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Baseball isn't just changing—it's transforming before our eyes. But are all these changes for the better?

Former MLB player Jeff Fry doesn't hold back as he takes us on a journey through baseball's evolution, from his own unlikely path to the major leagues to the troubling trends he sees in today's game. Growing up in a town of just 2,000 people in eastern Oklahoma, Fry defied the odds to forge a remarkable 15-year professional career, including nine seasons in the big leagues. His story begins with 15 consecutive hits in a summer baseball tournament and culminates in a major league career that most thought impossible.

The conversation quickly shifts to what's working in baseball today—and what isn't. Fry admires the incredible athletic talent in today's game but questions why so many gifted athletes hit .230 while celebrations for routine plays grow increasingly elaborate. "Back in the day, home run hitters hit around .300... now it seems accepted to swing for the fences and slug," he explains, pointing to how analytics departments have redefined success at the expense of entertainment value.

Parents and coaches will find particular value in Fry's passionate advocacy for youth development. He stresses that 10-year-olds shouldn't be getting "rattled" on baseball fields and recommends keeping kids in Little League until age 12 before transitioning to more competitive environments. His advice for parents after games? Simply say "I love watching you play" instead of critiquing performance on the drive home.

Whether you're a coach, parent, player or just a fan concerned about baseball's direction, this candid conversation delivers powerful insights about preserving the game's core values while embracing necessary evolution. Fry leaves us with timeless wisdom: "Believe in yourself, outwork the competition, and if you want it bad enough, you can achieve anything in life."

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From the brink of having no college options to leading Kennesaw State in stolen bases, Nate Anderson's baseball journey defies conventional paths and inspires anyone facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

When COVID-19 abruptly ended his high school senior season after just four games, Anderson received devastating news – the University of New Orleans was rescinding his scholarship offer. With nowhere to play, he focused on controlling what he could control: training daily, reaching out to any college connection, and trusting that his path would become clear.

That faith led him to Gardner-Webb University, where he joined their developmental team and turned heads with his relentless hustle. "I'm gonna run the crap out of these bases," Anderson recalls of his mindset. This determination earned him a spot on their Division I team before eventually transferring to Kennesaw State to be closer to home.

His journey took another painful turn when he suffered a torn hip labrum and UCL thumb injury, requiring two surgeries within months. Rather than withdrawing during recovery, Anderson transformed into a student-coach, mentoring younger players and gaining fresh perspective on the game. His comeback season proved remarkable – leading the team with 26 stolen bases and delivering clutch moments, including a memorable grand slam against Liberty.

Throughout our conversation, Anderson reveals wisdom beyond his years, particularly about handling baseball's inevitable slumps: "Your ability and talent has taken you this far... it's not your swing, it's not because you didn't put your right shoe on first before your left shoe." This mental approach – focusing on process rather than results – served him through countless challenges.

Whether you're a baseball player, coach, or someone navigating life's unexpected curveballs, Anderson's story reminds us that sometimes the most difficult detours reveal our true character and prepare us for greater opportunities ahead. Subscribe now to hear more conversations with athletes and leaders who demonstrate what it truly means to have a winning mindset.

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What happens when the uniform comes off after two decades of military service? For Vince Duvall, the transition from Army aviation to civilian life revealed profound truths about purpose, identity, and leadership that transcend both battlefields and playing fields.

Growing up on a Georgia farm before becoming a quarterback under Friday night lights, Vince never imagined how those early experiences would prepare him for commanding Black Hawk helicopter missions in Iraq. "In 1999 I was standing on a football field giving pregame speeches, and six years later I was in a combat zone doing the same thing," he reflects, highlighting the unexpected parallel between athletic and military leadership.

The podcast takes an emotional turn as Vince shares a harrowing Memorial Day 2007 story that forever changed his perspective. When two fellow pilots were killed checking a landing zone he was scheduled to fly into hours later, the reality that "they took my place" instilled a profound sense of purpose that guides him today. This pivotal moment makes his insights on sacrifice particularly poignant as Memorial Day approaches.

After retirement, Vince faced what many veterans encounter – a crisis of identity when the uniform comes off. "I put so much of my identity in that uniform and serving something bigger than myself," he admits. Through faith and the support of the Mighty Oaks Foundation, he discovered his new mission as a leadership mentor at a Christian school, where he now coaches young athletes with an emphasis on character over scoreboards.

Whether you're a coach, parent, athlete, or someone navigating a major life transition, Vince's journey offers invaluable wisdom about finding purpose beyond professional identity and developing the selflessness, resilience, and grit needed for life's most challenging moments. His message that "a man without purpose is lost" resonates far beyond military or athletic contexts, reminding us all to serve something greater than ourselves.

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