Tyler Zombro on Pitching Development, Data Analytics, and Navigating the Business of Baseball
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Release Date: 02/11/2025
Navigating Youth Travel Baseball in 2025 - Truths You Need To Hear
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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Baseball Parents Ask… I Answer: Honest Advice on Development, Recruiting & the Draft
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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Inside the MLB Combine: What Scouts Really Look For with Trevor Haley
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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450 MLB Draft Picks: Inside the Canes Baseball Dynasty
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Have you ever faced that crossroads—losing your competitive edge but gaining a higher calling in the game you love? In this episode, Jeff Petty shares how an average college player found purpose as a coach and built one of the nation’s top travel baseball programs. What You’ll Learn How to shift from playing to coaching with purpose Why truth-telling in evaluations is key for athlete development How elite travel programs prepare players mentally and physically What coaches and college scouts truly look for in players Balancing roles, failure, and obsession on the path to...
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Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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The MLB Star Nobody Saw Coming: Mauricio Dubón's Underdog Story
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
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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
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Here’s What MLB Scouts Actually Look For (It’s Not What You Think)
Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford
Ever wondered what it really takes to catch the eye of a Major League Baseball scout? In this powerhouse episode of the Most Valuable Agent podcast, host Matt sits down with Gus Quattlebaum, VP of Scouting Development & Integration for the Boston Red Sox, and Johan Martinez-Khalilian, elite coach to athletes and artists. Together, they reveal how pro teams evaluate talent—from advanced data and video review to the critical role of mindset, failure, and intangibles that can't be measured. Whether you're a player, parent, or baseball fanatic, this episode offers an insider view into modern...
info_outlinePitching development has changed dramatically over the last decade. In this episode, I am joined by Tyler Zombro, the Special Assistant to the Cubs Pitching Director. We talk about the biggest developments in pitching – why velocity isn’t everything, how pitch shapes and biomechanics change the way pitchers train, and how organizations like the Cubs use data to maximize every arm in their system. Plus, we dive into the critical aspect of transparency between teams and players, the mistakes players and parents are making in youth baseball, and what free agents need to consider before signing with a team.
HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 What are the controllables that determine pitching success?
06:15 The mental shift that pitchers must make to survive in pro baseball.
10:30 The turning point that made Tyler realize he wanted to help other pitchers succeed.
17:00 What happens when a pitcher walks into Tread Athletics for the first time?
20:15 The difference between private pitching development vs MLB front office.
28:00 One thing every free agent should demand from teams before signing.
36:30 Why the right organization matters more than the signing bonus.
43:00 How minor adjustments in pitch usage turned pitchers into multi-millionaires.
47:45 The risks of forcing mechanical changes that don’t fit a pitcher’s body.
50:00 What parents of young pitchers need to stop doing immediately.
52:00 The surprising pitch that’s dominating modern baseball.
53:15 The pitching metric that reveals if a pitcher will succeed in the big leagues.
58:15 When is the right age for a player to start throwing a breaking ball?
RESOURCES + LINKS
Learn more at aligndsports.com
Book a 1:1 Consultation HERE
FOLLOW
Matt Hannaford: @mfhannaford
Tyler Zombro: @t_zombro42