Why are baseball parents flying 8-year-olds across the country for travel baseball? Former MLB pitcher Jay Jackson questions the youth baseball rankings, expensive tournaments, and pressure that have become so common at an early age.

Jay spent 17 years playing professional baseball, including time with six Major League teams and in Japan. In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, he joins Bobby Minor to share what he learned about player development, choosing the right opportunities, handling disappointment, and helping young players enjoy the game.

In this episode we cover:

• Why Jay believes parents put too much importance on baseball rankings for 8U–12U players
• The money families spend flying young players across the country for travel baseball tournaments
• How Jay went from being projected as a second-to-fourth-round draft pick to getting selected in the ninth round
• Why he chose Furman University and how academics, family, and his relationship with the coach influenced that decision
• What playing professionally in Japan taught him about fundamentals and the quality of practice
• What Jay looks for in young pitchers that parents often overlook
• What a dad should say to his 12U pitcher after giving up six runs
• The emotional story of his son spending 166 days in the NICU and what Jay hopes his children remember about him

Jay also shares the years he spent waiting for his Major League opportunity, what happened when he didn't make Toronto's Opening Day roster despite a strong spring training, and why he created the S.M.I.L.E. Zone to help young players with the mental side of baseball.

If you're a baseball parent trying to decide which teams, tournaments, rankings, and opportunities are actually worth your money, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before you spend another dollar.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor

⚾ Guest: Jay Jackson, former MLB pitcher and founder of the S.M.I.L.E. Zone

🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

Connect with Jay Jackson:

Instagram: @jaxland58

S.M.I.L.E. Zone community: https://smilezone.app/

🔔 Subscribe to Chasing Baseball Dreams on YouTube so you don't miss future interviews with Major League players, coaches, and baseball parents. You can also listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Ben Jacobus started in center field, hit leadoff as a freshman, and helped Corona del Sol win the 2025 Arizona 6A state championship. Now he's committed to TCU.

His dad, Brian Jacobus, played professional baseball after being drafted by the San Diego Padres. He's coached high school baseball, run travel baseball organizations, and experienced the recruiting process firsthand as a parent.

One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation? Brian built Ben's baseball development around preparing him for high school, and he believes there are things high school baseball provides that travel ball has a hard time replicating.

In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, Brian shares the decisions they made along the way, including some he'd handle differently.

In this episode we cover:

• What Ben experienced winning a state championship as a freshman and why high school baseball was so important to his development
• What high school coaches look for when deciding whether a freshman is ready for varsity baseball
• Why Brian believes choosing the right coach matters more than playing for a famous travel baseball organization
• How Brian handled being both Ben's dad and his coach, including the mental side of the game
• Why Ben reclassified from the 2028 to the 2027 graduating class, and Brian's concerns about holding players back to gain an age advantage
• How TCU recruited Ben, what happened when other schools entered the picture, and why Ben ultimately chose TCU over Arizona State
• The red flags parents should watch for before committing to a travel team
• Why Brian believes families waste money on national tournaments and showcases before their sons are ready

Brian also shares something he wishes he'd emphasized earlier in Ben's development, even with all his years of experience playing and coaching baseball.

If you're spending money on travel baseball, preparing your son for high school, or starting to think about college recruiting, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before making your next decision.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor

⚾ Guest: Brian Jacobus

🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast

Subscribe for conversations with players, coaches, and baseball people who can help parents think more clearly about the decisions they're making for their sons.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #TravelBaseball #BaseballParents

Some Major League players were more afraid of talking to their dads after a bad game than facing the media.

Former MLB All-Star Shane Greene saw it firsthand. And he has a lot to say about what baseball parents need to understand.

Shane spent 10 seasons in the big leagues with teams including the Yankees, Tigers, and Braves. But his journey was anything but typical. He didn't pitch a single varsity inning as a sophomore, received just one college offer, underwent Tommy John surgery, and took the JUCO route before being drafted in the 15th round. He eventually became an MLB All-Star in 2019.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your son's performance at 12U tells you very little about where he'll end up
• How Shane handled sitting on the varsity bench for an entire season and what his dad did differently
• Why some Major Leaguers were still afraid of disappointing their fathers
• How too much mechanical instruction can hurt a player's ability to compete
• Why Shane believes the mental side of baseball is being overlooked
• What playing Cosmic Baseball and Banana Ball taught him about competition and having fun

Shane also shares what helped him through injuries, setbacks, and the pressure of professional baseball, along with his advice for parents who are worried their sons are falling behind.

If you're a baseball parent trying to figure out what actually matters for your son's development, this is a conversation worth hearing.

🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor
⚾ Guest: Shane Greene, 2019 MLB All-Star

🎧 Watch or listen to the full Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast episode on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations with people who've experienced the game at the highest levels.

#ChasingBaseballDreams #BaseballParents #ShaneGreene