In this episode of The Hard Truth, Jeremy Fouts sits down with Matt Reynolds—retired MLB player and proud dad—to talk mindset, nutrition, recovery, and the grind from high school to the pros. Matt shares lessons from his time with the Mets, Nationals, Royals, and more, opening up about mental resilience, performance under pressure, and what separates athletes who make it from those who don’t. Whether you’re a parent or an aspiring athlete, this episode is full of practical advice, real stories, and hard truths you need to hear.
00:00 – Intro & Welcome
01:27 – Personal background and life in Tulsa
05:27 – Difference between high school, college, and pro ball
07:41 – The grind of playing 162 games in the MLB
09:00 – Moments of wanting to quit or self-doubt
10:29 – Mental spiral from being overlooked
11:22 – What separates players who make it from those who don’t
13:00 – Importance of visualization and mental preparation
15:02 – Approach to nutrition and its impact on performance
16:35 – Role of recovery: sleep, hydration, and tracking
18:00 – What Matt would fix about his high school nutrition
19:55 – Life lessons from MLB and how they shaped him
21:31 – Handling pressure and expectations on the big stage
23:52 – Advice for the overlooked athlete
25:37 – Toughest pitcher Matt ever faced
28:04 – Most memorable big league moment
31:59 – Favorite stadium to play in and why
32:48 – Pregame routines and superstitions
33:39 – Life after baseball: family, coaching, new career
34:53 – Applying baseball lessons to everyday life
37:39 – Final hard truth takeaway from Matt
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