What Really Matters with Youth Baseball, 2028s on the Radar, MLB Draft Surprises & Grambling’s Rise
Let’s be honest . . .
. . . if you're a parent of a young ballplayer right now, you're probably exhausted. You've logged hundreds of miles in the car, survived three straight weekends of hotel continental breakfasts, and maybe even taken out a small loan to pay for the latest “invite-only” showcase. But behind the travel ball hype and the Instagram-worthy uniforms, something’s been lost: the why behind it all. Why are we pushing so hard, so early? And more importantly—what are we doing to our kids in the process?
Youth baseball has become more about exposure and less about development. More about the tournament circuit than the driveway. And more about chasing validation than building actual skill. The recruiting landscape is flooded, the portal is packed, and college coaches aren’t looking for potential—they’re looking for ready-made, mentally strong athletes who can contribute now. That means your 12-year-old doesn’t need a $600 weekend camp. He needs rest, strength, and the freedom to fall in love with the game—without the pressure.
Tamara Seaman (Elite Mindset Development), a former Division I athlete and now a parent of two student-athletes herself, says it best: “If your kid says they want to play at the next level, their work ethic needs to match their words.” That doesn’t mean burnout. It means consistency. It means teaching them to recover from failure, to self-motivate, and to choose their path—not blindly follow someone else’s. Because college baseball isn’t built on dreams. It’s built on development, discipline, and daily effort—on and off the field.
📌 Parent Action Plan: Stop. Rethink. Recalibrate.
➡️ Forget the t-shirt trophies. Stop paying $500 for camp exposure your 13-year-old isn’t ready for. Recruiting doesn’t start until junior year. Period.
➡️ Normalize failure. Your kid isn’t a robot. They’re going to mess up. Let them learn how to bounce back—don’t rob them of that lesson.
➡️ Decompress. You don’t need five tournaments in five weeks. Take a weekend off. Grill. Hike. Be present.
➡️ Get them mentally fit. Mindset coaching is no longer optional. Confidence, resilience, and focus are game-changers.
➡️ Build, don’t chase. Focus on habits, strength, skill, and love for the game. Not likes, stats, or invites.
👉 Don’t miss it: What Every Baseball Parent Should Know About Building Resilience!
The Truth Hurts, But It’ll Save Your Kid’s Baseball Dream
Welcome to the new reality of college baseball recruiting, where wishful thinking and fairy tale timelines are replaced by cold, hard truths. If you're a parent of a 2026–2028 athlete, grab your coffee and buckle up—because the path to college baseball has changed, and no one's sugarcoating it anymore. From major league partnerships to roster cutthroats…
Parents, Players, Coaches, Trainers . . .👇
. . . take your game to the next level with the Baseball Bluebook app! 🔥 Discover programs, connect with the right people, and get seen by the decision-makers. Your journey starts here—are you in the book?
🎯Bluebook Coach Spotlight: Davin Pierre HC, Grambling
When you think of HBCU baseball royalty, Grambling State should be right at the top. Head Coach Davin Pierre isn’t just building a program—he’s building men, legacy, and a family that spans generations. In a SWAC conference full of talent and grit, Coach Pierre has quietly turned Grambling into a force. With a deep commitment to overlooked athletes, he’s offering opportunity where others see risk. And the result? Players who don’t just survive in college baseball—they thrive.
Grambling’s recruiting approach is refreshingly real. While other programs chase 14-year-olds with Twitter highlight reels, Coach Pierre leans into relationships—with alumni, scouts, and coaches who know what Grambling Guys look like. He doesn’t have the budget to fly coast to coast, but he’s got something stronger: a network of believers and a culture that recruits itself. The focus? Character, commitment, and a village mentality that extends far beyond the diamond.
And it shows. Players like Cam Buford, who went from freshman walk-on to Grambling’s all-time home run leader, don’t just wear the uniform—they leave a mark. Whether it’s wedding invites from alumni, life mentorship over batting tips, or conversations about faith and fatherhood, Coach Pierre is doing more than developing ballplayers—he’s building futures. As Coach says, “We’re not microwaving success—we’re cooking it slow, with care, and for the long haul.”
👇 Click below to watch the full conversation with Coach Davin Pierre
Swing Without the Sting — Meet ThumbPRO®
The original, ergonomically designed thumb guard engineered in the USA to protect your top-hand thumb and unleash your full power at the plate. ThumbPRO stays put, absorbs sharp bat sting, and boosts bat speed by up to 10–15%.
Whether you're facing fastballs or battling through long innings, it gives you the comfort and confidence to swing hard!
🔁⚾ The Coaching Carousel
🔹 Jacob Garsez – Saint Martin’s University
Saint Martin’s has tapped Jacob Garsez as its new head baseball coach, bringing over a decade of experience and a knack for transforming programs. Garsez, fresh from Sonoma State (before their program closure), compiled a 120–87 record at Oregon Tech and led the Owls to a Cascade Conference championship in 2023. He’s known for blending competitive intensity with academic excellence—and even holds a Mental Performance Coach certification. Expect a renaissance for the Saints under his leadership.
🔹 Brock Moss – Daytona State College
Daytona State has named former Strasburg Express manager Brock Moss as its next head coach, effective July 16. Moss brings valuable summer-league and collegiate experience to the Falcons. His hiring was spotlighted by DSC’s athletic department in late June—D1 fever meets the Sunshine State! .
🔹 Cameron Chafetz – John C. Calhoun State CC
Calhoun Community College has promoted Cam Chafetz to head coach, shifting him from his role as hitting coach at West Alabama. Chafetz helped lead Lawson State to a .307 batting average and 193 stolen bases, while developing four all-conference players and sending 16 to four-year schools. His offense-first philosophy now takes center stage in Alabama.
🔹 James Leverton – McLennan Community College
McLennan officially announced James Leverton—formerly an assistant and 2021 national championship part-timer—as their new head coach on July 7. With six seasons under his belt in Waco and recent success guiding pitching staffs at Blinn and Baylor, he's primed to continue the Highlanders' winning tradition.
🔁🥎 The Coaching Carousel
🔷 Camden Decker – St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure has named Camden Decker as the fifth head softball coach in program history. Decker joins the Bonnies after three strong seasons as an assistant at Troy, where he helped the program post three straight 30‑win seasons and over 100 wins during his tenure. A highly regarded pitching instructor, he also had stops at Kennesaw State, UT Arlington, and Arkansas—earning accolades that include the ASUN Rookie of the Year pitcher development. Athletic Director Bob Beretta praised his ability to elevate every program he's touched.
🔷 Kiera Broehl – Sterling College
Sterling College has appointed Kiera Broehl as its new head softball coach. Broehl, a 2019 Bethel College graduate, earned her first head‑coaching role last year at Big Bend Community College, where she dramatically rebuilt the program—growing the roster from just three players to 17. The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference welcomed her hire enthusiastically, citing her ability to inspire growth on and off the field.
🔷 Bayliegh Masterson – Maryville College
Maryville College has brought aboard Bayliegh Masterson as its new head softball coach. Masterson comes with a diverse résumé: after coaching at Murray State (DI) and Barton College (DII), she helped lead Barton to a record-setting stolen‑base season and the program’s first NCAA regional ranking in Conference Carolinas. Director of Athletics Andrew Wu cited her cross‑divisional experience and championship mindset as key reasons for hiring her.
MLB Hot Takes
MLB Draft 2025: A Night of Surprises and Strategy
Round 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft—broadcast live on ESPN and MLB Network—featured plenty of surprises as teams navigated a landscape without a clear-cut superstar. The Washington Nationals stunned by selecting high‑school shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 overall pick. Willits, a reclassified lefty-hitting shortstop, brings elite defense and youth—he won’t turn 18 until December—a combination analysts liken to Kevin McGonigle. Teams like the Nationals and Angels also embraced underslot selections—picks designed to save money for later rounds, freeing up bonus pools for high-upside talents.
Top college arms made strong early impressions, with the Los Angeles Angels drafting Tyler Bremner (RHP, UC Santa Barbara) at No. 2 and the Seattle Mariners taking LSU lefty Kade Anderson at No. 3. Bremner’s season resurgence—highlighted by double-digit strikeout outings—made him one of the draft’s breakout names, while Anderson’s diverse five‑pitch arsenal and College World Series dominance had many pegging him as the true No. 1 prospect. Overall, Day 1 served up a blend of bold choices, cost-saving strategies, and signals that the real treasures may be unearthed in round two and beyond.
Thousands of players and Coaches are already in the book. The real question is . . . are you?
