ABCA Podcast

This week on the ABCA Podcast we’re joined by Kayla Baptista of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Baptista has quickly built a remarkable résumé in the game, becoming the first female on-field coaching intern in Cape Cod League history in 2021 with the Wareham Gatemen, and later breaking new ground again as the first female hired for a coaching role by the Texas Rangers in January 2022.

A former U...

We’re staying on the professional side this week with Los Angeles Angels' catching and pitching coach Sal Fasano. A 13-year MLB veteran who played for 10 different organizations, Fasano brings a deep well of experience to this episode—from his time behind the plate to his work in the dugout and front office.

Fasano spent the last eight seasons on the Atlanta Braves’ Major League staff, w...

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is Kansas City Royals Executive Vice President & General Manager J.J. Picollo, who just wrapped up one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Major League Baseball history. Under his leadership, the Royals posted an 86-76 record in 2024—30 wins better than the previous season—earning a postseason berth and making Picollo the runner-up for MLB Executive of t...

This week on the ABCA Podcast, we’re joined by Rob Ducey, a 13-year MLB veteran and 2013 inductee into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Ducey broke into the big leagues in 1987 with the Toronto Blue Jays and wrapped up his playing career with the Montreal Expos in 2001. In 2004, he made history as the first Canadian to play for Team Canada, the Blue Jays, and the Expos.

In this episod...

Few coaches in college baseball have had the kind of long-term impact Mike Birkbeck has made at Kent State. Since becoming Associate Head Coach in 2004, Birkbeck has helped guide the Golden Flashes to 10 MAC regular season titles, 10 MAC Tournament championships, and 10 NCAA Regional appearances. Widely respected as one of the top pitching minds in NCAA Division I baseball, Birkbeck brin...

Virginia Tech associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Kurt Elbin has built one of the most explosive offenses in college baseball. Now in his seventh season with the Hokies, Elbin has helped shape a lineup that consistently ranks among the nation’s best in key offensive categories. Through 17 games this season, Tech’s hitters have posted a .314 batting average, 151 runs scored, 5...

With 29 seasons at the helm of Catawba College baseball, Jim Gantt has built one of the premier programs in NCAA Division II. A three-time ABCA Region Coach of the Year and 12-time Conference Coach of the Year, Gantt has led the Catawba Indians to multiple national semifinal appearances, including an impressive 2024 season where his squad earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional hos...

This week on the ABCA Podcast, we sit down with 2024 ABCA Pacific Association Assistant Coach of the Year Vince Kolbe, who played a key role in Palomar College’s dominant 2024 season.

With a 36-11 overall record and a 23-2 mark in conference play, Kolbe’s work developing the catching corps and coaching first base has been instrumental in the Comets’ success.

In this episode, Kolbe shares...

Fresh off leading Team USA to gold at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup, Bryan Madsen joins the ABCA Podcast to share his journey and insights into coaching young athletes at the highest level. In his first year as 12U National Team Manager, Madsen guided Team USA to an impressive 57-9 run differential, a .357 team batting average, and a dominant 0.86 ERA on the way to the program’s eight...

This week on the ABCA Podcast, we’re joined by Kevin Coe, Cincinnati Reds Academy Director of Baseball and Softball. With a career dedicated to player development, Coe has been instrumental in providing opportunities for young athletes to reach the next level. Before joining the Reds in 2022, he played a key role in building the Chicago White Sox ACE program and working with the Pullman ...

We continue our discussion on the NCAA Div. I college season preview from yesterday with Baseball America’s Peter Flaherty.

As the 2025 season approaches, Flaherty shares his insights on the teams, players, and storylines that will shape the year ahead. Get ready for opening day with this in-depth look at what’s ahead this season!

Our sponsor is Core Energy Belt, the trusted choice...

Our college season preview series continues with the powerhouse trio from D1Baseball.com—Kendall Rogers, Aaron Fitt, and Mike Rooney!

In this episode, they provide expert analysis, insider insights, and everything you need to know heading into the 2025 season. We also discuss the ever-changing landscape of NCAA Division I baseball. With the NCAA Div. I season right around the corner, the...

We’re keeping our college season preview series rolling withThe JUCO Ball Blog (JBB) founder Noah Sharp, a go-to source for junior college baseball coverage.

Since launching The JBB in 2018, Sharp has dedicated himself to shining a spotlight on junior college baseball, both NJCAA and Pacific Association Division, providing in-depth coverage and analysis of the entire JUCO landscape.

In t...

We’re continuing our college season preview series with NAIA Ball founder Robby Gutierrez, who has been shining a light on NAIA baseball for nearly a decade. Since launching NAIA Ball eight years ago and the NAIA Ball Podcast in 2018, Robby and his team have dedicated themselves to covering the NAIA landscape and growing the game at this level.

In this episode, Robby previews the 2025 NA...

We’re continuing our college season preview episodes with one of the most trusted voices in NCAA Division III baseball—Jim Dixon! As the managing editor of D3baseball.com, Jim has been at the forefront of NCAA Div. III coverage for nearly 30 years, delivering news, analysis, and historical insights to fans and coaches alike.

In this episode, we dive into the evolution of NCAA Div. III co...

To kick off our college baseball season previews, we’re joined by the Wayne Cavadi, author of The DII Report Newsletter. Cavadi has been instrumental in shining a spotlight on the growth of NCAA Div. II athletics.

In this episode, we dive into his latest article, DII Baseball 2025 101 – A Crash Course, and discuss what to expect this season. With months of research behind his analysis, C...

Dunn Muramaru’s nearly 50-year coaching career has shaped the landscape of baseball in Hawaii. The 2024 National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee has led the Mid-Pacific Institute Owls for nearly four decades, guiding them to five state titles, 14 Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) championships, and over 600 wins.  

In this episode, Muramaru reflects ...

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is our second 2025 recipient of the Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award, Tom Meyer. Meyer has served as both a teacher and baseball coach for more than 60 years. His coaching career began in 1959 as assistant coach at Northwestern University (Ill.). From 1964-69, Meyer served as the head baseball coach at Northern Illinois University before joining the...

With nearly five decades of coaching experience spanning multiple continents, Bill Percy is a true icon of the game. The distinguished recipient of the 2025 ABCA/Wilson Lefty Gomez Award, Percy has made a lasting impact on baseball locally, nationally, and internationally. In this episode, we explore Percy’s incredible journey, which began at Florida Southern College as both a player and...