What if the biggest threat to youth baseball isn't a lack of talent, but the system surrounding the game?
This week, Rhett sits down with Deven Morgan, Director of Youth Baseball at Driveline Baseball, for a conversation about athlete development, pitch counts, multi-sport participation, overuse injuries, and the growing pressure families face in modern youth sports.
Deven shares why "kids are not small adults," why the best young players are often the ones most at risk of being overused, and how a lack of communication between leagues, tournaments, and organizations may be creating unnecessary risk for athletes.
The conversation also explores a proposed solution: universal pitch counts and reporting across youth baseball. Not to limit opportunities, but to better protect the kids everyone depends on.
This isn't just a baseball conversation. It's a conversation about development, process, parenting, and whether the systems we've built are serving the kids they're meant to support.
Topics include:
• Multi-sport athletes and early specialization
• Driveline's approach to player development
• Why athletic development matters more than most parents realize
• The difference between development and validation
• Pitch counts, overuse, and injury prevention
• Universal pitch count reporting
• Raising athletes who love the process, not just the results
If you're a parent, coach, or athlete trying to navigate the realities of youth sports, this episode is for you.