Ed Tolzien

Former MLB player Ed Tolzien joins Matt Abbatacola on From the 50 to talk about his journey through the game of baseball—and the life lessons that came with it.Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Ed fell in love with the game before going on to play at Illinois State University, where his path eventually led to being selected in the 18th round of the 2001 MLB Draft by the Anaheim Angels. After his playing days, Ed transitioned into coaching, dedicating himself to developing the next generation of players.Now serving as the General Manager of Slammers Training Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, Ed shares how the influence of family and impactful coaches helped shape him—not just as a ballplayer, but as a man. He reflects on how those same lessons guide his work with youth athletes today, teaching values that extend far beyond the field.This is a conversation about mentorship, character, and passing on lessons that players can carry with them no matter where life leads.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.