Stepping back inside The Hitting Zone today is Shane Eames, as he joins Mitch Thomas for a deeper conversation around Individual Development Plans — what they should look like versus what we are currently seeing across youth baseball.

Mitch and Shane break down what actually belongs in a meaningful development plan, how it should evolve with the athlete, and why so many plans today miss the mark. They continue to expand on topics they’ve touched on in previous episodes, reinforcing the importance of clarity, purpose, and intentional development.

The discussion centers on separating real development from generic checklists, understanding the athlete’s needs, and building plans that support long-term growth instead of short-term results.

If you’re a coach, parent, or player looking to better understand what development should truly look like, this episode delivers honest insight and practical perspective.

📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:
Instagram: @_mtsperformance
X (Twitter): @TheHittingZoneSTL
TikTok: @thehittingzonestl

📲 Guest:
Shane Eames
Instagram: premier_hittingdevelopment
X (Twitter): @hittingdevelop

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

On this episode of Keep Klimbing, Brett Graves is joined by Chris Roycroft, bullpen pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, to talk about his journey to the Major Leagues.

Chris walks through his path from high school baseball to Aurora College, and the development process that helped him continue to climb levels and earn his opportunity at the highest level of the game. Together, Brett and Chris discuss what growth really looks like for pitchers who may not follow the traditional or expected path.

This conversation highlights:
• Staying committed through each stage of development
• The importance of trusting the process
• How continued development and preparation open doors
• Lessons learned along the way that young pitchers can apply to their own journeys

A must-listen for players, parents, and coaches who want a real look at what it takes to Keep Klimbing toward the next level.

Follow Chris Roycroft:
IG: @chris_royc



📲 Connect with Brett Graves & Premier Pitching
Brett Graves → IG: @brettgraves5 | X: @bgraves05
Premier Pitching → IG: @premierpitching | X: @PremierPitching

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

We like to talk baseball, so we decided to do a health check on the state of youth baseball, focusing on the 7U to 14U age groups as we head into another spring and summer season.

In this episode, we’re joined by the Rawlings Tigers, sitting down with Aaron Jaworowski, President & Founder, and David Birkby, General Manager, to discuss what development and training actually mean for young players. We dive into realistic expectations across age groups, including conversations around what proper development should look like for a 9U baseball player.

We also take on one of the most important — and challenging — topics in youth sports: the relationship between clubs and parents. It’s a conversation that can be difficult on both sides, but one that needs to be addressed as we work toward healthier environments for young athletes.

This episode marks the second stop in our Youth Baseball Talk series, where we’ll continue engaging with clubs and baseball communities across the state. 

We hope you enjoy, and don’t forget to…
SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE ⚾

📣 Guests & Organization Socials
 
Rawlings Tigers Baseball Club
Website: rawlingstigers.com
X: @RawlingsTigers
Instagram: @rawlings_tigers

Guests
Aaron Jaworowski — President & Founder, Rawlings Tigers
David Birkby — General Manager, Rawlings Tigers

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

On this episode of Baseball 101, host Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins sits down with Tim Gurnow, Head Coach of the McKendree University Bearcats Baseball, to unpack what it takes to build and sustain a winning culture at the Division II level of college baseball.
Coach Gurnow brings firsthand experience leading the Bearcats — a program in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference — and discusses how the right culture impacts recruiting, year-round training, practice planning, and overall performance. They dive into:

⚾ What a winning culture looks like at the D2 level
🎯 How recruiting strategies help attract the right players
📅 Practice philosophy and development over a season
🏋️ Why a year-round training mindset matters
📈 How players and teams can get on the D2 radar

Whether you’re a player, coach, or parent looking to understand the D2 experience — from opportunities to expectations — this episode provides real insight straight from the bench.

📲 Follow Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins (Host):
X: @CruitsCoachDW
Instagram: @coachdave1338

👉 Follow McKendree Bearcats Baseball:
Instagram: @mckendree_bsbl
X: @McKendree_BSBL


⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

We have Andy Urban of Prep Baseball joining the show this week along with Staley Head Coach Dionandre Josenberger as we head to Kansas City for a weekend of baseball. We break down players to watch for the upcoming season and get Andy’s take on some of the top teams in the KC area.

We also expand the conversation to the Kansas side of the state, highlighting top players and programs that continue to make the KC region one of the strongest baseball hotbeds in the Midwest.

On the Missouri side, the results speak for themselves — the past five Class 6 MSHSAA State Champions have come from the KC Suburban, with Platte County winning Class 5 in 2025 and Faith Christian Academy finishing runner-up in Class 1.

This episode gives us a great opportunity to take a deeper look into one of the best baseball regions in the state. Watch the full episode and let us know who you think are the top teams in KC heading into the 2026 season.

📣 Guest / Organization Socials
Andy Urban — Prep Baseball (Kansas Region):
X (Twitter): @PrepBaseballKS
Instagram: @prepbaseballks

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

We have Nate Orf, former Francis Howell standout who played professionally with the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics, joining us on the show. After his time in professional baseball, Nate returned to his hometown to work with youth athletes, bringing his baseball journey full circle.

Joined by Kevin Moulder of Prep Baseball, we talk with Nate about his path through the game and how those experiences now shape the way he views player development. The development process can be a tricky one, and we break down how development looks different across age groups, from young players just getting started to athletes preparing for the next level.

We hope you enjoy the discussion and encourage you to share your thoughts as we continue meaningful conversations around development, perspective, and growth in the game of baseball.

📣 Guest Socials
Nate Orf (Former MLB Player):
X (Twitter): @NateOrf4
Instagram:@nathanorf4

Kevin Moulder (Prep Baseball Missouri):
X (Twitter): @PrepBaseballMO
Instagram: @prepbaseballmo


⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

Stepping inside The Hitting Zone today is Cody Massey of Buzzin’ Baseball for a conversation centered on one of the biggest challenges in player development: how do we build decision makers instead of athletes who rely on constant coaching cues?

Mitch and Cody define what real development looks like and why the basics are often missing at the lower levels of the game. They discuss the dangers of over-coaching, the importance of keeping things simple, and how players can learn to self-adjust instead of waiting for instruction. 
The conversation also hits on the importance of pre-season discussions about approach, helping athletes understand expectations, ownership, and how to compete without being micromanaged.

This episode is about creating smarter players — athletes who can problem-solve, adapt, and trust their training when the game speeds up. 

📲 Follow Mitch Thomas:

• Instagram: @_mtsperformance
• X (Twitter): @TheHittingZoneSTL
• TikTok: @thehittingzonestl

📲 Follow Cody Massey & Buzzin’ Baseball:

• Instagram: @cmass_6
• X (Twitter): @cmass6
• Instagram: @buzzinbaseball

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

We like to talk baseball, so we decided to do a health check on the state of youth baseball, focusing on the 7U to 14U age groups as we head into another spring and summer season.

With Recruits Baseball Club working closely with athletes in this age range in South County, we dive into what development and training actually mean for young players, including conversations around expectations for a 9U baseball player.

We also take on one of the most important — and challenging — topics in youth sports: the relationship between clubs and parents. It’s a conversation that can be difficult on both sides, but one that needs to be addressed as we work toward healthier environments for young athletes.

This episode marks the first stop in our Youth Baseball Talk series, where we’ll continue engaging in conversations across the state with clubs and baseball communities.

We hope you enjoy, and don’t forget to…

SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE ⚾

RBC & Wiggins Socials:

X: @CruitsCoachDW

Instagram: @coachdave1338

X: @stlrecruits

IG: @recruitsbaseball



⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com

On the latest episode of Baseball 101, Cole Dupont, Head Coach at Lafayette High School, joins host Dave “Diamond Dave” Wiggins for a conversation rooted in perspective, pride, and purpose.

Growing up in the area and playing baseball at Lafayette alongside his brothers, Coach Dupont always felt a deep connection to the program. Now, he finds himself leading the very team that helped shape him—an opportunity he approaches with gratitude, responsibility, and genuine care for the players continuing through his alma mater. 

The discussion spans Coach Dupont’s experience coming through the Lafayette program as a player and his current role at the head of it. Together, they reflect on how the game has changed over time, what has stayed the same, and how those lessons shape his expectations for today’s players and the season ahead. 

This episode offers a thoughtful look at leadership, continuity, and what it means to come full circle and give back to a program that helped build the foundation. 

⚾ Baseball 101 — where experience meets perspective.

📲 Follow Dave Wiggins (Host):

• X: @CruitsCoachDW
• Instagram: @coachdave1338

⚾ Stay locked in with Youth Baseball Midwest—your hub for full-spectrum youth baseball insight in the Midwest. Subscribe and hit that dinger (🔔) to never miss a game-state insight.

🌐 More YBM:
Website: youthbaseballmidwest.com
YouTube: Youth Baseball MidwestInstagram: @youthbaseballmidwest
TikTok: @YouthBaseballMidwest
X: @YBM_cast
Facebook: Youth Baseball Midwest


Presented by our proud partners:
Game 7 Baseball: game7baseball.com
Prime Sports Midwest: primesportsmw.com


🎥 Production Partner:Red Earth Productions: redearthprod.com