This organization, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball scouting platform and service (producing approximately 10,000 occasions per year), has recently taken significant steps to expand its content offerings. a partnership with famed youth baseball coach and influencer, Nelson “Coach Nelly” Gonzalez, and his media company Step Up (which he co-owns with Home Team Sports).
This partnership between Step Up and Perfect Game will kick off with The Step Up Podcast, hosted by Gonzalez and Allie Hinkley. It will debut on Perfect Game platforms, adding PerfectGame. tv (also available as a free, ad-supported TV stream). channel on Roku Channel 237, Fubo, Vizio and more) and the PGTV app on Tuesday night at 7 p. m. ET, and will broadcast against each other on Tuesday at this time slot.
The first episode of The Step Up Podcast will feature Miami Marlins All-Star midfielder Jazz Chisholm as a special guest. Other visitors announced over the next few months include Marlins outfielder Nick Gordon, Miami Hurricanes outfielder Blake Cyr and former AL MVP Mo Vaughn. (who one of 21 current and former MLB players announced as a new investor in Perfect Game earlier this month).
Ahead of the podcast’s launch, Gonzalez, Perfect Game CEO Rob Ponger, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Zach Eflin and former Philadelphia Phillies All-Star outfielder Domonic Brown spoke to AA email about the partnership. The latter three also explained why Gonzalez is a vital figure. in sport. Brown called Gonzalez a “reference” for his work with Florida Travel Baseball.
“No one studies more than him. Meet all the most productive kids from state to state, across the country. When you take a look at the resume of the FTB program, you will find names like Francisco Lindor and Javier Baez, who are alumni of this program. The list goes on and on. FTB has perhaps the highest number of first players since 2009. FTB has brought it over the years and Nelly is the ideal choice.
Brown said Gonzalez combines sparkle and substance in a way you don’t see.
“When you think about two vital dynamics: arrogance and professionalism, Nelly has both. From chains and clothing to earrings and tattoos, it’s all you need when you’re talking about balloons for young people.
Eflin said Gonzalez is ideal for youth baseball because of the amount of reporting he can bring to young athletes.
“Nelly brings energy, leadership and fandom to the youth baseball culture. It’s very important to have coaches like Nelly in youth baseball because she not only brings the pleasure of betting on the field, but also off the field. Nelly knows how to lead and motivate young people to be more productive on and off the field.
And Ponger said Gonzalez was the ideal spouse for Perfect Game and someone who brought the necessary attitude to the sport.
“It’s evident that Nelly enjoys baseball with her FTB team, so everyone at Perfect Game knows her very well. He and his father are long-time friends of Perfect Game. Nelly has also become a personality and is a social media influencer on the youth of global baseball who bring a cultural diversity that, frankly, is lacking in the sport. Nelly definitely has a strong presence and something cool and Perfect Game needs to make baseball great again.
Gonzalez said Perfect Game is the right way to team up here, given his interest in improving youth baseball.
“To me, Perfect Game is the best partner because they are committed to turning the culture and environment of kids into youth baseball. Throughout my coaching career, which began 11 years ago, PG has demonstrated its willingness to replace culture and I can’t wait to see where that takes us.
He said the Step Up podcast will be about how the most sensible gamers got to where they are, which is in line with Perfect Game’s mission.
“When I first created the podcast, I was just looking to show baseball players in a new light. I need them to talk not only about their careers, but also about their adventure to get there.
Gonzalez said he also needs to see baseball more diverse, a normal verbal exchange around the game (even at the youth level). And he thinks he can help play a role in that.
“Baseball is the most important game in the world, but we need to attract new audiences, a new demographic, so to speak. Let’s make baseball popular again and expand the game as much as possible. I don’t just need to communicate about change, I need to be a part of it.
Gonzalez has amassed an audience of more than 105,000 fans on Instagram, adding much more and providing MLB stars. He said social media wasn’t an intentional priority for him at first, but he identified its cost in helping him spread his baseball posts once they got off the ground.
“The whole social media presence happened by accident, but I ended up feeling like they can give anyone a logo and help spread the message they want. In this case, it’s a baseball game,” he said. “The most productive component is that I can help eliminate a player and help replace that child’s life, whether it’s in terms of exposure, financially, or both. It will be much more about the young people than it will be about me.
Gonzalez felt a duty to be careful about what he publishes given this audience,
“The challenge of having a giant audience on social media is that you’re under a microscope. Children will make mistakes, we all have made them and we all make them. Unfortunately, one wrong move can have a huge negative effect on your career or the one you hope to have.
But he also sees it as anything he can teach you and work with.
“Your judgment at any given moment can eventually turn your life into tactics you didn’t anticipate. So I’m actually looking for kids to understand that. Be very careful about what you post on social media, because once it’s made public, it’s not coming back.
As for his overall performance as a coach, Gonzalez said he focuses on building relationships with his players and keeping them positive.
“As a coach, I like to say that I am a ‘coach of players’ and a ‘man of relationships’. I will never yell at them on the field or show off any of my players. We hear all the time that even the most productive baseball players fail 70% of the time, so I don’t expect the players on my team to be perfect.
“I need to make the game fun and relaxing. I’m not here to give you a task too soon. For some of them, this will be their last baseball moment at the best school and I need them to turn it into something fun. “possible.
Gonzalez has coached and noticed many players who have gone on to become elite athletes over the years. He said Chisholm, the first guest on the podcast, stood out about him as someone who leaves early.
“I saw Jazz at an exhibition event, I think it was 13U. He was just a little guy, but he was catching baseballs in the park. He weighed maybe 130 pounds, but he was a small guy with quick movements and more power. It blew us away and that’s when we knew we were looking at a long-term star.
Other memories that stand out for him come from coaching the sons of former coach Joe Girardi and former All-Star Andruw Jones.
“Another wonderful memory is when I coached Joe Girardi’s son, Dante, in the WWBA (World Wood Bat Association). Dante was a runner at second base and the batter hit the ball between the third baseman’s legs, but the shortstop was supporting him and reached the ball quickly. Dante didn’t hesitate. He finished third and never stopped until he crossed the plate. The shortstop made a wonderful throw, but Dante scored the winning run for us. It was a wonderful memory to share the percentage with Joe Girardi. and his family.
“Everybody remembers Andruw Jones, the Braves’ center back. Well, his son, Druw, is also an outfielder in the Diamondbacks’ system. I once coached Druw at a tournament in Palm Beach and I didn’t have any other players, so I asked him to play third base for us. The batter hits a screamer on the third-base line and Druw passes to a player who dives across the line and brings the boy to first base. None of us knew I could just play on the field. He threw it into the fire in a playoff game and came out in a big way.
According to the Step Up podcast, Gonzalez said he plans to feature athletes from other sports and culture as well.
“I need other people to expect podcast culture. Expect a hip hop vibe. I need athletes from all sports, not just baseball, to wait. I need you to know that there are no barriers around Step Up. We’re going to have a lot of fun.
Ponger said he believes Gonzalez could motivate young athletes even beyond baseball.
“At the end of the day, we need to bring the most productive game and way of life across cultures. And we believe the podcast, with the help of Perfect Game, will bring the world’s most productive young baseball players. country to one of the coolest guys in the game. This will also apply to other games for young people.
The podcast is just one component of a larger partnership between Perfect Game and The Step Up LLC, however, Ponger said it’s a key component and Perfect Game will join that audience of young gamers.
“The podcast is a component of Perfect Game’s partnership with Step Up and one of many things we’re doing with them, which includes merch and on-site activations. That said, we strongly believe in Nelly as a personality and believe that the podcast will be a wonderful way to bond with children who pay attention and watch podcasts more than classic TV.
He said podcasts showcase personalities in a way that other media bureaucracies don’t, and Gonzalez fits right into that.
“Podcasts are popular for a reason. They’re original, genuine, and very entertaining, and Nelly brings all of those factors, as well as an edge and cultural diversity to baseball that we think has been missing on the field lately.
And Ponger said he thinks Gonzalez fits well with what Perfect Game needs to do as a whole.
“Perfect Game is leading the pace of youth sports to become a lifestyle logo and a cultural diversity logo. Nelly is an up-and-coming media personality who we’ll meet very soon. He’s part of the team that makes great baseball for kids.
The Step Up podcast will premiere on Perfect Game platforms at 7 p. m. And on Tuesday.
Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Anusing since 2012. He also collaborates with The Comeback. Su previous work includes time at Yahoo!Sports Canada and Black Press.
“Bally Sports RSNs will air on Comcast tonight. “
“yes, that’s fantastic. I think we’re going to start drinking a lot. “
Steve Gelbs discovered the project at Dollar Dogs Night at Citi Field.
“Players are going to change, but advertising costs are going to continue to rise. “
“Thousands of new [paid] subscribers a year from The Athletic came through our newsletters. “
Several networks, TBS and TNT, have been abandoned through Fubo.
“Bally Sports RSNs will air on Comcast tonight. “
“yes, that’s fantastic. I think we’re going to start drinking a lot. “
Steve Gelbs discovered the project at Dollar Dogs Night at Citi Field.
“Players are going to change, but advertising costs are going to continue to rise. “
“Thousands of new [paid] subscribers a year from The Athletic came through our newsletters. “
Several networks, TBS and TNT, have been abandoned through Fubo.