{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Chasing Baseball Dreams","title":"32: MLB Vet Jay Jackson | Why Are Parents Flying 8-Year-Olds Across the Country for Baseball?","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2355,"description":"Why are baseball parents flying 8-year-olds across the country for travel baseball? Former MLB pitcher Jay Jackson questions the youth baseball rankings, expensive tournaments, and pressure that have become so common at an early age.\nJay spent 17 years playing professional baseball, including time with six Major League teams and in Japan. In this episode of the Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast, he joins Bobby Minor to share what he learned about player development, choosing the right opportunities, handling disappointment, and helping young players enjoy the game.\nIn this episode we cover:\nWhy Jay believes parents put too much importance on baseball rankings for 8U–12U players\nThe money families spend flying young players across the country for travel baseball tournaments\nHow Jay went from being projected as a second-to-fourth-round draft pick to getting selected in the ninth round\nWhy he chose Furman University and how academics, family, and his relationship with the coach influenced that decision\nWhat playing professionally in Japan taught him about fundamentals and the quality of practice\nWhat Jay looks for in young pitchers that parents often overlook\nWhat a dad should say to his 12U pitcher after giving up six runs\nThe emotional story of his son spending 166 days in the NICU and what Jay hopes his children remember about him\nJay also shares the years he spent waiting for his Major League opportunity, what happened when he didn't make Toronto's Opening Day roster despite a strong spring training, and why he created the S.M.I.L.E. Zone to help young players with the mental side of baseball.\nIf you're a baseball parent trying to decide which teams, tournaments, rankings, and opportunities are actually worth your money, this conversation will give you plenty to think about before you spend another dollar.\n🎙️ Host: Bobby Minor\n⚾ Guest: Jay Jackson, former MLB pitcher and founder of the S.M.I.L.E. Zone\n🎧 Podcast: Chasing Baseball Dreams Podcast\nConnect with Jay...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/q3rQG5ngcoyZtBBqydY-LYe-2NzrWpT_DUSzYHdnSkI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84Zjgy/ODMwMjJlOGEzZDUz/M2RjN2UzOGM3OWQy/NWI5Yy5qcGVn.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}