Few players follow Jimmy Serrano's path to the majors. A short righthander, Serrano walked on at Mesa Community College after graduating high school with exactly zero scholarship offers. Yet 10 years (and one position change) later, he reached the big leagues with the Royals. Today's show covers all of that, including...

• Going from a juco walk-on to a big leaguer
• Things that are different about pitching in Korea
• The unusual conversion from reliever to starter in the majors

Former college pitcher and Iowa State Representative J.D. Scholten joins the podcast to discuss his career in politics and improbable return to the mound for the Sioux City Explorers.

Former MLB Agent Josh Kusnick joins the latest episode of 'From Phenom to the Farm' to discuss becoming an agent as a college student, signing future big leaguers out of junior college and why he doesn't like the draft.

Brett Lorin walked onto an Arizona team with College World Series dreams and bountiful talent. Yet he eventually came to the tough conclusion his future -- especially to help his professional aspirations -- would need to be in another program's rotation.

The righty talks navigating the transfer market in college, his seven-year pro career, the frustrations of repeating A-ball, what it's like to be a Rule 5 Draft pick and so much more.

Brandon Guyer joins the pod to discuss his career arc, which began as a two-sport star in high school. He details his initial struggles at Virginia before blossoming into a UVA Hall of Famer, a winding path through the minors, his penchant for getting hit by pitches as a big leaguer, and what it's like to play in a World Series. Thanks to Brandon for spending the time! You can follow him on Twitter here.

Fire-balling Carter Capps is mostly known for his unusual hop-step delivery that was later outlawed by MLB. But what's less discussed is his path to pro ball, which began as a Division II catcher before a pitching change unlocked an ascension to the majors. Capps discusses his path, how he became a pitcher, betting on himself in the Cape Cod League, dealing with Tommy John surgery, his funky delivery and so much more.

Richie Shaffer has experienced the highs. He was a first-round pick, appeared in the Futures Game and played in the College World Series. His first big league hit was a homer. But he's also dealt with the lows -- wrecked confidence in the minors, a roundabout trip to indy ball to rediscover his passion for baseball.

Shaffer joins the pod to talk his journey, plus his newfound pursuits outside of baseball, where he is an avid Twitch streamer and also a sci-fi writer.

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Zack Dodson's 10-year pro career has spanned five countries on three continents. He takes us through the winding journey, beginning with a draft night surprise that landed him in Pittsburgh, how he was conned out of $75,000, coming back to baseball after multiple suspensions and so much more.

In our latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm’ current Twins outfielder Lane Adams joins to discuss not wanting to give up basketball, steady improvements in short-season, and how things can move quickly in professional baseball. He’ll talk finding the right fit in an organization, life as a big league bench player, and what it’s like to face off against “Mad” Max Scherzer. 

Nearly every player we've interviewed for this podcast so far has shared a unique draft day story of their own. We’ve compiled a few of their draft day memories to enjoy, as we approach the 2020 MLB Draft.

The second part of our conversation with Chad Durbin focuses on the struggle of sticking in the big leagues and bouncing from organization to organization. He also discusses how some tough love from his wife led to a much-needed attitude adjustment, what it was like to play on a World Series team, and how he knew it was time to walk away from the game.

Chad Durbin pitched parts of 14 seasons in the big leagues. But before that, he was a relatively unknown third rounder who jumped directly into professional baseball from high school. Part one of our conversation with Durbin discusses how he was recruited to LSU -- including an impressive recruiting tactic by legendary LSU coach Skip Bertman -- and ultimately chose to go professional right away. We also talk his rise through Kansas City's system, some humorous stories from his time in the lower minors, and his path to becoming a big leaguer.

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How does a once-heralded prospect rebuild body and mind? That's the focus of part two of our in-depth conversation with RHP Robby Rowland. We discuss how he rebuild his body and training methods after he was released, put himself back on the prospect radar, reaching unemployment, clawing back from indy ball to affiliated ball, and his ongoing quest to reach the big leagues after shoulder surgery.

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Longtime Lansing Lugnuts broadcaster Jesse Goldberg-Strassler joins the podcast to discuss his two decades working in all levels of pro baseball, crafting a broadcasting style, his 2022 big league call-up and seeing great players like Bo Bichette, Vlad Jr. and Mike Trout come through the Midwest League.

Robby Rowland is a professional pitcher, the son of a big leaguer and a third round pick out of high school. He has also, as he points out on his website, been labeled a bust, was traded less than two years into his big league career, released by the age of 22 and is currently a free agent. He discusses processing all that, including reclaiming his athletic identity and his desire to now help others who choose to forge a similar path to his, jumping directly into the deep waters of pro baseball as an 18-year-old high schooler.

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Luke Bailey knows the ebbs and flows of the draft cycle better than most. A high school catcher in the same draft class as Mike Trout, Bailey once had first-round potential and a commitment to Auburn. But Tommy John surgery hurt his draft stock. He fell to the fourth round, where the Rays nabbed him and signed him to an over-slot bonus. But the grind of the lower levels coupled with persistent injuries took their toll on Bailey. He discusses all of it, including his journey to pro ball and how he fell back in love with the game playing indy ball, in our latest episode.

The pressures on most top-tier prep baseball prospects are immense. But when they're also seemingly destined to be a star quarterback, too? It's almost unthinkable. We talked with Josh Booty about life as a two-sport star -- first as a first-round MLB Draft pick, then an NFL pick as a QB -- about life as a big time prospect in both sports. Among the discussion points:

• Setting the draft bonus record
• His first ABs with wood bat were in pro ball
• Missing out on playing in Tiger Stadium (LSU) while playing in front of 0 people in instructs
• Starting Opening Day for the World Series champs
• Comparing the life of an MLB 1st rounder vs NFL 6th rounder
• Reality TV (The Next Knuckler) and the difference in Spring Training 20 years apart

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How quickly can a phone call change a prospect's life? Just ask J.P. Ramirez. We talked with the former Nats farmhand about how a last-minute pitch from the Nationals ultimately swayed Ramirez toward pro ball -- and out of his commitment to Tulane -- and jumpstarted his pro career. He’ll further detail the signing deadline that changed his life, dealing with front office upheaval when you’re a low-level prospect, speaking up about injuries, and life in non-affiliated professional baseball. Other talking points include...

• A story about a Friday night game starting after 1a.m.
• Parents/family pulling him in both directions about the college or pro decision
• Being afraid to speak up for himself as a young prospect about an injury
• Being released at 23
• Life in Indy ball/Mexico

Our first guest is Eric O'Flaherty, who spent parts of 12 years in the big leagues. He candidly discusses his rocky transition to pro ball, detailing how he slowly learned how to be a professional after initially arriving as a self-described immature sixth rounder, his path to pro ball, what it was like to be drafted, dealing with a sudden influx of money, surprising things he learned about the journey and so much more. 'From Phenom To The Farm' chronicles the experience of high school draft picks, detailing the highs and lows, do's and don't's, and memorable stories from their time in the minors.

Every year, MLB teams dish out bonuses -- sometimes multi-million dollar bonuses -- and entice high schoolers, some just days removed from graduating, to embark on professional careers. It begins a professional odyssey unlike any other among the major American sports, and rarely is the progression through the minors a smooth one. Our new series, 'From Phenom To The Farm,' hosted by Kyle Bandujo, speaks to both current and former professional baseball players about their journey through pro ball. They discuss adjusting to life on their own for the first time, handling money, learning professionalism, and other various aspects that a player encounters on their journey through the farm system. They’ll look back and provide insight on what they could’ve done, if anything, to be more prepared for life as a teenage professional athlete, and their opinions on what organizations should be doing to get the most out of their high school signees. Our first episode features lefty Eric O'Flaherty, who has logged nearly 500 innings across 12 big league seasons. Here's sneak peak of the episode.

*Trigger warning for drug abuse*

Former Blue Jays farmhand Clinton Hollon joins the podcast to discuss going from second-round pick to life as a drug addict, and how he’s working his way back to life and baseball.

Former Giants LHP Jeremy Affeldt joins the podcast to discuss struggling to find a big league role, how to pitch in Colorado, Giants World Series runs and facing star hitters in the postseason.

Dominic Cotroneo currently handles stats & research on the Brewers broadcast and hosts their postgame call-in show. On this episode, he discusses starting in broadcasting as a high schooler, how calling pickleball or water polo can help calling baseball, advice he received from his dad (A's broadcaster Vince Cotroneo) and talks a little golf broadcasting as well.

Brian Reinke is the head baseball coach at Galveston College. He talks sports parenting in the upper levels of amateur baseball, the mental preparedness needed to succeed in college and how parents can help, the dos and don'ts for parents during recruiting and how a parent's behavior can reflect on their child when it comes to collegiate evaluations.

Former A's righthander Aiden McIntyre is a pitching instructor and content creator. He discusses how parents can help their kid in-between lessons, the importance of developing a player's own work ethic, how to make the car ride home a positive experience and why parents should avoid circumventing a coach.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ former big league outfielder Lane Adams joins to talk all things sports parenting, including red flags, dealing with failure and how to handle the car ride home.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ Chuckie Fick returns to talk over some dos and don’ts of sports parenting.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm’ Ryan Lavarnway discusses his journey from the Ivy League to the big leagues. He talks finding motivation from coaching, working to stick behind the plate as a professional, and the joys of playing for Team Israel.

Justin Masterson joins the podcast to discuss his path to the big leagues, including how an untimely bout of food poisoning altered his career path forever.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ former MiLB righthanded pitcher Bryce Fehmel joins to discuss his career.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm’ Richmond Flying Squirrels broadcaster Trey Wilson joins to walk through his journey through MiLB from the play-by-play booth.

On the latest episode of From Phenom to the Farm, Baseball America’s Matt Eddy and podcast host Kyle Bandujo took a look at the first time eligible players on the 2024 Hall of Fame ballot, how they stacked up as prospects, and their chances of making it to Cooperstown.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm’ Richie Shaffer returns to talk mentally elite hitting and his new book, ‘The Slugger Journal.’

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ former Florida infielder and new A’s draftee Colby Halter joins to talk through his college career and expectations for life as a professional.

Hall of Fame Miami and Georgia Tech coach Jim Morris walks through his storied college baseball coaching career. He talks recruiting future big league All Stars, his thoughts on the transfer portal and NIL, and how he pitched A-Rod on helping Miami build a new baseball stadium.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm’ former A’s farmhand Aiden McIntyre joins to walk through his journey in going from junior college walk-on to firing 95mph fastballs.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ Ryan Ripken joins to walk through his career in pro baseball. Growing up the son of a legend, rediscovering his love for baseball in junior college, and filling us in on where the best place to eat crabs in Baltimore is.

Jake Lindgren on turning down a tempting offer from the Cubs to go to Mississippi State, making it to the show less than a year after being drafted, mentally dealing with two TJ surgeries and much more.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm’ Padres lefthander Jared Koenig joins to walk through his career from the Pecos League to the big leagues, getting drafted but not being offered a contract and much more.

Derrick Loop joins the podcast to discuss the long and winding road through professional baseball that led the 40-year-old to finding a successful career in Mexico.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ San Antonio Missions president Burl Yarbrough joins to walk through is career in a MiLB front office.

ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee joins the podcast to discuss his life as a MiLB intern, and a trip down memory lane in covering the 2008 College World Series. 

Jonathan Perrin touches on what Opening Day and the first few weeks of breaking camp are like for minor leaguers, how the new CBA will help players and much more.

This week's guest is long-time MiLB catcher Chris Betts. Chris discusses draft uncertainty, things you can work on while rehabbing from an injury, and what you can't work on. He explains what it feels like winning a minor league home run derby and the importance of having a good agent.

Kevin Pucetas on going from 17th round Division 2 pitcher to a Futures Game participant, the importance of sticking to your identity on the mound, being the last cut of Spring Training and more.

Minnesota Twins scout John Manuel and Baseball America Editor in Chief JJ Cooper join for a stroll down BA memory lane. They talk about the 2005 draft, being very wrong on Justin Verlander, and their favorite draft pop-up guys. 

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ former big league outfielder and current NESN Red Sox analyst Darnell McDonald joins to walk through his career.

On the latest episode of ‘From Phenom to the Farm,’ Cubs associate pitching coach Daniel Moskos joins to discuss his playing career and future in coaching.

Zack Kelly joins to walk through his career from undrafted free agent to big leaguer.

Georgia Tech Associate Head Coach James Ramsey joins to walk through his stellar college career, becoming a rare senior 1st round pick, his time in pro ball, philosophies on leadership as a player and coach and much more!