⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Introduction

01:15 – How Dan and Trevor met — high school teammates to business partners

03:30 – How Backside Groundballs Media started during COVID

06:00 – Their experience as college coaches and why they left

09:00 – Transitioning from coaching to media

12:00 – What they've learned traveling to college programs

18:30 – The analytics vs. old-school baseball debate

22:30 – Why compete and baseball IQ are coming back

26:00 – Leadership lessons from the best college coaches

30:00 – What great programs are actually teaching

36:30 – The biggest challenges freshmen face on campus

40:00 – The weight room, durability, and the physical demands of college baseball

42:00 – Adjusting to college life — freedom, stress, and identity

46:00 – Coach-player communication and how players can advocate for themselves

51:00 – The "de-recruiting" effect and managing expectations

54:00 – The transfer portal — what it's doing well and what it's costing players

59:00 – Do freshmen have unrealistic expectations about playing time?

01:03:00 – What it actually takes to have a chance at professional baseball

01:10:00 – Final takeaways: being tough and vulnerable, and leading with humility

🧠 SHOW NOTES

In Episode 91, I sit down with Dan Galati and Trevor Powers — former college coaches and co-founders of Backside Groundballs Media — to talk about what the high school-to-college transition in baseball actually looks like for the players living it.

Dan and Trevor have done something unique. They've traveled to college programs across the country, sat in film sessions, watched practices, and had real conversations with the coaches building these programs from the inside. What they've seen has shaped how they think about player development — and what they believe young athletes are missing.

We discuss:

Why compete and baseball IQ have become the great differentiators at the college level.

What the best college coaches are actually teaching — and how they build culture.

The biggest physical and mental challenges freshmen face when they arrive on campus.

Why the transition from "recruited athlete" to "one of the guys" is harder than players expect.

How the transfer portal is changing the landscape — and what it might be costing players developmentally.

What it truly takes to have a shot at playing beyond college.

Dan and Trevor also share what they've taken away from conversations with some of the top coaches in college baseball — including a lesson from Penn State's Mike Gambino that Dan says changed how he thinks about what it means to be both tough and vulnerable at the same time.

If you've ever wondered what separates the players who thrive at the college level from the ones who struggle — or how young athletes can put themselves in the best position to succeed — this episode gives you a clear, honest, and experienced perspective.

🤝 CONNECT WITH DAN GALATI & TREVOR POWERS

🌐 Backside Groundballs Media: https://backsidegbmedia.beehiiv.com/

📷 Instagram: @backsidegroundballsmedia

X: @BacksideGB

🤝 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HUBER

⚾ Spring Training for the Mind

👉 https://tinyurl.com/HuberSpringTraining

📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches:
👉 https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

🌐 Website:
👉 https://www.michaelvhuber.com

📷 Instagram:

@michaelvhuber

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Introduction
01:15 – Bryan’s background and coaching journey
03:30 – What it takes to climb the coaching ladder
06:00 – What coaches actually look for when recruiting
09:00 – Why behavior and body language matter
12:00 – Recruiting as a two-way street
15:30 – How athletes can show genuine interest
18:30 – Division I vs Division III: understanding fit
22:30 – Playing time, academics, and lifestyle differences
26:00 – What makes a great recruiter
29:30 – What coaches expect from athletes in the recruiting process
33:00 – The transition from high school to college baseball
36:30 – Why the game “speeds up” at the next level
39:30 – Physical and mental demands of college baseball
42:00 – Time management, routines, and habits
45:00 – Communication between coaches and players
48:00 – Building trust and team culture
51:00 – The evolving role of coaching
54:00 – Bryan’s experience with burnout and growth
57:30 – The role of parents in the recruiting process
1:00:00 – The #1 piece of advice for high school players

🧠 SHOW NOTES

In Episode 90, I sit down with Bryan Torresani, Head Baseball Coach at DeSales University, to discuss what college coaches are really looking for in recruits — and how players can better prepare for the next level.

For many athletes, the recruiting process feels like a constant evaluation. Players often focus on statistics, velocity, and exposure, trying to prove they belong at a certain level.

But Bryan explains that what separates players often comes down to something much simpler — and harder to measure.

How they respond to failure.
How they carry themselves on the field.
And how they handle the daily demands of development.

We discuss:

• Why coaches pay close attention to behavior and body language
• How recruiting is a two-way street — and why communication matters
• The differences between Division I and Division III baseball
• What freshmen struggle with most when they arrive on campus
• Why time management, routines, and habits are critical for success
• How coaching has evolved to become more relationship-driven

Bryan also shares practical advice for players preparing for college baseball, including the importance of strength training, building routines, and taking ownership of the recruiting process.

If you’ve ever wondered what truly stands out to college coaches — or how players can position themselves for success beyond high school — this episode provides a clear and honest perspective.

🤝 CONNECT WITH BRYAN TORRESANI

🌐 DeSales Baseball:
👉 https://athletics.desales.edu/sports/baseball

📷 Instagram:
@btorr12

📷 X:
@torr_b12

🤝 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HUBER

⚾ Spring Training for the Mind

👉 https://tinyurl.com/HuberSpringTraining

📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches:
👉 https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

🌐 Website:
👉 https://www.michaelvhuber.com

📷 Instagram:

@michaelvhuber

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – What high school players should focus on during the season
03:45 – Why competing and helping your team win matters most
07:30 – What to do if you’re not getting the role you expected
11:15 – Why the high school season prepares players for summer recruiting
15:20 – Learning to compete instead of analyzing outcomes
19:30 – The challenge of staying patient early in the season
23:45 – Why players should communicate with their coaches
27:30 – Varsity vs JV: how to think about game reps
31:40 – What college coaches are actually watching in games
36:00 – Why tools and metrics aren’t enough
40:15 – The importance of body language and competing on every pitch
44:30 – In-season development: strength training, reps, and routines
48:00 – Time management and building habits for college baseball
51:00 – Sam’s advice for every high school player: build your process

🧠 SHOW NOTES

In Episode 89, I sit down with Sam Sharf of RPP Recruiting to discuss what high school baseball players should really focus on during the season.

For many athletes, the spring season feels like a constant evaluation. Players worry about statistics, playing time, and whether college coaches are watching.

But Sam explains that the high school season plays a different role in the recruiting process.

Instead of chasing exposure or obsessing over results, players should focus on competing, developing a consistent process, and helping their team win games.

We discuss:

• Why players should embrace their role — even if it’s not what they expected
• How the high school season prepares athletes for summer recruiting
• Why college coaches look closely at competitiveness and body language
• The difference between tools, metrics, and game performance
• Why developing strong habits now prepares players for college baseball

Sam also shares practical advice on in-season development, including strength training, getting extra reps, and managing time effectively during the season.

If you’ve ever wondered how much the high school season actually impacts recruiting — or how players can make the most of their opportunities — this episode provides a clear roadmap.

🤝 CONNECT WITH SAM SHARF

🌐 Website:

👉 https://rocklandpeakperformance.com/

📷 Instagram:

@RPP_Recruiting

@RPP_Baseball

@sharfsam_

🤝 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HUBER

⚾ Spring Training for the Mind

👉 https://tinyurl.com/HuberSpringTraining

📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches:
👉 https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

🌐 Website:
👉 https://www.michaelvhuber.com

📷 Instagram:

@michaelvhuber

🤝 CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HUBER

⚾ Spring Training for the Mind

👉 https://tinyurl.com/HuberSpringTraining

📩 Free mental performance insights for athletes, parents, and coaches:
👉 https://michaelvhuber.com/newsletter

🌐 Website:
👉 https://www.michaelvhuber.com

📷 Instagram:

@michaelvhuber