minor league baseball

Jamal Allen wasted no time in becoming a professional baseball umpire.  Six months after graduating from Longwood, he headed to the Wendelstedt Umpire School and completed a season in the Northwoods League, a collegiate wooden bat circuit.  Last season, Jamal started his professional career in the Florida Complex Rooke League and is expected to umpire in Class A baseball in either the California League, Carolina League, or Florida State League for the 2024 season.  Special commentary from Kyle Nichol, Longwood '14 and  former minor league umpire.          

My guest on this episode is a 7-time Emmy winner as a sports journalist. A three sport star in high school, he played college football and later had a brief stint in minor league baseball. Today, he teaches media and production at the college level while also hosting a nationally syndicated podcast and running youth sports camps, and is prominently featured in a recent Netflix documentary. By any measure, that’s a full life. Now, what if I told you he was born without legs? Dave Stevens is my guest on Media Credentials.

Jack and Chris discuss the 2023 minor league season, and takeaways into the offseason.

2:20 - Luis De Avila a Postseason All-Star and the consistency of great pitching in the organization

9:00 - Luke Waddell a Postseason All-Star

11:00 - Junior Caminero named League MVP and is in the majors with Tampa Bay

13:45 - Drake Baldwin's late edition and impact

16:20 - Prospect Arms of AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Drue Hackenberg

25:10 - Sleepers and Surprises from 2023 which includes Cal Conley, Drew Lugbauer, Patrick Halligan, Daniel Martinez, Jesse Franklin V, Landon Stephens, Alan Rangel, and Cody Milligan

34:15 - Eight MLB debuts by former M-Braves in 2023. Surprises in Allan Winans and Victor Vodnik

38:20 - Our Top Moments of the season

43:00 - Twitter Questions which include the reliever with the nastiest pitch, favorite giveaway, and wrapup.

THIS EPISODE

Skipper Andy Schatzley joins Josh to recap the 2023 Trash Pandas Season.

ABOUT THE HOST

Josh Caray's baseball roots stretch from Atlanta to St. Louis to Chicago to Cooperstown. The grandson of Hall of Famer Harry Caray, son of the legendary Skip Caray, and half-brother Chip Caray is the TV voice of the Atlanta Braves, Josh is the Play-by-Play voice of the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

TRASH PANDAS PODCAST NETWORK

Join the personalities of the Rocket City Trash Pandas as they tell the stories from Baseball's most meteoric franchise. Play-by-Play Broadcaster Josh Caray presents conversations with prospects and personnel from the organization. In-Stadium Emcee Ricky Fernandez chats about the latest news and promotions.

M-Braves manager Kanekoa Texeira talks with Chris about the 2023 season -- the ups and downs -- and positives and negatives.

M-Braves catcher Drake Baldwin hit his first Double-A home run on September 14 in Pensacola, and the 22-year-old from Madison, WI talks about his 2023 campaign. Chris asks him about his promotion to Double-A, and also his roots as a hockey player.

Drew Campbell has reached base in 24 of 26 games, batting .363 with 17 runs scored, including four game-winners, in the last five wins. Chris asks Drew what's been the difference over the last couple of months and what his offseason looks like.

Luke Waddell is in the race for the batting title in the Southern League. It's the former fifth-rounder's first full season of minor-league baseball. Luke and Jack discuss playing every day and taking care of his body.

It's been an 18-month journey for Brooks Wilson since Tommy John Surgery and returning to the mound. Added to the 40-man roster in 2021, Brooks talks about his recovery with Chris and how it's impacted him on and off the field. He also talks about his famous splitter, how he developed the pitch and influences from guys like Kirby Yates, Max Fried, and others.

With video and analytics being such a large part of the game of baseball in 2023, the Atlanta Braves peg an individual to play a key role for each affiliate during the season. Landon Langston, a graduate of the University of North Alabama, is that person for the Mississippi Braves. In this episode, he explains how he landed the role and helps prepare the players and coaches daily.

Former Atlanta Braves World Series winner, Gwinnett legend, and current hitting coach for the Rocket City Trash Pandas for a Saturday conversation. Kazmar is a close friend and former teammate of M-Braves manager Kanekoa Texeira.

Javier Valdes joins Jack to discuss his transition from catcher to first base and his ups and downs of 2023, and the mental side of the game.

Saucier, MS native, West Harrison, and MGCCC product Brandon Parker has been promoted to Double-A, Mississippi. He is the first Mississippi high school product to play for the M-Braves since Austin Riley of DeSoto Central in 2018. Parker has made an immediate impact, and reflects on his career, and being back in the 'sip!

Hendrik Clementina has reshaped his body this season with a diet and is down 45 pounds. He missed two months with a hamate fracture, and talks about his goals for the remainder of the season, and offseason.

Cal Conley leads the Southern League with 108 games played this season. He talks with Jack about his durability, move to playing more second base, and relationship with Luke Waddell. He also touches on Gold Glove Charities Night where kids battling cancer hung out with the team.

THIS EPISODE

Josh talks to Trash Pandas First Baseman and Angels 2023 First Round Pick Nolan Schanuel.

ABOUT THE HOST

Josh Caray's baseball roots stretch from Atlanta to St. Louis to Chicago to Cooperstown. The grandson of Hall of Famer Harry Caray, son of the legendary Skip Caray, and half-brother Chip Caray is the TV voice of the Atlanta Braves, Josh is the Play-by-Play voice of the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

TRASH PANDAS PODCAST NETWORK

Join the personalities of the Rocket City Trash Pandas as they tell the stories from Baseball's most meteoric franchise. Play-by-Play Broadcaster Josh Caray presents conversations with prospects and personnel from the organization. In-Stadium Emcee Ricky Fernandez chats about the latest news and promotions.

Bryson Horne was promoted to Mississippi from Rome this week, and the 24-year-old made his Double-A debut Friday with two doubles and two RBI.

M-Braves manager Kanekoa Texeira breaks down the series with Montgomery and previews the set in Rocket City. We key in on the week from Drew Lugbauer and a few different players with big weeks.

The legend, Doug Mansolino, is this week's Sunday conversation with Chris. Mansolino has coached at every level of baseball for the past 45 years. The infield guru breaks down the Braves minor league system, and talks about developing players in 2023.

Nolan Kingham is back in Mississippi and has started twice and won twice. All he does is win. He talks it over with Chris about his season and much more.