This is one of the coolest interviews I've ever got to do, and you can hear it in my voice. First off, Ben is the man. He's somebody I looked to as the model for what kind of impact an American can have in the Korean Baseball Organization. That was huge for me when I was thinking about making that leap across the Pacific. Two, we did this interview LIVE in a baseball stadium. How cool is that? Between my injury and COVID, it had been so long, and it felt so good just to be in a ballpark. Huge thank you to everybody with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos that made this possible! Also, be on the lookout for the footage we were able to capture that day!

I'm continually impressed by this dude. Not only did he ball out for the whole 2020 season, but he also did it his way. He kept his approach the same. That effortless consistency comes from a strong mental game. I was excited I got the opportunity to explore that with him, especially during this time in his career where change is looming. Regardless of what happens in free agency, I know one thing is for sure, though: JBJ is going to get his. Everybody can get value out of hearing this dude's minset.

Legend. There's no other way to describe today's guest. He's remembered as one of the most electric players to ever set foot in the outfield. He's won nearly every award. He's done just about everything there is to do in this game. Knowing all that, my expectations for this conversation were high. I still came away impressed after talking with Torii. What I appreciated most was his honesty and humility in recognizing it's his mindset more than his natural talents that got him to where he is today. I feel so blessed for the opportunity to explore that mindset with him on this episode. 

Today, we have one of the most talented and resilient young pitchers in the game today with us On Deck With X. We get into the MLB life the cameras don't show (5:20), battling with feelings of regret early on in his career (12:00), dealing with injuries from an attitude perspective (26:50), and becoming more than an athlete (29:20). Tyler is one of my players to watch, and now he's going to be all of our favorites to listen to. Please enjoy the episode. 

Today I get to talk with Matt Bahnick, founder of the Positive Vibe Movement. The Positive Vibe Movement started with Matt transitioning from his baseball career to confronting stigmas surrounding mental health. Ever since I heard his story, I've been a fan of the message. We get into what it means to sell apparel that gives back, transition for the game, and take an idea all the way through to execution. 

David Meyer is an author, entrepreneur, and among the nation's leaders in rehabbing athletic injuries. I got to see the latter first hand when we crossed paths in the Cardinals organization. Since then, he's gone off on his own and founded Pipeline Performance with the mission to "guide those facing physical challenges to drive their thoughts, emotions, and physical state towards doing what they love, along with a more purposeful life." Whether you're trying to make the jump from AA ball to the Majors, or you're just trying to figure out how to play with a sprained ankle for your slow-pitch game on Tuesday, there's some value in here for everybody. 

I got to sit down with Joel Hartman, co-founder of Prospect Dugout, and talk about the game we love. Prospect Dugout is a baseball media company looking to improve the scouting and networking side of the game. We got into how his journey to playing pro ball and now his son navigating the scouting process informs the work he does on the platform. At the end of the day, Joel wants to create a platform to make it easier for players to be seen and recognized for their work on the diamond. That's something Xtraodinary Athletes is all for. 

When you sit down with Jessica Kleinschmidt you are in for an entertaining time! This NBC sports Bay Area baseball reporter, writer, and host does everything when it comes to baseball content. She is an influential lady who speaks her mind and doesn’t hold back. She is a breathe of fresh air and exactly what we need in the sports industry today. Stay tuned, we have a special one for you today!