The Unconventional Path to a 2X Major League Baseball World Series Champion with Jonny Gomes, Part 1
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Release Date: 01/07/2025
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Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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How Baseball Cards Build Early-Career Equity: What Baseball Families Should Know
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Ever wonder how baseball players get their own trading cards? What makes a rookie card valuable—or even collectible at all? In this episode, Matt sits down with Kevin Eger, VP of Athlete Partnerships at Fanatics Collectibles (Topps), to pull back the curtain on the trading card industry. Subscribe and explore the business behind the cardboard! What You’ll Learn: How athletes get selected for trading cards What makes a rookie card officially a “rookie” The behind-the-scenes timeline from draft day to card release Why autographs and “on-card” signatures matter How NIL and...
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The MLB Star Nobody Saw Coming: Mauricio Dubón's Underdog Story
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Mauricio Dubón’s Underdog Journey to the Big Leagues They said he was too small. Too quiet. From a country that "doesn’t play baseball." Mauricio Dubón was never supposed to make it. But he did — and he didn’t just make it. He became a World Series champion. In this episode of Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford sits down with Houston Astros utility star Mauricio Dubón to uncover the real story behind one of the most unlikely journeys in baseball. From shagging balls in Honduras to stepping in for José Altuve and going on a 20-game hit streak, Dubón’s story is about...
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The Truth About Draft Day: What Parents and Players Get Wrong
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
The dream isn’t just to be seen—it’s to be ready. In this can’t-miss episode, agent Matt Hannaford sits down with Kris Gross, Scouting Director for the New York Mets, to reveal what really goes on behind the scenes of the MLB Draft. You’ll get an unfiltered look at how scouts evaluate talent, why some prospects never make it, and what separates the good from the great. From coachability and curiosity to signability and character, this episode uncovers the critical traits that matter most—and why they’re often overlooked. Whether you're a travel baseball parent, college athlete,...
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Inside the Mind of an MLB GM: Zack Scott on Draft Strategy, Data & Developing Big Leaguers
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Unlock pro-level baseball insights with Zack Scott—ex-Red Sox GM—on draft prep, development, and mastering the mental game. Subscribe now! What really goes on inside the mind of an MLB GM? Former Red Sox and Mets executive Zack Scott takes us deep into the front office to reveal how data, mindset, and real-world player development decisions shape big-league rosters. From how prospects are evaluated to what separates the guys who make it, Zack explains what most coaches, players, and parents get wrong—and what GMs are actually looking for. 🎯 Whether you're a coach, a travel ball...
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Here’s What MLB Scouts Actually Look For (It’s Not What You Think)
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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The Spirit of the Game ft. Johan Martinez-Khalilian
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
What if the most important part of the game... can’t be measured? In this powerful episode of Most Valuable Agent, Matt Hannaford sits down with elite mindset coach Johan Martinez-Khalilian to explore the spiritual side of sports—the “invisible game” that every athlete must confront. From flow state and fear-based thinking to identity, surrender, and purpose, Johan reveals the deeper truths behind performance, burnout, and growth. This episode isn’t about stats or medals—it’s about becoming the kind of person who can thrive on and off the field. 🎯 For athletes, parents,...
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Train Like a Top Draft Pick—The Habits of Baseball’s Best Teens
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
What makes a high school baseball program truly elite? In this episode of Most Valuable Agent, we sit down with Brandon Oliver—former Yankees coach and co-founder of FUTURES—to unpack what separates good from great in today’s ultra-competitive baseball world. From his experience at Corona High School to building FUTURES into a national model, Brandon reveals how data, mindset, physicality, and aligned coaching shape the modern elite player. 🎯 Whether you're a coach, parent, or young athlete with big dreams, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the systems that produce...
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The Million Dollar Question: Sign Now or Go to College?
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
What does it really take to go from high school standout to pro baseball? In this episode of the Most Valuable Agent Podcast, former MLB player and Align Sports advisor Dylan Manwaring joins us to share the raw truths of navigating the path from youth baseball to the big leagues. Dylan opens up about growing up with a major leaguer father (Matt Manwaring), standing out in a small town, and how showcases like Area Code Games and East Coast Pro shaped his journey to becoming an MLB draft pick. Whether you're a parent, coach, or player trying to understand the pros and cons of going pro vs. going...
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Travel Team Spotlight: Inside 5 Star National with Andy Burress
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
In this premiere Travel Team Spotlight episode of The Most Valuable Agent podcast, we sit down with Andy Burress—former Reds draft pick and founder of Five Star National, one of the most successful and expansive travel baseball programs in the country. From his playing days to building a 50+ location organization (spanning the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Australia), Andy opens up about the realities of youth baseball—the wins, the mistakes, and the deeper mission behind it all. You’ll hear how his son Drew Burress (a Georgia Tech standout) developed as a player, and why Five Star’s...
info_outlineWhat does it take to turn untraditional beginnings into a major league career? In this first installment of a two-part series, I’m joined by the two-time World Series champion Jonny Gomes. We talk about how today’s amateur baseball landscape differs from previous generations, how to secure a college scholarship, and what it takes to grind through the challenges of minor league baseball. Jonny shares how to build confidence, the critical role of preparation, and how to make adjustments to thrive at every level of the game.
HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 How to secure a college scholarship in baseball.
05:30 Lessons from a zero-scholarship athlete who earned a pro tryout.
09:00 Advice for parents on guiding young athletes through rankings and expectations.
13:45 How to build confidence as an athlete.
18:30 How do support systems help overcome the challenges of minor league baseball?
25:15 The most important skill for young players.
33:00 Strategies to simplify the game.
RESOURCES + LINKS
Learn more at aligndsports.com
Book a 1:1 Consultation HERE
FOLLOW
Matt Hannaford: @mfhannaford
Jonny Gomes: @jonnygomesusa