Driveline Academy Youth Baseball Podcast

The Kardashian-ification of Travel Ball

A reality show about travel ball is coming, and the kids on it are about to become characters. Deven makes the case for why that is worse than it sounds, then pulls the game logs from his son's junior year to show what we are already asking of these players without cameras: 1,001 pitches, 223 innings caught, roughly 4,500 total throws, and a game frequency that beats an average D1 schedule. Plus the showcase invite they turned down in July, and why a senior-year football season is the right call.

00:00 Intro and rundown

01:20 Roadmap assessments and membership

07:23 Team Moms: Baseball

13:46 What travel ball became

18:48 No producer wants a .500 team

22:13 My son's game log

28:24 Games per 100 days

33:34 Using the word no

40:04 Football as a senior

44:50 Wrap

Links:

New Driveline youth memberships (for players 9–14) are live in Washington NOW, with Arizona and Florida coming soon!

- Assessments

- Group training

- 1-on-1 hitter and pitcher development sessions

Get started now: ⁠⁠support@drivelinebaseball.com⁠⁠ or (425) 523-4030. Tell them Deven sent you!

We Have Lost the Plot: Inside the Little League Cheating Scandal - with Maren Angus of Sports Illustrated

A ten-year-old. A division built for kids with disabilities. That's the loophole, and it isn't the worst thing in this story.

For the first time in roughly 20 episodes, host Deven Morgan brings a guest onto the world's most dangerous youth baseball podcast: Maren Angus of Softball On SI, whose reporting drove the Tulsa National scandal from a single softball protest to disqualifications on both the softball and baseball sides, court filings, and two of Oklahoma's five charters demanding the removal of state and regional leadership.

Angus walks through the paper trail: falsified affidavits, altered GameChanger books, a hand-drawn state bracket, teams in travel uniforms, a $150 entry fee for a tournament that cannot charge one, a for-profit entity running USSSA events on the same fields, and a restraining order that lasted 48 hours. Morgan brings 11 years of coaching and board service to the structural read.

Angus expects class action. Neither of them thinks Tulsa is the outlier.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & housekeeping04:32 Maren Angus, Softball On SI05:35 How it started: 2025 softball protests07:06 Volunteer org, brutal all-star paperwork10:27 Boundaries & the sibling choice loophole16:17 Rec ball on ESPN22:38 The Challenger division workaround30:22 Superteams & falsified affidavits39:26 Pay-to-play, unpaid bills, USSSA fields45:09 Altered GameChanger books, fake games50:42 TRO, court docs, admissions1:04:05 NCAA playbook & PEDs in kids1:09:19 Structure over hope1:15:16 Where to find Maren's work

Links:

New Driveline youth memberships (for players 9–14) are live in Washington NOW, with Arizona and Florida coming soon!

- Assessments

- Group training

- 1-on-1 hitter and pitcher development sessions

Get on the waitlist: ⁠support@drivelinebaseball.com⁠ or (425) 523-4030. Tell them Deven sent you!

37,000 Miles: What Committing to Development Actually Costs

Eight years. Thousands of hours behind the wheel. And not one mile of it was for a game.

This week I add up what committing to my son's development - not the showcase circuit - has actually cost our family, and the comparison I land on still doesn't feel real.

Then: why Danny left the Academy team for a more competitive one, how his new team won the PG UBC, and the no-cost recovery rules that kept him healthy through the most brutal stretch of games we've ever run - 19+ games in 30 days.

A solo episode on youth baseball player development, surviving peak travel ball season, catching and pitching workload, sleep and nutrition on the road, and what recruiting really looks like for a sub-6-foot 17-year-old who has no choice but to stand out on skill.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro & housekeeping01:57 - New Driveline youth memberships09:10 - The 37,000-mile commitment to development14:26 - Why Danny moved up, and the Academy's development-first philosophy27:05 - Winning the PG UBC and learning to handle failure41:20 - The peak-season recovery playbook: sleep, nutrition, strength, saying no55:48 - Recruiting reality and honoring the goal01:02:17 - Closing

New Driveline youth memberships (for players 9–14) launch in Washington August 3rd, with Arizona and Florida shortly after

- Assessments

- Group training

- 1-on-1 hitter and pitcher development sessions

Get on the waitlist: support@drivelinebaseball.com or (425) 523-4030. Tell them Deven sent you!

Why the New Drop-6 Bats in HS Probably Won't Do What You Think

Recording from his deck with a borrowed gaming headset before an afternoon game, host Deven Morgan brings you the world's most dangerous youth baseball podcast, Youth Bat Madness edition. He breaks down the new USA Baseball rule allowing USABat -4, -5, and -6 bats in high school play starting in 2028, and the fear that comes with it: let bigger kids swing lighter bats and pitchers eat harder comebackers. Deven explains why that's mostly unfounded, walking through coefficient of restitution, the trampoline effect off the barrel that's capped at 0.50 for both standards, so the pop shouldn't change. The variable that actually matters is swing weight, and it's the one the rule may have left open. Since drop weight only defines length to total weight and not where that weight sits, he lays out the loophole a bat maker could exploit absent a swing-weight floor: a -6 that feels like a -3, easier to swing but giving up nothing on the collision, the one real path to higher exit velocity. He closes on the bigger question of whether this is an equipment fix for what's really a development problem, and whether two years is enough to build the strength to handle BBCOR anyway.

00:16 – Welcome from the deck, borrowed headset and all

00:50 – The new rule: USABat -4, -5, and -6 legal for high school starting 2028

01:20 – The parent fear driving this episode: harder comebackers off bigger kids' bats

01:58 – The setup: exit velocity is capped, but there's a loophole

02:58 – What coefficient of restitution actually means and why it's capped at 0.50

04:32 – Swing weight, and why two bats can weigh the same but feel different

05:43 – The finger-balance test for reading a bat's swing weight

07:36 – The loophole: how a bat maker could build a -6 that performs like a -3

10:40 – What we don't know: the bats don't exist and the swing-weight floor is unconfirmed

11:28 – Why it's personal, and the contact-rate concern that actually has teeth

12:22 – The real problem: losing kids who can't handle BBCOR at 14

13:31 – The case for development over equipment

14:34 – The two-year window from 12 to 14 and what to do with it

16:00 – Bottom line, Dr. Alan Nathan's research, and where he might be wrong

19:38 – Signoff

Links:

https://t.co/R7TLVHE2EU

Remembering Rob Hahne: Without Him, There Is No Us

Broadcasting from "the world's most dangerous youth baseball podcast," host Deven Morgan records on location from the Great Park in Irvine - a $1.2 billion youth sports complex that prompts a hard look at where the game is headed and who it's being built for. He's there because his son drew a Perfect Game UBC invite against elite arms touching 97–98, a showcase he frames as deep learning more than competition. The heart of the episode is a tribute to his friend Rob Hahne, who passed unexpectedly at 57 - the connective force behind the universal pitch count push and the ABCA work that made it real. Deven revisits their last time together at ABCA in Columbus and the gut-punch of returning to the field Rob built for the eulogy, then widens into mortality, the Michael Mann line "time is luck," and the end of Max Rojas's high school career. He closes with a teaser for new, more accessible youth training products and a reminder to tell the people you love them, because you have less time than you think.

Timestamps:

00:00 On location at the Great Park, Irvine01:00 A $1.2 billion youth complex and what it signals04:00 The "$20 hamburger" and the cost of youth baseball05:30 Access, affordability, and $300K in scholarships06:55 Why we're here: the Perfect Game UBC showcase07:40 Facing 97–98 and the deep learning of elite competition09:54 Losing Rob Hahne 11:00 Rob, universal pitch counts, and the MLB meeting12:18 "I'll never get to thank him again"13:00 ABCA in Columbus: watching Kyle watch his dad16:27 The eulogy and the field Rob built18:22 The stage of life where friends start dying19:21 Miami Vice and "time is luck"20:43 Max Rojas and the end of a chapter22:06 The Ted Williams treatment and why nothing lasts forever24:15 New youth training products coming28:00 Carrying it forward, for Rob29:37 Tell your people you love them

Links:

https://t.co/R7TLVHE2EU

Lead Offs For 9 Year Olds Are Insane and I Will Die on This Hill

In this episode of "the world's most dangerous youth baseball podcast," host Deven Morgan takes listener questions and goes deep on the nuts and bolts of coaching young players — how to develop first-year kid pitch arms without overusing your two best strike-throwers, why ranking 7-year-olds is absurd, when leadoffs and holding runners should actually be introduced (not before 12), how to use Blast sensor metrics like bat speed and attack angle with youth hitters, and how to structure an 8–12 week competition on-ramp for a national team. The throughline: simple external cues, ball-flight-driven intentions, and equitable opportunity beat the professionalized, performance-first approach that's driving kids out of the game by ten. The episode closes with an emotional reflection on coaching Max Rojas for 11 years — from a seven-year-old to an 18-year-old signing with Tacoma CC — and an amazing Senior night experience.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Academy Tryouts Pitch05:50 Listener Feedback: More Nuts & Bolts, Less Doom & Gloom09:00 First-Year Kid Pitch: Why Tommy & Timmy Get Overused13:00 Step Backs, Kershaws & Simple Drill Environments for Young Hitters16:00 11 of 13 Pitched — Ryan Freeman's 10U Example18:20 "It Matters to Him" — My Wife Checked Me22:00 The Math Project Analogy: Turn Two Into Four, Six Into Eight26:00 External Cues for Young Pitchers: Find Home, Big Breath, Adjust Off Middle29:50 The Absurdity of Ranking 7-Year-Olds33:00 Equal Playing Time at 7–8 Rec: Equity Over Attendance37:00 Leadoffs & Holding Runners — Not Before 1244:30 Travel Ball vs. Rec: The False Keeping-Up-With-the-Joneses Narrative47:55 On-Ramping a National Team: 8–12 Week Competition Runway50:45 Blast Sensor Metrics: Bat Speed, Attack Angle & Adjusting Intention56:35 Max Rojas: 11 Years, Senior Night & the Last Time They Play Together01:03:30 Why All of This Matters — Producing Kids Like Max01:07:00 State Playoffs, the Last Page & What Goes By Like a Whisper01:12:25 Closing: Happy Mother's Day & Powered by Driveline

Links:

https://t.co/R7TLVHE2EU

The Step Back Man Swing System, Pitch Count Horrors & Choosing the Harder Thing

In this episode of "the world's most dangerous youth baseball podcast," host Deven Morgan uses Mike Trout's new step-back load to launch a takedown of one-system hitting instruction and tee-obsessed youth development — if one of the best players ever is adding new moves mid-career, what are we doing grooming 10-year-olds for aesthetic perfection? He then dismantles Mark DeRosa's claim that Kevin McGonigle's bat speed "can't be taught," arguing that rising velocity thresholds across baseball prove elite output is far more accessible than conventional wisdom admits. "This Week in Pitch Counts" returns with horror shows — a 14U kid throwing 168 pitches across two days, a 75-pitch one-inning outing in April — contrasted with coaches in Georgia who proactively coordinated workload across a player's two teams. The episode closes with a personal reflection on parenting a junior through his high school season: the highs of a 13-K complete game shutout, the emotional weight of recruiting timelines, and a couch conversation where his son, facing a step up to national-level summer competition, simply said "I'm ready" — a moment Deven values not for baseball, but for what it reveals about character.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Housekeeping: Tryouts Now Open03:40 Step Back Man: Mike Trout's New Load & the Myth of One Swing09:20 Why Young Hitters Get "Bodied" by the Bat — Engine Before Skill11:00 The Tee Problem: Blocked Reps vs. Perception-Action Coupling14:00 Train Parents to Flip, Not to Coach Mechanics15:20 The Grocery List of Swing Flaws — Who Cares If He Catches Barrels?19:30 "You Can't Teach That" — DeRosa, McGonigle & the Walled Garden of Performance26:00 This Week in Pitch Counts: 168 Pitches in Two Days34:45 75 Pitches in One Inning — "It Ain't Little League Elbow, It's Who-Cares-About-Your-Elbow"38:15 Doing It Right: Distributed Pitching & the Walt Schiller / Rodney Dickerson Example48:00 Junior Year: Complete Game Shutout, Recruiting Pressure & Learning Over Fear01:01:50 The Parent Signal: Accountability for How We Treat Poor Performance01:05:00 "I'm Ready" — Choosing the Harder Thing01:07:00 Aging, Perspective & What Character Reveals01:11:50 Closing: Roman Reigns, Tryouts & Powered by Driveline

Links:

https://t.co/R7TLVHE2EU

Pitch Smart 2.0: From Ranting on Twitter to the MLB Boardroom

In this episode of "the world's most dangerous youth baseball podcast," host Deven Morgan returns after an extended hiatus to deliver a packed update spanning youth baseball policy, sports science research, and the deeply personal side of coaching his son. Deven details the remarkable progress of the Pitch Smart 2.0 initiative — a multi-year coalition effort alongside Rob Hahne and others with the ABCA Youth & Travel Baseball committees, and Major League Baseball — to establish universal pitch count standards and centralized workload reporting across all youth baseball leagues and tournament providers. What started as an idea has culminated in a meeting at MLB headquarters in New York where every major provider in the room signaled their commitment to join the voluntary coalition, a moment Deven describes as "surreal." The episode pivots to a deep dive into Driveline's groundbreaking weighted ball study on youth athletes — the first of its kind — which replicates prior ASMI findings and confirms that heavier balls reduce joint stress because movement speed decreases, framing weighted ball training as fundamentally a resistance training mechanism rather than a risk factor. Finally, Deven shares a raw, reflective segment on parenting through his son Danny's junior season — from a grand slam in the first game to a hitting slump that led to a late-night session at Driveline, unpacking the "see it deep, be flat" approach and ultimately arguing that baseball's greatest deliverable isn't trophies or college offers, but the perspective and problem-solving skills that come from not running away when things go wrong.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Housekeeping

02:28 Pitch Smart 2.0: The Coalition & MLB Meeting

14:55 Workload Science: Acute-to-Chronic Ratio Explained

22:40 Going Around the Room — Everyone Says Yes

28:20 What's Next for Pitch Smart

30:30 Youth Weighted Ball Study: Key Findings

38:40 Weighted Balls as Resistance Training

44:30 Parenting, the Lighthouse Metaphor & Danny's Season

50:50 Late-Night Driveline Session: Diagnosing the Problem

58:00 Baseball as a Life Skill: Don't Run Away From the Fire

01:03:00 Perspective Over Plastic

01:08:00 Closing & What's Ahead

Links:

https://t.co/R7TLVHE2EU

Cosplay vs. Competition: 7U Signing Day Insanity

In this episode of "the world's most dangerous youth baseball podcast," host Deven Morgan returns for another Youth Baseball Bummer Power Hour to tackle the growing trend of "cosplay" in youth sports. Deven offers a scathing critique of signing days for 6 and 7-year-olds, utilizing the developmental theories of Jean Piaget to explain why professionalizing the experience for single-digit ages is a psychological "ticking time bomb." The conversation pivots to a proposed systemic solution for the youth coaching crisis, arguing that the current "pulse-only" requirement for coaches must be replaced by a teacher-like certification and a centralized repository for safety and compliance. Deven also celebrates the "disruption" of Jesse Cole and the Savannah Bananas as they expand into youth tournaments, challenging the traditional 90-foot game to either prioritize fun or lose its market share to "Banana Ball." Finally, the show concludes with a deep dive into five months of HitTrax data, proving through "Player 1’s" 3,000 tracked swings that development is not a "wishing contest" but a result of consistent stimulus and falling in love with the work.

Timestamps:00:00 Intro & Housekeeping01:20 Discounts: AxeBat code & Youth Assessments code03:00 6U & 7U Signing Day "Insanity"10:40 Professionalization as "Cosplay"15:30 Piaget & developmental psychology in youth sports21:30 The Coaching Solution: Certification vs. the "Pulse"27:00 Systemic fixes: Centralized reporting & pitch counts36:15 Savannah Bananas & the disruption of youth baseball40:24 Banana Ball vs. tradition48:00 The only two goals: Fun/Engagement and Skill Building50:40 Hitting Deep Dive: 5 months of HitTrax data53:00 Tracking 3,000 swings: The ROI of showing up57:45 Why development is not a "Wishing Contest"01:10:00 Closing: Deeds, Not Words

The Next Time Might Be the Last Time Your Child Plays Baseball

In this episode, host Deven Morgan delivers a comprehensive ABCA convention recap and gets personal about what it means to coach his son—possibly for the last time. The bulk of the show tracks Deven's ongoing mission to establish universal pitch count standards and cross-organizational reporting, from presenting directly to MLB and USA Baseball, to navigating the politics of getting Little League, Perfect Game, USSSA, and private equity-backed leagues to buy in. He breaks down new MLB data showing 34% of Tommy John surgeries from 2010–2022 were performed on players 17 and under, reinforces the case for a "coalition of the willing," and recaps his speaking slot on the MLB Arm Care Panel. Along the way, Deven takes a swing at lacrosse marketing ("America's oldest sport"—miss me with that), unpacks the multi-sport vs. single-sport debate by emphasizing that athletic development must accompany skill work, and announces a podcast-exclusive 25% discount on Driveline youth assessments. The episode closes with an emotional reflection on coaching Danny into third base during a recent scrimmage—connecting that moment to a nine-year-old version of the same kid sliding into the same bag years earlier—and a reminder to every youth coach: the next time might be the last time.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:45 Housekeeping: AxeBat code DL20

02:05 NEW: 25% off youth assessments (code: PODCAST)

04:30 Lacrosse "America's oldest sport" rant

08:35 ABCa recap: universal pitch counts & reporting

12:50 Presenting to MLB & USA Baseball

15:15 Coalition of the willing & Youth Summit progress

18:00 Pitch Smart 1.0 politics

21:55 Pitch Safe app & Pulse workload data

27:30 MLB updating pitch guidelines

28:55 New data: 34% of TJ surgeries are 17-and-under

30:00 Coaching in the HitTrax cage with AxeBat

33:10 MLB Network filming & Arm Care Panel prep

35:25 Youth Hot Stove panel recap

38:30 Multi-sport play deep dive

45:10 College recruiting: athleticism vs. skill

46:15 Scrimmage story: last time coaching Danny?

48:45 The triple—"to me, to me, to me"

52:30 Flashback: nine-year-old Danny, same bag

58:40 The next time might be the last time

1:03:45 "This Week in Pitch Counts" returns

1:05:20 Outro

91 MPH, Earned Not Given: Inside the PG Main Event Showcase

In this deeply personal episode, host Deven Morgan pulls back the curtain on his son Danny's first-ever showcase—the Perfect Game Main Event in Fort Myers. What follows is a ground-level breakdown of the entire experience: battling illness on the trip, navigating a 3 a.m. Pacific wake-up, catcher throw-downs, 60-yard dash testing, and an eight-strikeout, three-inning pitching performance that topped out at 91 mph. But the real story is how they got there—shutting down in August, building the offseason ramp specifically around December competition readiness, and the "you can't win the race on this lap" mindset. Deven also offers a nuanced defense of Perfect Game, crediting their Pitch Smart compliance, rolled innings, and coach-pitch games designed to protect arms. The episode closes with a reflection on process over outcome: the skills built chasing baseball translate far beyond the diamond.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro: "World's Most Dangerous Podcast" returns01:30 Housekeeping: AxeBat code & HitTrax shoutout05:15 ABCA live hitting demo recap—coaching random kids in the cage08:00 Danny's first Perfect Game showcase10:45 Getting the invite & texting Taylor McCullough13:30 Scheduling the offseason around a December showcase15:45 Travel chaos: sick dad, delayed flights, 3 a.m. wake-ups19:20 Day 1: Catcher throw-downs & radar gun cosine error25:05 60-yard dash at 6.6 flat on minimal sleep27:30 Two games Sunday—pitcher/catcher workload management29:00 How to ramp up for a December showcase (August shutdown explained)34:00 "You can't win the race on this lap"—messaging around goals41:45 Day 2: Danny starts on the mound—91 mph, 8 Ks, 3 innings46:30 The sequence: top-shelf heater → backdoor turbo sinker → backdoor changeup48:50 Perfect Game notification drops: "overpowering hitters early"51:20 The moment—"that nine was earned"53:45 Hitting workout & bat speed testing55:30 Texas Roadhouse celebration steak57:00 Day 3: Coach-pitch games & protecting arms1:00:00 Defending Perfect Game: Pitch Smart compliance & rolled innings1:04:30 What parents are really paying for—answers to "is my kid good?"1:09:00 Danny's PG percentiles breakdown1:11:15 Self-improvement as the real product—the portable skillset1:12:45 Coming soon: ABCA recap, MLB Network appearance, Driveline assessment discount

Links

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⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚨 Follow Driveline Academy on Social Media 🚨⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrivelineYouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drivelineyouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drivelineyouth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Dear A-Rod, Please Come to Driveline: See How Data Helps Kids, Not Hurts Them

Deven opens with a deep dive into training ball flight over swing esthetics, explaining why paying attention to batted ball outcomes (line drives between 10-18 degrees) matters more than visual checkpoints. He breaks down gravity, drag, and descent angles to illustrate why "swing level" coaching sets kids up for failure. The episode pivots to A-Rod's viral Instagram video telling 4.4 million followers that 15-year-olds shouldn't chase launch angle, exit velo, or max effort, and should focus on "three pitches for strikes anytime you want" at Jamie Moyer velocity levels. Deven systematically dismantles this advice, arguing it's advocating for ignorance—telling kids to reach a destination without a map or compass. He explains why sub-competitive velocity with command doesn't play against college hitters, why exit velo paired with ideal launch angles equals relevancy, and why the "old days" of Greg Maddux and Jamie Moyer aren't coming back. Deven extends an open invitation for A-Rod to visit Driveline and see how data serves players rather than replacing coaching. The episode closes with personal reflection: telling his 16-year-old son "you can't win the race on this lap" after missing a velocity PR, connecting process over outcome to cross-sport application, and addressing travel ball trauma through a friend's panic attacks decades later.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro, AxeBat code & training at three locations
03:07 – Train ball flight, not swing esthetics
09:02 – Line drives are balls hit in the air: Ted Williams unpacked
13:21 – "Coming home" vs. adaptation during the swing
18:15 – Gravity, drag & matching the plane of the pitch
22:16 – 46-foot distance, 40 MPH = 16-degree descent problem
24:27 – "Swing level" + descent angle = one contact chance
27:15 – Hit over the shortstop's head: ball flight intention coaching
30:13 – A-Rod's "Fundamentals > Stats" video breakdown
32:23 – Dismissing launch angle/exit velo = advocating ignorance
39:15 – Exit velo + launch angle = relevancy; one without the other = outs
43:17 – "Three pitches for strikes" doesn't play anymore
46:41 – Jamie Moyer example: old days aren't coming back
50:06 – 4.4M followers, 25M reach: poison disguised as wisdom
55:00 – "Don't advocate for ignorance if you care about the game"
56:36 – Open invitation: A-Rod, come see what we actually do
58:15 – "You can't win the race on this lap": 16-year-old PR talk
01:04:45 – Process over outcome: cross-occupational application
01:06:37 – Travel ball panic attacks: unresolved childhood trauma
01:09:47 – 7% leaky bucket: will hurt people put kids in baseball?
01:10:20 – Outro: anniversary, Little League partnerships

Links

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⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚨 Follow Driveline Academy on Social Media 🚨⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrivelineYouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drivelineyouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drivelineyouth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

"I Have Failed You": What Augie Garrido's Rant Actually Teaches About Coaching Kids

Deven recaps the ABCA Youth Summit in Austin, revealing Pitch Smart 2.0 is actively being developed by MLB with universal pitch counts and app-based reporting. The coalition includes PBR, Perfect Game, and Little League, with cross-platform tracking for workload, coach certifications, and ejection histories. New Aspen Institute data exposes the crisis: a 6.9% gap between new players (41% annually) and kids who quit (35%)—a dangerously thin margin. Deven connects this to travel baseball Instagram jokes and MLB injury data (60%+ UCL surgeries on high schoolers and younger), arguing the sport faces a death spiral if public perception remains "injurious and family-hostile." He shares insights from visiting UT Austin with Coach Schloss, Tulo, and Coach Box: multi-sport matters for solving different athletic problems not acquiring skills, SEC coaches "coach the PO out of pitchers" for athleticism, and "season logistics are your kid's growth plate." Deven introduces UT's hero-hardship-highlight trust-building exercise and unpacks Augie Garrido's famous rant, focusing on the accountability line "I have failed you" rather than criminalizing kids' mistakes. The episode closes with self-assessment feedback loops using Jay Fletcher's viral 4-year-old videos, contrasting feedback-driven environments with forcing kids into Don Mattingly mechanics they lack the strength to execute.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro, AxeBat code & new local training partnerships
02:56 – ABCA Summit recap: Pitch Smart 2.0 in progress with MLB
10:08 – Workload units, universal reporting & cross-platform coalition
17:45 – The 6.9% gap: 41% new, 35% quit—leaky bucket crisis
22:01 – Travel baseball moms, injury stats & death spiral threat
27:25 – Fastpitch 300+ pitches: fatigue doesn't care about gender
30:17 – Average umpire age 47: no next generation coming
31:57 – UT visit: Schloss, Box, Tulo on multi-sport & athleticism
38:52 – "They coach the PO out"—why 12U specialists are backwards
41:04 – "Season logistics are your kid's growth plate"
44:28 – Hero-hardship-highlight: vulnerability builds trust
47:00 – Augie Garrido: "I have failed you" accountability lesson
53:41 – Self-assessment feedback vs. criminalizing mistakes
01:02:11 – Don Mattingly mechanics vs. feedback-driven environments
01:05:01 – Outro: guest coming, training options

Links

Start training with Driveline now with Academy Flex:

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Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/skills-that-scale-training-manual/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrivelineYouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drivelineyouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drivelineyouth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sandy Koufax Retired at 31 and We're Still Letting 14-Year-Olds Go 121 Pitches in Fall Ball

Deven opens with Pitching Ninja's video on Yada Sensei—Yamamoto's trainer—and his tree analogy: focus on the trunk (core, proximal segments), not the branches (arm positions, extremities). He applies this to youth coaching, calling out PE teachers demanding point-at-target finishes instead of teaching proper sequencing. The episode pivots to "This Week in Pitch Counts": 14U kids throwing 121 during October fall ball. Deven systematically dismantles every fall ball justification ("chemistry is built," "toughness is earned") while contrasting Yamamoto's built-up workload capacity with kids spiking acute/chronic load in meaningless games. He invokes Sandy Koufax's retirement at 31 from chronic arthritis as proof we're ignoring history. The core is his fired-up plea ahead of the ABCA Youth Summit: four years of talk, now it's time to build Pitch Smart 2.0 with universal pitch counts, universal reporting, and red-light/green-light systems like Baseball Ontario's app. He frames the crisis through "two boxes"—baseball's dependence on pitcher health and accelerating public perception that travel baseball is injurious and family-hostile—arguing the game will die from the bottom up if parents stop enrolling kids after watching burnout and injury cycles repeat.

00:00 – Intro, AxeBat code & new training packages
02:13 – Yada Sensei & Yamamoto: trunk vs. branches philosophy
08:38 – PE teachers, pointing finishes & proximal-to-distal reality
14:31 – 115 pitches October 11th: This Week in Pitch Counts
16:15 – 14U kid: 115 Saturday, 121 Sunday, 97 Monday in fall ball
22:18 – Debunking "It's never just fall ball" myths
27:15 – What fall ball should be vs. October tournaments
31:04 – Sandy Koufax at 31 & normalizing ibuprofen for 9-year-olds
32:42 – ABCA Summit: four years of talk, time for action
34:08 – Pitch Smart 2.0: universal counts & reporting blueprint
42:19 – Two boxes: pitcher dependency + public perception crisis
47:25 – "Why sign my 7-year-old up after what killed my 11-year-old's love?"
50:25 – Baseball Ontario's red-light/green-light app solution
56:04 – Universal reporting unlocks coach certification visibility
01:02:30 – Outro: Austin summit report next week

Links

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Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/skills-that-scale-training-manual/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Train bat speed and barrel accuracy with our Youth Underload Smash bat - just $79!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-underload-smash-bat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrivelineYouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drivelineyouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drivelineyouth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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"What's Happened, Happened": World Series Lessons About Competition for Kids

Fresh off the most chaotic World Series of his lifetime, Deven dissects game seven's critical moments to extract actionable lessons for youth players, coaches, and parents. He opens with new Driveline youth assessment packages, then dives into Shohei Ohtani's masterclass in mental discipline—giving up a three-run homer to Bo Bichette in his dream scenario (pitching game seven), then returning to compete effectively as a hitter. Deven contrasts this with Miguel Rojas's game-tying home run on just his second hit in a month, using both examples to illustrate trainable competitive mindset work. The episode pivots to practical troubleshooting: when your kid goes 0-for-the-week, the first conversation must be "Are we on time? Are we swinging at hittable pitches?"—not mechanical minutiae. He breaks down hunt-the-heater approach work, go/no-go training rounds, and why thick-grip bats aren't the leverage point parents think they are. The Yamamoto workload discussion gets serious: 200+ pitches in a week is extraordinary, not replicable for 12-year-olds, and can't be "wished into existence" without tracking tools like Driveline Pulse. The episode closes with a fired-up blueprint for Players Way amid federal investigation—stop carving registration fees, build coaching curriculum, reward compliant leagues with free national tournament experiences, and quit arguing about swing mechanics when competitive mindset and experience design matter infinitely more.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro, AxeBat code & new youth assessment packages
05:49 – Game Seven chaos & Kershaw's legacy moments
10:06 – Shohei gives up Bo Bichette dinger in dream scenario
16:36 – Competing after failure: trainable mental discipline
22:08 – Rojas: second hit in a month, game-tying homer
27:15 – 0-for-the-week fix: "On time? Hittable pitches?"
31:19 – Hunt-the-heater & go/no-go training rounds
34:22 – Thick grip bats vs. move it fast, move it accurate
40:46 – Yamamoto's 200+ pitches: can't wish workload capacity
48:21 – "My 12-year-old can do it too"—the terrifying take
50:38 – Baseball is hard: character through difficulty
01:00:17 – Players Way investigation & the blueprint
01:07:42 – Train coaches, reward leagues, stop arguing mechanics
01:10:17 – Outro: game seven lessons for kids

Links

Start training with Driveline now with Academy Flex:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/academy-flex/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/skills-that-scale-training-manual/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-underload-smash-bat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚨 Follow Driveline Academy on Social Media 🚨⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrivelineYouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drivelineyouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drivelineyouth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔽 Follow Driveline Baseball on Social Media 🔽

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Geno Suarez Shanked Grand Slam Proves Your Kid Needs Bat Speed Training

We first take a deep dive into MLB's new Amateur Recovery Period (October 15th-January 15th), breaking down why the league is using its leverage to force rest and development time for high school players. The episode pivots to Shohei Ohtani's transcendent postseason performance (two 116+mph batted balls, three homers, pumping hundreds on the mound), using it to illustrate why youth players should train as two-way athletes and move around the field instead of getting pigeonholed. Deven connects Geno Suarez's late, shanked home run to the bat speed training argument, then tackles the Mariners' devastating Game 7 loss and Dan Wilson's old-school closer decision. The core of the episode centers on Orion Kerkring's throwing error and Rob Thompson's response—hand on chest, picking the kid up—which Deven holds up as the coaching standard, contrasting it with his own past failures as "kind of a dick" in games. He challenges coaches directly: when a kid fails publicly and the game is already lost, how will you respond? The episode closes on A-Rod's commentary, national personalities who can't celebrate the game, and a preview of the tongue-in-cheek "How to Ruin a Hitter/Pitcher" video series.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro, AxeBat code & first vacation in 20 years
04:01 – MLB's Amateur Recovery Period: October 15th-January 15th breakdown
10:45 – Fatigue, super-compensation & why kids get hurt without rest
13:41 – On-ramping 101: marathon analogy & 4-6 week build-up protocols
19:03 – Showcase economics vs. player health: "matters concerning health comes first"
22:16 – Shohei Ohtani: 116.9mph, 469ft & the billion-out-of-a-billion performance
30:17 – Two-way paradigm & moving kids around the field: why Danny got varsity reps
34:26 – The disaffected right fielder stuck there "all the mother effin time"
37:07 – Geno Suarez shank homer: low smash factor argument for bat speed
41:15 – Dinger to Springer & Dan Wilson's old school closer decision
46:12 – Orion Kerkring play: Rob Thompson's hand on his chest & what coaching should look like
53:32 – "What's happened, happened": the game is lost—how will you respond?
56:04 – A-Rod commentary & why national personalities hate the state of the game
58:04 – Outro: "How to Ruin a Hitter/Pitcher" video series preview

Links

Start training with Driveline now with Academy Flex:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/academy-flex/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Develop bat speed with our Youth Power Bat for just $99!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-power-trainer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/skills-that-scale-training-manual/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Train bat speed and barrel accuracy with our Youth Underload Smash bat - just $79!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-underload-smash-bat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Bunting Sucks, WWE is Baseball, and 8 Million Kids Nobody's Serving

Episode Description

After a two-month hiatus, Deven Morgan returns with a raw, reflective episode covering the whirlwind July-August travel season that tested his family physically, financially, and emotionally. He recounts Danny's first 90-foot home run (and the alleged fence-climbing mission to retrieve the ball), tournament experiences from Spokane to Pullman, and getting asked to leave a dugout after defending a rattled pitcher. The episode pivots to a thought-provoking Savannah Bananas experience that challenges Deven's entire developmental philosophy—watching warmups where catching behind-the-back is practiced as a skill, and 47,000 fans chanting that bunting sucks. He wrestles with what happens when millions of casual youth players are exposed to performative, WWE-style baseball instead of traditional three-up-three-down competition, and whether the industry is prepared for that shift. The episode closes on an emotional note: dropping his daughter off at college, the reality of an empty trunk, and hard-won perspective on getting your money's worth as a parent before time runs out.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & AxeBat discount code
02:15 – July-August travel ball reality: costs, hotels & family time
05:06 – Spokane: Danny's first 90-foot homer & (alleged) fence-climbing retrieval mission
13:28 – Getting asked to leave the dugout after defending a pitcher
24:17 – MVP International Caribbean trip: Dominican & Puerto Rico games
29:44 – Shirt off his back: privilege & poverty in the Dominican
34:26 – Savannah Bananas: 47,000 screaming "BUNTING SUCKS" & what it means
41:11 – WWE vs. wrestling analogy: performative vs. competitive baseball
47:33 – The 8 million casual players nobody's serving
53:40 – Deadlift troglodytes & resistance to data-driven development
55:25 – Dropping daughter at college: empty trunk, ugly cry, get your money's worth
01:01:30 – Outro: swing reports, onboarding protocols & Freddie Gibbs

Links

Start training with Driveline now with Academy Flex:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/academy-flex/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Develop bat speed with our Youth Power Bat for just $99!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-power-trainer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/skills-that-scale-training-manual/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Train bat speed and barrel accuracy with our Youth Underload Smash bat - just $79!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-underload-smash-bat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚨 Follow Driveline Academy on Social Media 🚨⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrivelineYouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drivelineyouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drivelineyouth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Zero Yelling, Zero Over-Use: The Kid-First Blueprint

In this milestone show, host Deven Morgan marks “the world’s most dangerous youth-baseball podcast” hitting triple digits and quickly pivots from fanfare to substance. After housekeeping items he lays out Driveline Academy’s “no yelling, no over-use” coaching culture, explaining how a pro-level development system is adapted to keep kids both competitive and safe. Listener stories drive the episode: a tournament director who swapped innings limits for Pitch Smart counts, a 10-year-old smashing his first over-the-fence homer, and New Zealand’s nationwide adoption of pitch-count rules. Deven also tackles a salty YouTube comment, then highlights an ESPN story showing how Fortnite sharpened rookie Jacob Wilson’s in-game decision making, using it to argue for more “random practice” and creativity (cue the viral bat-wielding-dog clip). The show closes on a personal note: lessons from Deven’s mother, an ER nurse who chose the hardest path “because it was in my heart,” reminding coaches and players alike to align actions with aspirations.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro & 100-Episode Milestone
01:30 Housekeeping: AxeBat DL20 code, camp discounts
07:00 Why our coaches don’t yell; health-first team philosophy
09:20 Coaching culture & avoiding arm abuse
18:50 Listener win: tournaments shift to pitch counts
25:00 Youth success stories & 10U big flies
30:14 New Zealand goes fully Pitch-Smart compliant
35:30 Phil’s pandemic-era rec team & long-term outcomes
48:50 Handling haters: the “BDrizzly 206” YouTube rant
51:45 Fortnite & decision-making: Jacob Wilson story
01:05:16 Random practice explained (the bat-swinging dog)
01:09:00 Schedule update & ER-nurse mom lesson on heart-first choices

Links

Driveline Youth Development Camps

https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/academy-youth-baseball-camps/

Start training with Driveline now with Academy Flex:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/academy-flex/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Develop bat speed with our Youth Power Bat for just $99!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-power-trainer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/skills-that-scale-training-manual/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Train bat speed and barrel accuracy with our Youth Underload Smash bat - just $79!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-underload-smash-bat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚨 Follow Driveline Academy on Social Media 🚨⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/DrivelineYouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drivelineyouth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drivelineyouth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Game-Theory Coaching vs Kid Development

Host Deven Morgan kicks things off with quick housekeeping—new discount code, what’s on tap—and then reads a heartfelt email from a parent whose son thrived at a recent Driveline Youth Camp. The note sets the stage for a deep dive into why the Academy launched youth-only programs and how age-appropriate “snapshot → train → retest” cycles build confidence instead of anxiety.

From there Deven zooms out to the bigger youth-baseball ecosystem:

•

Game-theory coaching vs. kid development – He dismantles the “just throw strikes / walks are triples” mantra and argues that victories built on walking weak hitters stunt real growth.

•

Power on pint-sized fields – A look at bunting, barrel control, and how tiny 60-foot diamonds shape strategy—and too often push 1.6–1.8 million kids out of the sport every year.

•

Chasing exit velocity the right way – Practical progressions for bat-speed gains without turning BP into injury roulette.

The middle third morphs into a full-on pitch-count reckoning: Deven recounts recent tournaments where 10- to 12-year-olds logged 153, 128, even 167 pitches in a single weekend because “there are no rules.” He calls on tournament operators to adopt universal pitch-smart limits and reminds coaches that “plastic rings aren’t worth real elbows.”

The episode closes on a personal note. With Father’s Day fresh in mind, Deven reflects on the mentors who shaped him, celebrates the messy joy of parenting through sport, and signs off with a simple challenge: tell the people you love that you love them—every chance you get.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction & housekeeping

02:00 Parent email — Youth Camp success story

04:24 Why we launched Driveline Youth Camps

09:06 Game-theory coaching vs kid development

14:16 The “Just Throw Strikes” fallacy

18:21 Pro-level approach: bunting, power, and contact

23:00 Let hitters hit — pitching-strategy talk

30:13 Training for power vs field dimensions

34:26 Why 1.6 million kids quit baseball each year

40:17 Chasing exit velocity the right way

50:12 Equipping players & over-use awareness

55:25 Tournament pitch-count horror stories

58:39 Plastic rings, real elbows — over-use culture exposed

01:04:57 Trophies vs memories — a coach’s reality check

01:07:35 Father’s Day reflection & sign-off

Links

Driveline Youth Development Camps

https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/academy-youth-baseball-camps/

Start training with Driveline now with Academy Flex:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/academy-flex/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Develop bat speed with our Youth Power Bat for just $99!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-power-trainer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/skills-that-scale-training-manual/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Train bat speed and barrel accuracy with our Youth Underload Smash bat - just $79!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/product/youth-underload-smash-bat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚨 Follow Driveline Academy on Social Media 🚨⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Velocity Gains Without the Pain | Retaliation Doesn't Belong In Youth Baseball

Host Deven Morgan packs Episode 98 with equal parts humor, hard data, and hard-won perspective. He opens with “housekeeping”—AxeBat discounts and a peek inside Driveline’s product-design war room—before riffing on the dubious genius who green-lit chocolate-blueberry hydration powder. From that springboard Deven lays out the new Youth Development Camps and explains how each Driveline Academy pathway (Snapshot Assessment, Flex, full teams) scales commitment and results.

The centerpiece is a nuts-and-bolts success story: 14-year-old Russell Trull jumps 7.4 mph in throwing velocity, 10 mph in bat speed, and 12 lbs of lean mass in just seven months by combining weighted-ball drills, strength work, and recurring snapshot assessments. Deven then previews a university study on position-player throwing workload, argues for a universal 35-pitch inning cap, and dismantles the idea that a few high-intent pulldowns equal “doing Driveline.”

Things turn raw when he recounts a tournament where a coach allegedly ordered a head-shot retaliation at one of Driveline's players after a harmless glove swat, prompting a wider call to end “teach-him-a-lesson” culture and to adopt MLB Pitch Smart 2.0-style rules. The episode closes on a personal note: Deven's daughter’s graduation, the courage of kids who leave baseball for new passions, and the reminder to tell your people you love them—because the ride is short.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction & Housekeeping
07:25 Chocolate-Blueberry Hydration Rant
11:40 Youth Development Camps Overview
12:50 Flex Pathway & Meet Russell
14:16 Russell’s 7-Month Velocity + Bat-Speed Gains
18:28 Force Production vs Mechanical Tweaks
23:06 Throwing Workload Study & Pitch Smart 2.0 Tease
25:52 FitLines Assessment Insights
33:33 Off-Season Shutdown Myth
35:08 “This Week in Pitch Count” Kick-Off
36:32 The 35-Pitch Inning Cap Idea
44:59 Tournament Over-Use Reality Check
48:34 324 Pitches in One Weekend
50:57 Bean-Ball Retaliation Story
59:42 Composure & Handshake Lesson
01:03:14 Teach Kids, Don’t Harm Them
01:08:40 Re-Centering on Athlete Safety
01:14:15 Drawing a Hard Safety Line
01:15:59 Graduation Reflection
01:21:54 Beyond College Baseball
01:23:30 Final Thoughts — Tell People You Love Them

Links

Driveline Youth Development Camps

https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/academy-youth-baseball-camps/

Start training with Driveline now with Academy Flex:

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Develop bat speed with our Youth Power Bat for just $99!

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Skills That Scale: The Complete Youth Baseball Training Manual is out now!

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Train bat speed and barrel accuracy with our Youth Underload Smash bat - just $79!

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⬇️ Host ⬇️

Deven Morgan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devenmorgan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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