The Pitching Prospect Who Blew His MLB Dreams, Got Sober, and Became a Major League Scout

In this milestone episode of Finding New Waters, host B. Reeves and CEO Justin McClendon sit down with a true legend in the addiction treatment space, Terry Shapiro. Celebrating an incredible 42 years of continuous sobriety on the exact day of this recording, Terry shares his riveting journey from a passionate left-handed college pitching prospect in Chicago to crashing and burning on a baseball road trip in Joplin, Missouri. After his actions shut the door on his dreams of being drafted, he found recovery, earned his master's degree in counseling, and unexpectedly found his way into the major leagues anyway—scouting international talent for the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago Cubs.Terry details what it was like maintaining a 12-step program while scouting in Colombia during the turbulent Pablo Escobar era, and how he eventually merged his two passions to help pro athletes struggling with addiction. Now serving as the Director of Strategic Alliances for Banyan Treatment Centers, Terry discusses Banyan's massive expansion to 19+ programs across 9 states, their mission to accept state Medicaid and HMOs, and why a long-term structured continuum of care is vital for true neurological healing.TIMESTAMPS[01:00:03] Approx. The mental game of baseball and family dynamics[01:01:06] Approx. Introducing industry legend Terry Shapiro in Boca Raton[01:02:05] Approx. The philosophy of "Say Yes to Life"[01:03:51] Approx. Left-handed pitching and altering the mind in college[01:05:04] Approx. Truth Bomb: The Joplin motel room crash that ended his draft dreams[01:06:50] Approx. From derailed prospect to Master’s degree in addiction studies[01:07:09] Approx. International scouting for the Atlanta Braves in South America[01:08:15] Approx. Scouting for the Chicago Cubs during Colombia's Pablo Escobar era[01:09:43] Approx. Bringing 12-step recovery frameworks to Spanish-speaking countries[01:12:40] Approx. Behind the scenes: Using baseball to connect with men in extended care[01:13:57] Approx. Pre-game panels at the Marlins Stadium for Recovery Awareness Day[01:16:02] Approx. The history and clinical purpose of anonymity in the fellowships[01:19:01] Approx. Deep diversity and the World Baseball Classic (WBC) phenomenon[01:21:03] Approx. How modern MLB teams utilize mental skills coaching departments[01:22:37] Approx. Protecting young athletes from online financial scams[01:23:42] Approx. Inside Banyan Treatment Centers: Expanding networks across 9 states[01:24:37] Approx. Breaking barriers: Accepting HMOs and state Medicaid for accessible care[01:26:07] Approx. Neurological healing: Why the brain needs a long continuum of care[01:28:41] Approx. Corporate leadership: Helping high-level executives return to the workforce[01:29:46] Approx. Archival history: A cherished autograph from Bill W.[01:32:34] Approx. Commending Dr. Harold Hall and the New Waters Recovery teamLINKS & RESOURCES* Banyan Treatment Centers: banyantreatmentcenters.com* Connected Organizations: Comprehensive Wellness, Pure Life Counseling, Resilience Recovery ResourcesCALL TO ACTIONIf you're inspired by Terry's incredible 42-year journey of recovery, make sure to hit that subscribe button, leave a comment celebrating his milestone, and share this video with a sports fan who needs to hear this message. Let's keep reducing the stigma together!HASHTAGS#FindingNewWaters #TerryShapiro #BanyanTreatment #SobrietyAnniversary #42YearsSober #MLBScouting #AddictionRecovery #SoberAthlete #ContinuumOfCare🎙️ Watch & ListenWebsite: www.findingnewwaters.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NOV2g85KExFWU5mTz5GjwApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-new-waters/id1684075608YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfAIXtiOgy1XFcwAduXgXwYouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuJOc6yLcjibGGAKgLYPCN47etJCY89mn