Baseball Recruiting Confidential

The NCAA dead period keeps getting pushed back. Coaches cannot evaluate players in person and players cannot make campus visits. How does anything happen in recruiting when the dead period is in place? Will coaches still make offers? Should players commit without seeing a school? Host Justin Musil and University of Washington Recruiting Coordinator Elliott Cribby, discuss these questions and more on this episode.

College coaches and pro scouts clamor over players who love to compete. They want players who can lift up others around them and make the team better. Competition is also a key factor to preparing and working in other facets of a player’s game. In this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by the young, passionate, Head Coach from the University of Maine, Nick Derba. Justin and Nick give clarity on this important topic.

Many of the most talented baseball players are good as a position player and as a pitcher. If a player can do it at the high school level, why not at the collegiate level? It’s possible, but isn’t easy. On this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by University of Cincinnati Recruiting Coordinator JD Heilmann. The two discuss the complexities of being a two way player, but how great it can be for a staff and a player, if it works.

Having the right training program is one of the first steps to maximizing offers. Players and parents often miss this opportunity. On this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by Tread Athletics Founders Ben Brewster and Coan McAlpin. Ben and Coan have transformed baseball player development and are two of the leading experts in the world. The three discuss this loaded topic and give guidance on how to build a program that takes players to another level.

There are many components of being a student-athlete in college. Responsibility can ramp up at an Ivy league school due to the academic demand. Players have to meet high baseball demands, along with matching the demands at the highest academic institutions in the world. In this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by Columbia University Recruiting Coordinator Dan Tischler to discuss Ivy League school's academic and baseball rigor. 

Justin Musil has asked many questions as the host of the BRC Podcast. This episode flips that around and he is the one who gets interviewed. Justin is interviewed by Creighton University Recruiting Coordinator Connor Gandossy. Coach Gandossy asks him about evaluating players, why he started the podcast, his advice to players on recruiting, and much, much, more. 

Tools and metrics are often talked about with scouting and evaluating. They are very important, but they are not everything in the recruiting process. In this episode, host Justin Musil goes in depth on other recruiting variables with Fairliegh Dickinson University Head Coach Rob DiToma. The two discuss on field performance and other major factors with college coaches' decision making process.

Every college staff recruits based on their strengths and personality. That means that every coaching staff has their own style. Many players and parents misunderstand coaching staffs because they can be so different with how they recruit. This episode sheds light on the various styles and what to expect from coaches.

This is from a player’s perspective with the major transition from High School to College. This is a raw and honest conversation with Aidan Maldonado. Aidan is a highly touted player at the University of Illinois. With a mid 90’s fastball he was a phenom out of high school. This is what he learned in his transition as a student-athlete at a D1 program. It can be challenging, no matter how talented a player is. You will learn a lot from someone who has experienced a lot.

In this bonus episode, host Justin Musil is joined by Northern Illinois University Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. Justin and Coach Kunigonis cover all types of questions related to COVID-19 and the impact it will have on college baseball and the recruiting process.

Winning a World Series is the pinnacle of professional baseball. Craig Counsell has reached that pinnacle twice. Counsell, a long time MLB player and 2019 MLB Manager of the year of the Milwaukee Brewers, joins Host Justin Musil on the podcast. Justin and Craig discuss his journey to the pinnacle and the lessons he learned in winning two world series rings.

Many lessons can be learned from people who have made it to the big leagues. In this episode, Host Justin Musil talks to former 19 game MLB winner Shawn Estes. Shawn continues to be around the game today as a San Francisco Giants commentator. From a small town kid to the big leagues, this is his story and the lessons he learned along the way.

Leadership is a key ingredient to winning and building a great culture. Many people think of the coaching leadership in a program,  but player leadership is equally as important. Host Justin Musil is joined by PITT baseball pitching coach Jerry Oakes. Justin and coach Oakes discuss leadership and what qualities are sought after by college coaches. The key qualities that make an impact on a program.

Adversity strikes frequently in the sport of baseball and in life. Success often follows challenges and overcoming difficult circumstances, so how does a player overcome it? The ability to handle adversity can define a player's career. Host Justin Musil is joined by University of Louisiana-Monroe Head Coach Mike Federico. Justin and Coach Federico discuss strategies on how players can use adversity to make them better players and people.

Players are always looking for ways to separate themselves. This episode features the communication aspect and how players can effectively communicate to gain an edge in the recruiting process. On this episode, host Justin Musil has a conversation with Ohio University Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Mitch Mormann. Justin and Mitch take on this important topic so players understand how coaches want them to communicate.

Recruiting at a high academic D3 school has major challenges for coaches. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by Middlebury College Head Coach Mike Leonard. Justin and Coach Leonard talk through many key topics. Are high academic D3 coaches able to help players get into school? How do they assess their potential recruits? What type of talent do they recruit? What is the time commitment for student-athletes, when they play at a high academic D3? These questions and more are answered on this episode.

One of the Colorado Rockies top prospects, Terrin Vavra, joins the podcast to discuss his unique journey to the University of Minnesota and to MiLB. Once a small, undersized high school player, he became an All-American and a 3rd round draft pick in the MLB draft. Also joining Host Justin Musil on this episode is Jeremy Musil, the scout that fell in love with Terrin’s ability early in high school. It’s a story of family, growth, belief, and persistence.

The stakes are high. Every offer a college coach makes, comes with major risk. The offer is a calculation of many different components that help coaches make that decision. Coaches have a job on the line and they have to get the majority of their offers right. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by University of Iowa Recruiting Coordinator Marty Sutherland. Justin and Coach Sutherland give a more detailed look with what is at stake with the offers they make.

This episode exposes the major challenges personally, academically, and athletically, for players making the jump from high school to college. This transition is often overlooked or unknown to players and their parents. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by UMASS Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Nate Cole. Justin and Coach Cole share their thoughts and give rare insight to help players prepare for these challenges. 

Host Justin Musil is joined on this episode by former Southern Miss and current Minnesota Twins outfielder Matt Wallner. Matt’s journey to get to Southern Miss is one of the most unique recruiting stories you will ever hear. He went from uncommitted in May of his senior year, to a three time all-american and the 39th overall pick in the MLB draft. It is a story you don’t want to miss. This is Matt’s story, in his words.