Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast

Season 1 of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast wraps up with an insightful conversation with Fayetteville Pitching Coach Thomas Whitsett, whose 2019 Woodpeckers staff set a Carolina League record with 1,476 strikeouts. Matt chats with the Woodpeckers pitching coach about what young minor leaguers in the system are doing to improve without games this season (5:30) and what it's like as a coach to watch seven former Woodpecker arms make their MLB debuts this season (7:07), including the standout performances of former Fayetteville studs Cristian Javier (8:17) and Enoli Paredes (10:53). Plus, Whitsett touches on one of the most underrated sliders in the game by a former Woodpecker in The Show (12:18), his early experiences that got him interested in player development (13:24), what it was like to coach one of the Astros' current top-10 prospects as a high schooler (14:40), and a dynamic pitcher-catcher combination to watch in Houston's system (16:26).

2:40- Interview with Fayetteville Pitching Coach Thomas Whitsett

Music: "We'll Never Sleep" by Ryan Anderson, courtesy of the Free Music Archive

On the penultimate episode of the season, Matt is joined by Marty Costes, an Astros outfield prospect who was a key contributor in the Woodpeckers' 2019 playoff run. Among other topics, the Baltimore native chats with Matt about his passion for music production, how he became connected to the Fayetteville community last year (8:04), juggling three different sports before receiving a baseball offer from the University of Maryland (16:20), and the role his father played in keeping him engaged in the game when he didn't have a lot of peers pursuing careers in baseball (18:14). The former All-Big Ten standout with the Terps (#BigTenPod) also discusses being drafted twice by the Astros (19:48), playing with a future pro ball teammate in the Cape Cod League (22:15), the impact the Astros' player development machine has had on his career (27:03), and how last year's postseason run helped him bounce back from an injury to end the season on a high note (29:48). Peck that five-star rating!

4:40- Interview with Astros prospect Marty Costes

42:42- Woodpeckers Virtual Season Wrap-up 

Almost a year to the date from his dramatic Game 5 home run that helped send the Woodpeckers to the Mills Cup Championship Series, slugging Astros prospect Chandler Taylor shares the behind-the-scenes perspective of Fayetteville's dramatic postseason run in 2019. The former Crimson Tide masher touches on his day-to-day routine without minor league games (4:10) and how his 50 days on the injured list after a hamate injury helped him reflect and refine his approach before a monstrous return in which he clobbered 12 home runs from June to the end last season (9:02). The Astros preseason No. 30 prospect according to Baseball America also takes us behind the curtain of his iconic home run that helped the Woodpeckers clinch the second-half (13:41) and his game-tying blast in Game 5 against Down East (18:50), along with highlights from his collegiate career playing for three different coaches (22:29) and an unforgettable experience in the College World Series Home Run Derby (26:12). Next, longtime Fayetteville Observer sportswriter Sammy Batten joins the program to provide perspective on the bad taste left in the mouths of baseball fans when pro baseball left the city in the year 2000 (35:43), his chance encounter with the recently passed Cardinals icon Lou Brock (38:17), the excitement swirling around Fayetteville when talks of a new pro team coming to town first came up (41:44), and what it was like covering Opening Night at Segra Stadium last year (44:34).

2:50- Interview with Astros No. 30 prospect Chandler Taylor

34:27- Interview with Fayetteville Observer sportswriter Sammy Batten

Music: "We'll Never Sleep" by Ryan Anderson, courtesy of the Free Music Archive

Peck the 'ole subscribe button before flying into the seventeenth installment of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast! After a quick MLB trade deadline round-up, Matt is joined by Astros prospect Austin Hansen, a right-hander rated by Baseball America as Houston's No. 27 prospect entering 2020. The former Sooner closer hops on for an interview to discuss how he's staying sharp with the help of other pro players in the Kansas City area, including a run in with a Major Leaguer (8:50), his transition from a relief role in college to starting pitcher as a pro (10:28), and how eye-opening data from the Astros gave him insight into his pitching repertoire (12:03). Hansen also chats about his performance during one of the most dominant stretches by an Astros minor leaguer in 2019 (14:14), his pitching philosophy on staying in attack mode (15:45), watching NBA 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein play wide receiver in high school (19:00), and how he uses his platform to bring attention to stigmas surrounding mental health (20:58). Next, accomplished groundskeeper and the Woodpeckers Director of Field Operations Alpha Jones joins the show. The baseball veteran discusses the day-to-day work that goes into maintaining the Segra Stadium playing surface (25:55), how the opportunity with the Woodpeckers (JUST WHEN I THINK I'M OUT...) pulled him back into baseball (29:58), and his unexpected role as a "Bull Durham" tour guide while working at the DAP (35:25). Alpha also touches on his unconventional route from engineering to landscaping to sports turf management (39:37), the glory days when he hit a home run at a pro tryout at Doak Field (47:37), and a chance encounter with one of his childhood heroes from the '79 Pirates (49:13).

6:03- Interview with Astros pitching prospect Austin Hansen

25:00- Interview with Woodpeckers Director of Field Ops Alpha Jones

51:09- Woodpeckers Rewind and Virtual Season Update

Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast! This week, Matt is joined by Woodpeckers outfielder Ross Adolph for an intriguing conversation that takes you inside the mind of an exciting prospect in the Houston farm system. The native Ohioan discusses his offseason routine and how much he misses baseball (9:15), how he continues to work on the mental aspects of hitting and a gameday routine without a season (12:40), and how he has gotten together with other pro players in Northwest Ohio to keep simulate live competition in 2020 (13:49). The former Mets farmhand also touches on attending a high school of just 350 students (17:12), getting traded less than 7 months after being drafted (19:10), and how his breakout 2018 season showcased his unique skillset and answered any doubts about a checkered injury history (22:10). Also don't miss "Ross's Road Trip Tips" for aspiring pro ballers (31:08), a breakdown of the Jason Kanzler highlight reel catch (34:59), and a funny moment from 2019 involving a David Hensley baserunning gaffe in the playoffs (36:15).

7:09- Interview with OF Ross Adolph

39:00- Woodpeckers 2019 Rewind, 2020 Virtual Season Update, Episode 17 Preview

Before a conversation with last year's Woodpeckers hitting coach Jason Kanzler, Matt gives his news and notes from around the majors, including the Astros' winning ways despite a growing injured list (1:15), Tatis and the Slam Diego Padres making waves (2:40), and Clayton Kershaw adding to the Dodgers' dominance (3:50). Next, the former two-time Rawlings gold glove award winner at the University of Buffalo Jason Kanzler joins the show to discuss what a typical day is like at the Astros alternate site in Corpus Christi (8:18), his breakdown of his Sportscenter Top Play catch during an intrasquad game (9:20), and the development of three former Woodpeckers currently training at Whataburger Field. Kanzler, among other topics, discusses the physical gains made by intriguing catching prospect Michael Papierski (12:18), how Colton Shaver's power stands out among other catching prospects in the game (14:20), and how Jake Meyers' bat is starting to catch up to his tremendous defense in center field (16:15). Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to the podcast.

6:10- Interview with Hitting Coach Jason Kanzler

22:10- Woodpeckers Virtual Season Update in OOTP 21

24:35- Woodpeckers Rewind Moment of the Week

Music: "We'll Never Sleep" by Ryan Anderson, courtesy of the Free Music Archive

On the "Talkin' Dingers" edition of the Woodpeckers Baseball podcast, Matt chats with last year's Fayetteville home run leader Jake Adams about some of the highlights of his career since going in the 6th round to the Astros out of the University of Iowa in 2017. The podcast continues to slowly evolve into a Big Ten pod as the former conference player of the year talks about facing live pitching with the help of his brother-in-law this offseason (8:20), his early fascination with the long ball growing up watching the Twins in South Dakota (11:14), and what it was like to homer in his first professional at-bat (12:33). The former Hawkeye slugger also discusses his thoughts on a pull side approach (15:00), Big Leaguers he loves watching including the Astros' Michael Brantley (16:35), his torrid stretch of four homers in four games in Double-A last year (18:19), and how he was nearly out of options before transferring to Iowa, where he had a record-setting season to propel his career forward (22:05).

1:24- Woodpeckers shoutout on the Astros broadcast, featuring Enoli's cannolis

4:07- Fayetteville alumni updates

6:52- Interview with Astros 1B prospect Jake Adams

32:20- Woodpeckers Rewind and OOTP Virtual Season Update

Music: "We'll Never Sleep" by Ryan Anderson, courtesy of the Free Music Archive

On Episode 13 of the podcast, Matt first gives his news & notes from around the Majors, including a pair of former Woodpeckers making their debuts in the past week and some key injuries from around the league. Next, the Woodpeckers skipper Nate Shaver hops on the podcast to discuss the electrifying first two starts in the bigs by former Fayetteville ace Cristian Javier (12:32), the raw stuff that Enoli Paredes possesses out of the Astros bullpen (15:27), the debut of Humberto Castellanos this week (17:27), and how Astros players got creative during the extended layoff to stay ready (19:26). Next, another tall right-hander with swing-and-miss stuff joins the show as Cody Deason hops on the podcast to talk about his offseason since finishing 2019 strong in a Woodpeckers uniform. The former Arizona Wildcat chats about his recovery from a recent Tommy John surgery (24:15), his experience pitching in the College World Series as a freshman in 2016 (28:30), the litany of Arizona ties in the Houston farm system (31:20), how he's two degrees of separation from Channing Tatum (42:28), and more. Peck the 'ole subscribe button and leave a glowing review!

6:38- Interview with manager Nate Shaver

23:09- Interview with Cody Deason

46:40- Woodpeckers OOTP 21 virtual season check-in

Music: "We'll Never Sleep" by Ryan Anderson, courtesy of the Free Music Archive

On Episode 12 of the pod, Matt gives some quick hitters on the news & notes on the first week of the MLB season, including coronavirus concerns and four former Fayetteville arms making their big league debuts in the past week. Next, Matt continues his series previewing the Woodpeckers of the future as he welcomes outfielder Jordan Brewer, the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year at Michigan and the Astros' No. 12 prospect entering 2020 per Baseball America. The former College World Series standout discusses, among other topics, his recovery from a fluke cartilage injury this offseason (10:10), his athletic development as a true three-sport standout growing up in Michigan (15:00), and his JUCO bandit roots while playing in relative obscurity in central Illinois before taking his talents to Ann Arbor (21:01). The vibrant personality also touches on the College World Series craze surrounding the Wolverines' surprising run to the CWS Finals (29:10), playing baseball on an everyday basis for the first time (34:49), how he swung out of his shoes in a memorable first professional at-bat (36:15), and an interesting personality comparison to Astros All-Star outfielder George Springer (42:30). Don't forget to share, subscribe, and leave a rating on your podcast platform of choice to help grow the show!

8:38- Interview with Astros prospect Jordan Brewer

44:00- Woodpeckers Virtual Season Check-in and Episode 13 Preview

Music: "We'll Never Sleep" by Ryan Anderson, courtesy of the Free Music Archive

It's the MLB Opening Day episode of the podcast as Matt welcomes Jake Kaplan of The Athletic to preview the Astros season in advance of Friday night's opener! Jake discusses his predictions on how the final 30-man roster will shake out (9:47), how the back-end of Houston's rotation might fare this year (12:10), the impacts of key rookies Enoli Paredes (14:37) and Bryan Abreu (19:23), and makes a bold prediction on an Astros MVP candidate this season (19:23). Next, Astros Fundamentals Coordinator Jason Bell joins the show to discuss preparations for the Astros taxi squad site in Corpus Christi and his impressions of the minor league side of summer camp at the University of Houston. Bell also touches on the breakout year for Colton Shaver (35:41) last season, how Jake Meyers has developed into one of the best centerfield defenders in the minor leagues (39:28), and how shortstop prospect Jeremy Pena took his glovework to the next level last year (41:41). Like, share, and subscribe to help grow the hottest pod in Minor League Baseball right now.

7:54- Interview with The Athletic's Jake Kaplan

29:33- Astros Fundamentals Coordinator Jason Bell

Music: "We'll Never Sleep" by Ryan Anderson, courtesy of the Free Music Archive