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In "The Show Before the Show," MiLB.com writers Tyler Maun and Sam Dykstra break down Minor League Baseball's biggest storylines with guests from around the Minors including players, managers and player development experts. They'll also have a weekly look at what's going on outside the lines with business of the Minors expert Benjamin Hill.
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Prospect talk, clubhouse experience and ballpark culture meet in a detailed view of how Minor League Baseball works.
The Show Before the Show treats Minor League Baseball as both a player-development system and a collection of ballparks, team identities and working relationships.
A 19-letter alternate team name and Double-A bullpen management: your kind of baseball rabbit hole.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A loose, likable walk through minor league history, legal detours, and a tidy Name That Dude finish.
The episode is at its best when it settles into a loose clubhouse rhythm: a quick opener, a stretch on minor league baseball, and a thoughtful turn toward how careers can bend from the minors into law school.
A loose New Year reset that folds baseball resolutions into steady prospect talk.
The Show Before the Show starts 2026 as a loose New Year reset, with haircut talk, self-checks, and three hosts talking through what they want to improve.
A loose holiday wrap that ends on a strong West Michigan Whitecaps year-end note.
Holiday chatter hangs around at the start, and the path to the awards takes its time, but that looseness gives the segment room to breathe. The strongest part is the case for the West Michigan Whitecaps as the year's best team: 92-39, a 70.2 winning percentage, a Midwest League…
A loose, lived-in winter meetings recap with real offseason gravity.
This winter meetings recap keeps its feet on the ground, following baseball people as they try to make sense of an offseason that has not settled yet.
Plainspoken baseball talk that feels like clubhouse conversation, not a polished recap.
This episode stays in plainspoken baseball territory. A manager talks about the tough, direct coaches who shaped how he leads now, and about the lesson in being corrected and then passing that honesty along to players.
Somerset's 19-letter alternate identity turns the episode into a naming story tied to America's 250th birthday.
The episode spends its time on Somerset's Semi-Quincentennials identity, the 19-letter alternate name tied to America's 250th birthday in 2026.
A loose offseason baseball hangout that pairs banter with a detailed pitching comeback story.
The episode opens with a shorthanded booth, the absence of Sam Dykstra, and a run of joking that keeps the tone light. From there, it settles into Arizona Fall League talk and a pitching comeback story that gives the hour its clearest shape.
Halloween-week banter and ballpark logistics make this a warm, digressive Minor League Baseball hangout.
Halloween week gives the episode a playful edge, and the early banter leans into that mood before the conversation settles into the show’s usual rhythm.
Twins therapy with a box score.
Daily Tigers tension, sorted fast.
Hosts Tyler Maun, Sam Dykstra, and Benjamin Hill discuss the start of the Minor League Baseball season, share personal updates, and preview on-field and business topics.
The hosts celebrate National Hat Day by discussing the most popular Minor League Baseball caps of 2025, including viral-inspired designs and local ties.
The hosts discuss New Year's resolutions, including personal growth and baseball goals, then dive into Minor League Baseball topics like bobbleheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals' new 'Frozen Iguanas' alternate identity.
The hosts review 2025 Minor League Baseball with awards for standout moments, including Roman Anthony's home run, a AAA championship walk-off, and Trey Savage's postseason rise.
The hosts recap the MLB Winter Meetings, focusing on Minor League Baseball ownership changes involving seven teams and new groups like Diamond Baseball Holdings.
The hosts discuss minor league baseball news including affiliation changes and team rebranding, then feature an interview with manager Dann Bilardello about his 900-win milestone and baseball career.
The hosts discuss Minor League Baseball news, including alternate identities like the Louisville Humidity and Somerset Semi-quincentennials, promotions such as the Altoona Curve's penny night, and updates on the rule 5 draft and offseason prospect movements.
This episode covers minor league baseball news, including the rebrand of the Salem Red Sox to the Ridge Yaks, an interview with pitcher Brayden Spears about his path to affiliated ball and bull ownership, updates from the Arizona Fall League, and trivia on team histories linked to Columbus, Georgia.
The hosts discuss Halloween-themed Minor League Baseball identities, including the Beloit Sky Carp's 'Eerie Wearies' and Worcester Red Sox's throwback logos.
Hosts Tyler Maun and Sam Dykstra, joined by Benjamin Hill, discuss Minor League Baseball updates including the Frederick Keys' rebranding and new ballparks for 2026.
Hosts Sam Dykstra and Benjamin Hill discuss Minor League Baseball news, including the Arizona Fall League and a PSA about men's health, with a focus on baseball business and player development.
Co-hosts discuss their plaid shirts, autumn vibes, and the MLB playoffs before diving into Minor League Baseball topics.
The hosts discuss the end of the minor league season and upcoming events like the Arizona Fall League and the Minor League Baseball Business Summit.
Hosts discuss the final hours of the 2025 minor league baseball season and the chaotic MLB playoff races.
The hosts discuss the end of the minor league season, upcoming playoffs, and the MLB award show where listeners can vote.
Hosts discuss recent events in Minor League Baseball, including the draft, all-star week, and a co-host's viral moment at a Frisco RoughRiders game.
The hosts drive to Staten Island while bantering about traffic and a bug in the car, setting up a special episode of their Minor League Baseball podcast.
Hosts Tyler Maun and Sam Dykstra discuss Minor League Baseball news, upcoming events, and their love for Southern fast food.
The hosts discuss favorite breakfast cereals before diving into Minor League Baseball news, including the MLB trade deadline and a road trip through North Carolina.