The Show Before the Show

In "The Show Before the Show," MiLB.com writers Tyler Maun and Sam Dykstra break down Minor League Baseball's biggest storylines with guests from around the Minors including players, managers and player development experts. They'll also have a weekly look at what's going on outside the lines with business of the Minors expert Benjamin Hill.

Sports
Baseball
1
#541: Utah Dirty Sodas
Salt Lake GM Ty Wardel 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
51 min
2
#540: Guide to Spring Training
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.
58 min
3
#539: Glory of the Denver Bears
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.
70 min
4
#538: Nationals prospect Griff McGarry
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
78 min
5
#537: Top 100 prospects; Rocket City goes global
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.
88 min
6
#536: Royals prospect Carter Jensen
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.
66 min
7
#535: National Hat Day; Top 10 positional prosp...
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”.
75 min
8
#534: Resolutions; Palm Beach Frozen Iguanas
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.
67 min
9
#533: 2025 The Show Before the Show awards
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.
54 min
10
#532: Winter Meetings recap
Ben, Sam and Tyler review Winter Meetings news, including Minor League ownership changes, the Rule 5 Draft and the general vibe in Orlando.
48 min
11
#531: Tri-City manager Dann Bilardello
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
61 min
12
#530: Unveiling the (fake) Huntington Hellbenders
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.
40 min
13
#529: Somerset Semiquincentennials
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.
77 min
14
#528: Salem RidgeYaks, Myrtle Beach Pelicans pi...
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.
42 min
15
#527: Red Sox prospect Nelly Taylor, Salt Lake’...
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.
86 min
16
#526: Blue Jays' John Schneider (from 2018), A'...
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.
101 min
17
#525: A capital season in Sacramento
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
58 min
18
#524: Taking care of business; Nationals prospe...
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.
76 min
19
#523: Mets prospect Jonah Tong; MiLB Awards
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
81 min
20
#522: The final podcast of the 2025 MiLB season
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
87 min
21
#521: Buffalo's connection to The Natural
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.
60 min
22
#520: Hello, goodbye to Richmond's The Diamond
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.
63 min
23
#519: A unique view of the Florida State League
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.
80 min
24
#518: Texas League helps the Hill Country
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.
72 min
25
#517: Keeping score ... on a typewriter
Chattanooga's Adam Belford joins the show to share the unique way he keeps score for the Lookouts. Also, Ben previews his road trip to northeast Ohio, and Sam and Tyler chat about a bevy of prospect promotions to the Major Leagues, including ones for Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler and Rays shortstop Carson Williams.
67 min