Smash the subscribe and share buttons before listening to the first double-digit episode installment of the Woodpeckers Baseball podcast! As he starts to exhaust his list of 2019 Woodpeckers, Matt Dean brings in a potential future Woodpecker to the show, talking with shortstop Grae Kessinger, the Astros No. 10 prospect heading into the year. The former Ole Miss standout provides insight into the excitement and nervousness surrounding his draft year in 2019 and elaborates on his positive mindset about how to look forward towards 2021 without minor league baseball to play this year. Next, it's a must listen for fans of Astros pitching prospects and Big Ten wrestling (but not necessarily both) as Astros Pitching Coordinator Bill Murphy joins the pod to discuss an array of former Fayetteville arms poised to make an impact in the upcoming Major League Baseball season.

7:08- Interview with Astros prospect Grae Kessinger

24:25- Interview with Pitching Coordinator Bill Murphy

44:28- Woodpeckers OOTP 21 season check-in and Episode 11 preview

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

Be sure to share, like, and subscribe before diving into Episode 9 of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast! Matt Dean is joined first by former Fayetteville outfielder Jake Meyers, one of 13 former Woodpeckers on the Astros current 60-man player pool, to talk about his experiences at the Astros' summer camp in preparations for the upcoming season. Among other topics, the former Nebraska Cornhusker standout also shares his memories of playing in front of crowds at Segra Stadium last year and how he grew to love the game as a kid watching the College World Series every year in Omaha. Next, Fayetteville City Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram joins the show to talk about updates surrounding the renovation of the Fayetteville market house downtown, the city's solidarity with the Black Lives matter movement, and what she misses most at a Woodpeckers game in 2020.

5:18- Interview with Astros OF prospect Jake Adams

24:05- Interview with Fayetteville City Councilwoman Shakeyla Ingram

41:29- Woodpeckers OOTP virtual season update and Episode 10 preview

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

In Episode 8 of the Woodpeckers pod, Matt Dean chats with Astros slugging prospect Colton Shaver, one of 13 former Woodpeckers announced on the Astros initial 60-man player pool for the 2020 season this week. The former BYU standout discusses his approach to joining the big league camp, philosophy behind how he views the catching position, and how joining the fly ball revolution helped his offensive game explode with a 21-homer campaign in the minors last season. Next, Astros Sr. Director of Business Operations Dan O'Neill hops on the show to talk about the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season, how the Astros are preparing for the Major League season in earnest, and his impressive on-base percentage figures during his career at the University of Illinois and Phillies minor league system.

7:27- Interview with Astros catcher Colton Shaver

24:00- Interview with Dan O'Neill, Astros Sr. Director of Business Operations

42:41- "Woodpeckers Rewind" and OOTP Virtual Season Update

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

In Episode 7 of the podcast, Matt Dean is first joined by a standout from the Woodpeckers' 2019 playoff run, infielder/outfielder extraordinaire David Hensley, who among other things discusses his upbringing in a baseball household, enjoying the summertime in San Diego, and how he draws inspiration from the sweet stroke of perennial MVP candidate Christian Yelich to devise his ideal swing. Finally, Astros Director of Player Evaluation Charles Cook makes an appearance on the pod to break down the Astros' 2020 draft class and discuss the four talented selections that could be in a Woodpeckers uniform over the next couple of seasons.

5:04- Interview with Woodpeckers infielder David Hensley

27:34- Astros Draft Recap with Houston Director of Player Evaluation Charles Cook

39:07- Segra Stadium Event Updates and Virtual Woodpeckers Recap on OOTP 21

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

In Episode 6 of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast, Matt Dean chats with local product Matthew Barefoot, the 6th round pick of the Astros in 2019. Among other topics, the former Fighting Camel and Tarheel State native talks about his previous experiences at Segra Stadium, how a mutual partnership between Campbell and the Astros help him get noticed, and how his access to an indoor batting cage on his family's farm in Dunn, N.C. is helping him stay game ready in the absence of baseball. Finally, noted baseball Twitter personality Joey Mellows AKA "The Baseball Brit" joins the show to talk about his visit to Segra Stadium last season, his chance meeting with the Luhnow family, and plans for a book featuring some of the wackiest and wildest behind-the-scenes stories from his travels to over 140 baseball games during the 2019 season.

4:16- Interview with Astros prospect/Campbell product Matthew Barefoot

23:49- Interview with Joey Mellows, "The Baseball Brit"

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

In Episode 5 of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast, Matt Dean is joined by a right-hander on Fayetteville's record-setting staff from last season, who discusses his experience at the College World Series with Mississippi State in 2018 and how he approaches the use of data to help him become a better pitcher. Next, Astros radio play-by-play voice Robert Ford says "see ya later" after a compelling conversation in which he discusses how he grew to love the game growing up in New York, a memorable story about Carlos Correa's call up to the Big Leagues, and speaking with an overzealous caller in a prom dress during his time as the pre and post-game show host on the Kansas City Royals radio network.

4:20- Interview with Astros prospect and RHP JP France

24:24- Interview with Astros radio broadcaster Robert Ford

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

In Episode 4 of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast, Fayetteville broadcaster Matt Dean welcomes former Woodpecker shortstop Jeremy Peña to the show to discuss his preparations for the season on hold along with his experiences as a non-roster invitee to the Astros' big league camp. Next, writer of the "Ben's Biz Blog" for MiLB.com Ben Hill joins the show to talk about his visit to Segra Stadium in 2019, trends in the industry, and how he is entertaining the masses on Twitter in the absence of baseball.

5:58- Interview with Astros No. 7 prospect Jeremy Peña

21:39- Interview with MiLB.com's Ben Hill

47:46- Woodpeckers Rewind and OOTP Virtual Season Check-In

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

In Episode 3 of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast, Fayetteville broadcaster Matt Dean is joined by Astros pitching coach Brent Strom, who discusses how he stays in touch with his staff during the current shutdown, a few notable Astros prospects that passed through Fayetteville in 2019, and his unique perspective as the second ever baseball player to undergo Tommy John surgery. Finally, the former first-round pick and current D-Backs farmhand Seth Beer reminiscences about his time in Fayetteville last season, his illustrious college career at Clemson, and his crazy travel schedule after switching organizations in the Zach Greinke trade last July. 

5:20- Interview with Houston pitching coach Brent Strom

21:42- Interview with former Fayetteville slugger Seth Beer

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

On Episode 2 of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast, Matt Dean is joined by the Astros' No. 20 prospect Shawn Dubin about his offseason preparations heading into 2020 and talks with Justin Mitchell, the Deputy Garrison Commander at Ft. Bragg, about the base's emergency preparedness during COVID-19 and his memories of the unforgettable Ft. Bragg Game between the Braves and Marlins in 2016.

3:38- Interview with RHP Shawn Dubin

18:24- Interview with Justin Mitchell

32:22- update on the "Virtual Woodpeckers" season in Out of the Park Baseball 21

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

On Episode 1 of the Woodpeckers Baseball Podcast, Matt Dean is joined by the Woodpeckers GM David Lane for an update on Segra Stadium operations to prepare for the beginning of the season, chats with Woodpeckers catcher Michael Papierski about his preseason preparations during the stay-at-home order, and has a conversation with Bianca Shoneman, the CEO & President of Cool Springs Downtown about the future of the downtown Fayetteville's development.

4:25- Interview with David Lane

12:31- Michael Papierski

25:47- Bianca Shoneman

37:46- update on the "Virtual Woodpeckers" season in Out of the Park Baseball 21

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