The Show Before the Show

Flying Squirrels senior advisor and MiLB front-office legend Todd "Parney" Parnell talks to Ben from Richmond about his long career in the Minor Leagues. Also, Sam reviews the best positional groups in baseball and looks at Kade Anderson’s Major League debut from last weekend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cardinals No. 11 prospect Josiah Ragsdale discusses his trade from the Brewers system and breakout 2026 season in his first full year in the Minor Leagues. Also, Ben and Sam chat about the Cape Cod League and a unique bobblehead sponsorship in Corpus Christi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Worcester director of ballpark entertainment Brendan Black talks about the club's Aug. 27 promo around the hilarious Netflix show I Think You Should Leave. Sam and Tyler discuss MLB Pipeline's rerank and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s name change announcement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tri-City director of fan experience and community relations Erik Mertens, aka Erik the Peanut Guy,  joins the show after visiting every Minor League ballpark. Also, Ben shares the lore behind Wilmington’s Mr. Celery, and Sam and Tyler embrace debate when it comes to this year’s Trade Deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam and Tyler discuss the prospects and farm systems that could be impacted at this year’s Trade Deadline coming up next Monday. They also look at on-field news involving Max Clark, Sebastian Walcott and Seth Hernandez. Ben recaps his trip to Richmond’s new ballpark and previews upcoming August promotions from across the Minor Leagues Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam chats with D-backs top prospect Demetrio Crisantes about his 2026 season, return from hamstring and shoulder injuries and Arizona roots. Also, Sam and Tyler talk about the MLB Pipeline Prospect Showcase in Springfield, and Ben details his Williamsport and Wilmington trips from last weekend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam and Tyler recap the Futures Game and 2026 Draft that both took place in Philadelphia over the weekend. Also, Ben interviews St. Paul executive vice president of business affairs Tom Whaley about the legacy of Saints legend Sister Rosalind Gefre, aka Sister Ros the massaging nun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam and Tyler preview the Futures Game and Draft and even do a draft of their own. Also, Ben interviews Reno photographer David Calvert about the Aces' support in his cancer battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mariners outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. details the day he was called up from High-A to the Majors, and Ben interviews Dunedin staffers about their viral Rain Delay jerseys. Also, Ben looks at Fourth of July promotions across the Minors, and Sam breaks down this year’s Futures Game rosters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hickory’s Ashley Salinas discusses the club’s promotion surrounding a local team that was nearly lost to history, and Ontario manager John Shoemaker talks abouts his long career in the Dodgers system. Also, Ben and Sam chat about more headlines from the Minor Leagues Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No. 5 Phillies prospect Dante Nori discusses his World Baseball Classic experience as part of Italy’s run to the semifinals, and Ben, Sam and Tyler talk about on- and off-field news across Minor League Baseball, including the arrival of the Vegas Headliners and Cooper Pratt’s push to a Major League debut with the Brewers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No. 2 Red Sox prospect Anthony Eyanson looks back on his NCAA title-winning start last year for LSU and details what’s gone into his breakout first full season in the Minors. Also, Ben, Sam and Tyler run through Minor League Baseball headlines, both on and off the field Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Giants catching prospect Drew Cavanaugh talks about his 2026 breakout season at Double-A and Triple-A, and Sam and Tyler look at new alternate identities in Springfield and Augusta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tyler and Sam break down the most productive hitting and pitching prospects from May across Minor League Baseball, and Ben looks ahead to the most notable Minor League promotions coming up in June Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben, Sam and Tyler submit their picks for the best nicknames in Minor League Baseball by perusing the Nickname Knockout bracket. Also, Ben recaps his trips to the newly renovated ballpark in Asheville and the brand-new stadium in Chattanooga. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben brings the sights and sounds from Louisville’s Nothing Night, and Sam and Tyler chat about MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects ranking update. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben interviews Springfield GM Dan Reiter about the newly renamed Route 66 Stadium and discusses how the change could start a trend across the industry. Also, Sam and Tyler talk about prospects pushing for promotions within the Minors at this early stage of the 2026 season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam interviews Nationals No. 9 prospect Devin Fitz-Gerald about his aggressive push to High-A, Washington’s loaded infield group and his work with his dad at Stoneman Douglas High School. Also, Sam and Tyler look at the Lehigh Valley Squonk, and Ben recaps his visit to a baseball game at the Old Joliet Prison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mathew Burns talks to the show about his history of taking long Minor League road trips with his father before they embark on their next journey through the South. Also, Ben, Sam and Tyler discuss Minor League Baseball’s national $10 ticket offer running through next Tuesday and Franklin Arias’ torrid run with Double-A Portland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben interviews author Eric Vickrey about his book "Before They Wore Dodger Blue: Tommy Lasorda and the Greatest Draft Class in Baseball History" that covers Los Angeles' legendary 1968 crop. Also, Sam and Tyler look at Kevin McGonigle's extension and early prospect standouts, and the group discusses the possibility of an all-Orioles Minor League road trip. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben, Sam and Tyler look at interesting promotions and early prospect standouts from the beginning of the 2026 Minor League season. Also, Ben chats with Double-A Columbus general manager Pete Laven about the club’s Scrambled Dogs identity, and top Mets Draft pick Mitch Voit joins Sam from Opening Day in Brooklyn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben, Sam and Tyler are joined by fellow Minor League experts Josh Jackson and Kelsie Heneghan to create their own clubs in a draft format ahead of the opening of the full MiLB regular season this week.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben, Sam and Tyler review the games to watch, prospects to know and storylines to follow as Triple-A begins the 2026 regular season. This episode also features Spring Training interviews with Royals No. 2 prospect Blake Mitchell and Nationals No. 27 prospect Caleb Lomavita.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam previews the upcoming Spring Breakout games and interviews Cardinals prospect Joshua Báez about his big turnaround in 2025. Also, Tyler and Ben discuss new Copa de la Diversión identities for 2026 and the World Baseball Classic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tyler, Ben, and Sam each come at you solo this week with a World Baseball Classic update, news from the business of the Minors, and two top prospect interviews from Spring Training. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam and Tyler discuss the release of MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 prospect lists and this year’s preliminary Spring Breakout rosters. They also look ahead to the 2026 World Baseball Classic with Tyler in Puerto Rico as a broadcaster for Pool A play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Salt Lake GM Ty Wardle and Miller Sports VP of marketing Ashley Havili explain the Dirty Sodas brand. Also, Sam talks Konnor Griffin's Spring Training dominance, and Ben and Tyler take a look through recent Minor League news, including a return to Birmingham’s Rickwood Field for 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam and Tyler break down which Top 100 prospects are worth following in this year's Spring Training and point out spots to see in both Arizona and Florida. They also dive into the details of four new alternate identities coming to the Minor Leagues in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob Burris, former general manager of the Denver Bears, reminisces about working for (and ultimately running) a Minor League team that played in a 75,000-seat stadium. Also, Ben shares a new team name in Lynchburg, and Sam and Tyler look at Spring Training news from the first week of pitchers and catchers reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nationals prospect Griff McGarry talks about the adjustments in the Phillies system that led to him becoming a Rule 5 pick. Ben chats about alternate identities for Altoona, Great Lakes, Hartford and Wichita, and Sam and Tyler break down the Brendan Donovan trade that brought a prospect haul to the Cardinals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam and Tyler break down MLB Pipeline’s newest Top 100 prospects ranking for the 2026 season, and Ben interviews Morris Morioka about Rocket City's Global Baseball Series that will bring a Japanese team of Toyota employees to Alabama this spring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Royals top prospect Carter Jensen talks about his MLB debut, growth as a catcher and experience playing in Kansas City as a native local. Also, Ben looks back at the Minor League careers of Hall of Famers Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, and Sam and Tyler chat about the Brewers’ prospect return from the Freddy Peralta trade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben, Sam and Tyler look at some of the best-selling caps from 2025, and Sam breaks down MLB Pipeline's Top 10 positional prospect unveils. Also, Louis H. Schiff speaks to Ben about his book “Attorneys in the Baseball Hall of Fame”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Palm Beach's Sophia Monteleone shares details of the club's Frozen Iguanas identity coming this season. Ben, Sam and Tyler discuss their resolutions for 2026 and look at some of the best bobbleheads in Minor League Baseball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the final episode of the 2025 calendar year. Ben, Sam and Tyler combine to hand out some awards you'll only find in the official podcast of Minor League Baseball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben, Sam and Tyler review Winter Meetings news, including Minor League ownership changes, the Rule 5 Draft and the general vibe in Orlando. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a conversation from the regular season, Ben interviews Tri-City manager and longtime Minor League skipper Dann Bilardello, whose first MLB homer came off Tom Seaver. Also, the gang looks at Rancho Cucamonga’s new color scheme, and Sam and Tyler chat about the Rule 5 Draft ahead of next week’s Winter Meetings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben, Sam and Tyler finally unveil the logos for the Huntington Hellbenders, a fictitious Minor League team created via listener suggestion. Also, the gang starts the holiday week by looking at Minor League ballpark food items that might fit best on fans’ plates this Thanksgiving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somerset's Hal Hansen and Dave Marek share details of the club's Semiquincentennials identity celebrating the country's 250th anniversary. Also, Ben, Sam and Tyler look at other new alternate identities and refreshes in Louisville and Richmond and Sam and Tyler break down a big week for prospect transactions after the Rule 5 Draft roster deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Tyler talk about Salem’s recent rebrand from the Red Sox to the RidgeYaks. Ben shares his interview with kid cowboy turned Cubs pitching prospect Brayden Spears, who took the long route to affiliated ball. Also, Tyler talks about the latest developments in the Arizona Fall League and Ben shares his interest in the baseball history of Columbus, Georgia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Red Sox prospect Nelly Taylor talks with Sam from the Arizona Fall League about his childhood cancer scare and time in the Boston system, and Salt Lake operations director Derek Amicone chats with Ben about the Bees' brand-new ballpark. Also, Ben, Sam and Tyler look at Halloween-themed alternate identities, and Sam and Tyler break down Trey Yesavage’s World Series dominance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s podcast features an archival interview with Blue Jays manager John Schneider from 2018 and an Arizona Fall League chat with Athletics No. 10 prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. Also, Ben, Sam and Tyler look at an updated logo set for the Frederick Keys, Sam and Tyler preview the World Series and Sam provides an AFL update. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sacramento president/COO Chip Maxson chats with Ben after winning the MiLB Executive of the Year award in a season when the River Cats shared Sutter Health Park with the Athletics. Also, Sam checks in from the Arizona Fall League, and Ben gives a look at the Carolina Reapers identity for Winston-Salem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back from the MiLB Business Summit in Indianapolis, Ben brings interviews with award winners Eric Edelstein (Reno) and Javik Blake (Biloxi). Also, Sam and Tyler look at early Arizona Fall League standouts, and Sam interviews Nationals fourth-rounder Miguel Sime Jr. as he begins his first professional offseason Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben, Sam and Tyler recap the end of the Minor League season with last Saturday’s Triple-A National Championship and dive into offseason mode, featuring a look at Triple-A Indianapolis’ new logo set. Also, Sam interviews the Pitching Prospect of the Year Jonah Tong from Citi Field Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Double-A and Triple-A postseasons ending this week, Ben, Sam and Tyler review Minor League news and notes while there's still some 2025 left. Also, Ben provides interviews with Iowa general manager Sam Bernabe before his easing into retirement and Lehigh Valley sponsorship director Peter Schiffert, who played an unexpected role in a recent Phillies game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the death of Robert Redford, Buffalo president Mike Buczkowski joins the podcast to talk about the city's connection to the baseball film The Natural. Also, Ben shares the new team name coming to Ontario in 2026, and Sam provides postseason updates from across the Minor Leagues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadcaster Dan Lovallo was behind the mic when Richmond's The Diamond opened in 1985, and he'll be there at the closing this weekend with Hartford. He shares stories from his original tenure with the Richmond Braves four decades ago and what will be on his mind around the ballpark in the coming days. Also, Ben and Sam look at High-A West Michigan’s dominance in 2025, and Sam breaks down the initial Arizona Fall League rosters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bradenton broadcaster Max Tanzer talks about his makeshift radio booth in Tampa and some of the best prospects in the Pirates system. Also, Sam and Tyler close out the High-A and Single-A seasons by highlighting top performers, and Ben says goodbye to Carolina and Modesto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amarillo president/GM Tony Ensor talks about the Texas League’s leaguewide initiative to aid the Hill Country after devastating floods. Also, Ben Weinrib shares details from his story on the best nicknames in Minor League Baseball, and Benjamin Hill recaps his trip to Lake County and Akron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices