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
51
#447: Rays prospect Xavier Isaac
Rays No. 4 prospect Xavier Isaac chats with Sam about his first full season, second Spring Training and sleeper status in the 2022 Draft. Also, Ben and Tyler discuss Spokane’s King Carl campaign, Sam has the details on the Spring Breakout roster reveal and Josh glues together the latest edition of Ghosts of the Minor
57 min
52
#446: Tobacco Beetles, Spring Training battles
Ben, Sam and Tyler look at alternate identities for Winston-Salem and Great Lakes and take a certain left bovine turn into summer collegiate ball too. Also, Winston-Salem GM Brian DeAngelis gives more details on his club’s Tobacco Beetles look, and Sam and Tyler chat about early prospect performance in Spring Training. Finally, Josh revisits Babylon in Ghosts of the Minors
67 min
53
#445: Jacksonville celebrates the public domain
Promo director David Ratz discusses the Jumbo Shrimp's jersey featuring public-domain characters.
50 min
54
#444: Bowling Green Cavemen alternate identity
Bowling Green general manager Kyle Wolz chats with Ben about his club’s new Cavemen alternate identity. Also, Sam and Tyler look at Spring Training prospects to watch, and Josh goes bust in Ghosts of the Minors
68 min
55
#443: Bhutan baseball, Reading ballpark improve...
MLB.com's Michael Clair shares the story of Hudson Valley's connection with Bhutan baseball, and Reading's Jake Starr talks ballpark updates with Ben, Sam and Tyler. Also, Josh opens a box o’ joe in the latest edition of Ghosts of the Minors.
56 min
56
#442: Top 100 breakdown, Fooser Studios' Ryan F...
Sam and Tyler discuss MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 100 prospect ranking, Ben looks at the King Cakes identity coming to Biloxi in 2024 and the gang interviews MiLB logo designer Ryan Foose of Fooser Studios, who was involved in the Jersey Diners branding. Also, Josh brings a spark to Ghosts of the Minors.
90 min
57
#441: Jersey Diners, Hall of Famers in MiLB, To...
Ben, Sam and Tyler chat about Somerset’s new Jersey Diners identity and look back at the Minor League careers of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class. Also, Sam breaks down MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 shortstop and outfielder rankings, former Princeton GM Jim Holland discusses his book “My Fortunate Detour” and Josh yammers on in Ghosts of the Minors.
91 min
58
#440: Nationals prospect DJ Herz
Nationals prospect DJ Herz talks about his trade from the Cubs, 40-man roster spot and Vulcan changeup. Also, Ben, Sam and Tyler look at new food identities and Top 10 prospect lists, and Josh glows in the latest edition of Ghosts of the Minors.
65 min
59
#439: Mississippi move, Cardinals' Masyn Winn
Cardinals prospect Masyn Winn talks about making The Show, and Ben, Sam and Tyler look at Double-A Mississippi’s move to Columbus, Georgia. The gang also discusses National Bobblehead Day, and Josh wiggles his way through the latest edition of Ghosts of the Minors.
60 min
60
#438: 2024 Minor League Baseball resolutions/goals
Ben, Sam and Tyler provide their New Year’s resolutions and goals for the 2024 season ahead in Minor League Baseball and get some help from MLB Pipeline/MiLB.com colleagues and podcast listeners alike. Also, Josh wipes the slate clean in Ghosts of the Minors
74 min
61
#437: Five favorite MiLB things from 2023
Ben, Sam and Tyler each present their five favorite Minor League or baseball-related things from the 2023 season
75 min
62
#436: Spring Breakout, Akron merchandise manage...
Ben, Sam and Tyler talk about the new Spring Breakout series coming in 2024 and the Oklahoma City Baseball Club identity revealed this week.
51 min
63
#435: Winter Meetings chatter, Braves' David Mc...
Winter Meetings moves, including Juan Soto’s trade to the Yankees and the Rule 5 Draft.
67 min
64
#434: Bowie home clubhouse manager Jon Weinberg
Eastern League Home Clubhouse Attendant of the Year Jon Weinberg takes us behind the scenes of the Bowie Baysox and the successful Baltimore Orioles farm system. Also, Ben shares the story of how Italian chef Alessandro Buccino ended up working at the ballpark in Lehigh Valley, Sam and Tyler preview the Winter Meetings and Josh takes a hike through history in Ghosts of the Minors
68 min
65
#433: The Gratitude Guys
Ben, Sam and Tyler interview each other about their pasts, presents and futures on a Thanksgiving episode of the Minor League podcast.
104 min
66
#432: Logo designer Dan Simon on Rome’s rebrand
Veteran design artist Dan Simon discusses his work on the Rome Emperors rebrand, and much more. Ben runs down other new looks and dishes on concessions from his Southern ballpark trip, and Josh looks back at a particularly slick team for Ghosts of the Minors
59 min
67
#431: New Greensboro logos, Evan Carter
Greensboro general manager Tim Vangel discusses the club’s updated logo set for the 2024 season. Also, the gang reairs an interview with Rangers rookie and World Series champion Evan Carter, and Josh looks back at a legend of consistency in Ghosts of the Minors.
66 min
68
#430: Columbia broadcaster John Kocsis Jr.
Columbia broadcaster John Kocsis Jr. discusses his book “Play-by-Play from the Minors: Profiles of Baseball Broadcasters from Scranton to Yakima,” Tyler and Ben look at the end of title droughts and Josh spreads his wings in another Ghosts of the Minors
50 min
69
#429: Red Sox prospect Corey Rosier
Red Sox prospect Corey Rosier talks to Sam from the Arizona Fall League about his two trades and his progress in 2023. Also, Ben shares stories from a recent trip to Triple-A Columbus, the gang looks at the MLB postseason and Josh is in the tank for another edition of Ghosts of the Minors.
63 min
70
#428: Padres prospect Graham Pauley
No. 11 Padres prospect Graham Pauley chats with Sam about his early time in the Arizona Fall League and his breakout 2023 season in the San Diego system. Also, Ben talks about his Indianapolis visit, the group discusses the MLB postseason and Josh lays gloomy stonework in Ghosts of the Minors
78 min
71
#427: 2023 Arizona Fall League Draft
Sam and Tyler draft teams made of Arizona Fall League starts from the 2023 season, taking one player from each position, a right-handed pitcher, a left-handed pitcher and a DH. Also, Ben looks back at his visit to Louisville and discusses this year’s winning alternate identity from the MiLB Awards Show
82 min
72
#426: MiLB Awards Show preview
Ben, Sam and Tyler preview the first-ever MiLB Awards Show, coming to MLB Network on Monday, Oct. 2. The guys also chat about the new Minor League Baseball logo coming for 2024 and the remaining Minor League postseason series. Later, Josh delivers another colorful edition of Ghosts of the Minors.
44 min
73
#425: Veeck, Guerrero, playoffs
Ben chats about a Mike Veeck documentary, Tyler and Sam look at new champions and Biloxi manager Mike Guerrero speaks about a loaded roster.
52 min
74
#424: Andrew Seymour on Jupiter-Palm Beach rivalry
Palm Beach GM Andrew Seymour chats about his club's intrastadium Florida State League postseason series with Jupiter. Also, Sam and Tyler look at top High-A and Single-A performers, Ben recaps visits to Bowling Green and Louisville and Josh starts a discourse in Ghosts of the Minors.
69 min
75
#423: Ben in Nashville, Bowling Green
Ben is on the road for his final road trip of 2023 with early stops in Nashvile and Bowling Green, and he interviews Hot Rods assistant general manager Ashlee Wilson on this week’s episode. Also, Tyler and Sam talk September callups, and Josh makes a household name out of a Minor Leaguer of yore.
67 min