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
326
#134: Royals' Nick Pratto
This week's Minor League Baseball podcast features remembrances of Roy Halladay, Daniel Flores and Rick Hader (more commonly known as Myron Noodleman). Also, top Royals prospect Nick Pratto joins the show to talk about the start to his pro career.
73 min
327
#133: Astros' J.B. Bukauskas
Houston Astros first-rounder J.B. Bukauskas calls into the Minor League Baseball podcast to talk about watching his new organization's run to the World Series. Tyler and Sam discuss early Arizona Fall League storylines, and Ben will make you hungry with talk of team food names.
56 min
328
#132: Dodgers' Will Smith
Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Will Smith joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to talk about his time in the Arizona Fall League while Sam, Tyler and Ben break down how expansion could affect the Minors from player development and business standpoints.
68 min
329
#131: Arizona Fall League preview
With the Arizona Fall League season starting this week, Tyler and Sam provide their picks for best teams, MVP and potential surprise performers. Ben breaks down the news of a new stadium coming to Las Vegas.
54 min
330
#130: Orioles' Austin Hays
Baltimore Orioles prospect Austin Hays joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to break down his impressive 2017 season that saw him climb from Class A Advanced Frederick all the way to the big leagues. Tyler and Sam also discuss the toughest picks in this year's MiLBY Awards categories.
64 min
331
#129: D-backs' Jon Duplantier
Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Jon Duplantier talks to the Minor League Baseball podcast about his breakout season in which he posted a 1.39 ERA over 136 innings. Sam and Tyler give their positional picks for an All-MiLB Team, and Ben calls in from the Promo Seminar in Greenville.
67 min
332
#128: Revisiting preseason predictions
Tyler and Sam are joined this week by MiLB.com's Kelsie Heneghan and Josh Jackson as they see what went right and what went wrong with their preseason Minor League predictions. Also, Sam spoke to Tampa Bay Rays prospect Jake Bauers before the Triple-A National Championship Game, and Ben gives some of his Crooked Numbers from the 2017 season.
91 min
333
#127: Twins' Nick Gordon
Minnesota Twins prospect Nick Gordon joins The Show Before the Show to discuss his role in Double-A Chattanooga's run to a Southern League title. Tyler and Sam break down other championship winners, and Ben discusses the Astros' move out of Rookie-level Greeneville.
51 min
334
#126: Postseason preview
With the 2017 Minor League regular season closing out this week, Sam and Tyler come together to provide their parting thoughts of the season and preview the upcoming playoffs. Andrew Battifarano stops by to discuss his story about Rangers pitcher Jake Diekman, and Ben tells tales of Wilmington's Mr. Celery mascot.
64 min
335
#125: Pirates' Shane Baz
Pittsburgh Pirates first-rounder Shane Baz joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to talk about his home area of Houston and his first season in the Minors. Tyler and Sam discuss Arizona Fall League rosters, and Ben breaks down Erie's "Alternative Facts Night."
65 min
336
#124: Cubs' Chris Singleton
Chicago Cubs prospect Chris Singleton joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to discuss getting his pro career started two years after his mother was murdered in the Charleston church shooting in 2015. Also, Benjamin Hill returns from the road with stories about his encounters with Bill Murray and Monday's eclipse.
69 min
337
#123: Tigers' Alex Faedo
Detroit Tigers first-rounder Alex Faedo joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to talk about his development as a pitcher at Florida and his heroics in the College World Series. Tyler and Sam discuss the big promotions of Dominic Smith, Rhys Hoskins and Eloy Jimenez, and Ben previews his trip to the Carolinas.
61 min
338
#122: Reds' Taylor Trammell
Cincinnati Reds prospect Taylor Trammell joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to talk about his impressive first full season and when he first knew he was incredibly fast. Also, Tyler and Sam preview the Joe Bauman Home Run Award race, and Ben returns from the road to tell tales from all over the northeast.
72 min
339
#121: Rangers' Willie Calhoun
Fresh off his move from the Dodgers to the Rangers, No. 69 overall prospect Willie Calhoun joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to discuss the trade, his approach to hitting and when he saw his power make a big jump. Tyler and Sam also break down some of the other big deals from this year's Trade Deadline as well as the promotions of Amed Rosario and Ozzie Albies.
53 min
340
#120: Updated Top 100 Prospects
On the latest episode of the Minor League Baseball podcast, Tyler and Sam discuss MLB.com's updated top-100 prospect rankings, Rafael Devers' promotion to the Major Leagues and Potomac's George Costanza promotion. (Jerk Store not included.)
54 min
341
#119: Astros' Forrest Whitley
Houston Astros prospect Forrest Whitley joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to discuss his quick ascension in just his first full professional season. Tyler and Sam break down some of the big trades over the last week, and Ben talks about a conspiracy theory promo in State College.
68 min
342
#118: Phillies' Scott Kingery
Philadelphia Phillies prospect Scott Kingery talks about his breakout 2017 season from the Futures Game down in Miami. Tyler and Sam also discuss who would win midseason MiLBYs, and Ben has the info on Daytona's Bob Ross bobblehead.
59 min
343
#117: Dodgers' Alex Verdugo
Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Alex Verdugo joins the Minor League podcast to discuss his upcoming trip to the Futures Game and his impressive performance with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Tyler and Sam break down the Futures Game rosters, and Ben wraps up his trip through Montana, Idaho and Utah.
61 min
344
#116: Binghamton skipper Luis Rojas
Double-A Binghamton manager Luis Rojas talks about what advice he's received from his father Felipe Alou and what adjustments skippers have to make as they climb the Minor League ladder. Sam and Tyler break down the Triple-A All-Star rosters, and Ben reports from his road trip through the Mountain Time Zone.
64 min
345
#115: Rockies' Brendan Rodgers
MiLB.com's Josh Jackson caught up with Rockies top prospect Brendan Rodgers and D-backs pitcher Bud Jeter at the California League All-Star Game. Tyler and Sam discuss Gleyber Torres' season-ending elbow injury and go over when really is the best time to push a prospect to a new level.
71 min
346
#114: New Angels prospect Jo Adell
Before he went 10th overall to the Los Angeles Angels in the 2017 MLB Draft, outfielder Jo Adell talked to the Minor League Baseball podcast about his work to become a first-rounder. Also on this week's episode, Tyler and Sam break down the rest of the first round, and Ben talks about Albuquerque's move to become the Green Chile Cheeseburgers.
62 min
347
#113: Padres' Cal Quantrill
With the Draft around the corner, San Diego Padres No. 2 prospect Cal Quantrill joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to talk about going through his Draft process while trying to recover from Tommy John surgery. Tyler and Sam also preview this year's version of the Draft, and Ben discusses Lake Elsinore's latest iteration of GEEKend.
74 min
348
#112: Brewers' Brandon Woodruff
Brewers No. 8 prospect Brandon Woodruff joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to talk about finding success at Triple-A Colorado Springs and how he grew to become one of the top arms in the Milwaukee system. Sam and Tyler discuss their choices for top May performers, and Ben previews Louisville's tribute to Muhammad Ali.
68 min
349
#111: Indians' Triston McKenzie
Indians No. 3 prospect Triston McKenzie joins the Minor League Baseball podcast to talk about how he racks up so many strikeouts and how he got the nickname Doc. Sam and Tyler discuss Gleyber Torres' move to Triple-A, and Ben opines on his Topps card set collaboration.
66 min
350
#110: Ben Hill in California
MiLB.com's Benjamin Hill calls in from the road to discuss his trip through the California League with stops at places like Lancaster, Inland Empire and Lake Elsinore. Ben also brings an interview with Storm broadcaster Sean McCall, the so-called dean of the California League. In prospect news, Tyler and Sam break down the recent Major League promotions of Ian Happ and Bradley Zimmer.
61 min