Tori Vidales on AUSL Draft, Team Mexico & Being An ESPN Analyst While Playing Professionally

Welcome back to Out of Left Field — today I’m joined by one of the most impactful voices in softball, Team Mexico Olympian, AUSL veteran, and ESPN/SEC Network analyst, Tori Vidales. In this episode, Tori opens up about:

• Her rise from Texas A&M to international softball
• Playing for Team Mexico, battles behind the scenes, and qualifying for the Olympics
• The wild early years of Athletes Unlimited/AUSL, the “Buy In or Retire” era
• What really happens in the AUSL draft room
• The mental side of softball: pressure, identity, confidence, and resilience
• Why she believes softball is finally in its breakthrough era
• How being an analyst makes her a better player (and vice versa)
• The importance of athletes building their own brand
• Her message to the next generation of softball players

This is one of the most insightful and honest conversations we’ve ever had on OLF — and if you’re a softball fan, player, parent, or coach, this one will stick with you.

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CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro
00:32 – Who Is Tori Vidales?
02:00 – Identity Beyond Softball
02:50 – Tori’s Origin Story
05:40 – Travel Ball, Impact Gold & Recruiting at 14
08:40 – Committing to Texas A&M
10:50 – Building A&M Back to the Women’s College World Series
12:40 – Going Undrafted & Finding Pro Softball
14:50 – Team Mexico, Behind-the-Scenes Turmoil & Olympic Qualifying
18:40 – COVID Season, AU Year One & “Buy In or Retire”
23:20 – Playing Without Fans & Creating Team Culture
26:40 – AUSL Growth, Media, & What Makes This League Different
31:30 – Media Team Appreciation + Why Storytelling Matters
35:00 – Tori’s Life as an ESPN/SEC Network Analyst
37:40 – Balancing Broadcast & Being a Pro Athlete
41:00 – The Mental Side of Broadcasting
45:00 – Mentoring Younger Players
47:00 – Draft Night, Being Selected by the Cascade
52:00 – Leaving the Talons & Building Something New
55:30 – The Mindset That Saved Her Career
01:00:20 – Tori’s Message to Young Athletes
01:02:30 – Closing, Gratitude, and Next Steps