. Check the links below and be sure to follow me:Instagram - @tootallsportspodcastTwitter - @TooTallSportsYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOT1dawh_079qckq7OmFHAQ

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One of my favorite episodes we've done so for on the Too Tall Sports Podcast. If you want a true "from nothing to something" story in sports, this is it! My former teammate and friend of the show, Bo Schultz, stops by to discuss his baseball career and great stories from the last 15 years of his life. We find out that he played baseball at the same high school as Matthew Stafford and Clayton Kershaw. He explains the unlikely rollercoaster of his baseball career at Northwestern and how he ultimately became a professional baseball player. He's interacted with some great ESPN personalities like Stephen A., Max Kellerman and Michael Wilbon during his internships in college. From independent ball to the big leagues and everything in between, including some great stories from our time together in Mobile, AL. Enjoy the show, please subscribe, 5 Star and review on Apple Podcasts. You can also find the show on Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube. Follow me on:Instagram: @tootallsportspodcastTwitter: @TooTallSportsFacebook Group: search - Too Tall Sports Podcast Thank you for the support and Let's Go!

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How many people get the rare opportunity to speak with a Little League World Series legend?! Haha, well today we get the hear some great stories from the baseball career of Randall Shelley. He grew up in Long Beach, CA and his Little League team actually did win the LLWS twice, pretty remarkable. We dive into his high school and college career at UCLA. He played alongside Chase Utley for a few years and got to witness his work ethic up close and personal. The transition from college ball to pro ball brings out some great stories, including his random encounter with Borat on the Ali G Show. We close by discussing his days in independent ball that brought back the joy of the game for him in his later years. He also entertains us with some great stories about Rickey Henderson and playing with the always interesting, Jose Canseco... It's all here on another great episode of the Too Tall Sports Podcast... Follow me on Instagram @tootallsportspodcast, email the show at [email protected] if you like what you hear and what you want to hear more of as we move forward. Don't forget to subscribe, 5 Star on Apple Podcasts and write a review. Available on all platforms: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music and more!

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My old buddy and teammate from college, Nick Vincent, stops by to tell us about his career and what it's like playing Major League Baseball during the pandemic. He's a true San Diego guy and was lucky enough to not only get drafted by the Padres, but play in the big leagues for them as well. He had a meteoric rise in professional baseball and he's been one of the best relievers in MLB over the last 6-8 years. He drops a couple of funny stories about being called up that you'll definitely enjoy.  - Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review. We're on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and you can watch every video interview on our YouTube channel. Let's Go!

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Great episode with my buddy and hilarious character, Jared Hughes. He and I both played at Long Beach State, both played in the Pirates organization, both from Orange County, and both are 6'7 haha! Jared and I discuss his minor league career and a funny story when something clicked for him to go from a fringe player, to a very accomplished reliever in the big leagues for the last 10 years. We talk about the science of pitching and what it's like to pitch in the new era of baseball. He's a great follow on Twitter as well @locatejared, posts tons of self-deprecating, funny videos. Check him out! Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. We are available on all platforms! @tootallsportspodcast on social media.

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My former college pitching coach Jon Strauss, stops by the show to discuss his career as a player and how he quickly transitioned into a very successful coach at the collegiate level. He's spent time at Loyola Marymount, Long Beach State, Pepperdine and now Baylor to name a few. We talk about pitch calling in college vs. letting the young catchers run the show. We dive into recruiting nowadays vs the early 2000's. And we also discuss the "Pitching Lab", a new way to evaluate pitching and skillset on campus at Baylor. We end the show with some Laker talk of course, as Jon is an LA native. Enjoy the episode, please SUBSCRIBE, RATE AND REVIEW! Thank you as always. See ya next week...

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Today's episode features the youngest of the FIVE Hairston's to make it to the big leagues, Scott Hairston. We dive into his upbringing and career in a family with so much baseball talent. He shares some great stories about playing in Arizona and San Diego, sharing the field with Barry Bonds on his big night, and hitting for the cycle with the New York Mets.Lastly, Scott has become a consultant for a "clean crafted" wine company called Scout and Cellar... Check out his link to order this great wine that is pesticide free! Enjoy the episode and please subscribe, rate and review! http://scoutandcellar.com/scotthairstonFollow me @tootallsportspodcast on Social Media, @2tallsportspod on Twitter

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