*Re-release of ep. 61*
The transfer portal has made it easier than ever to leave a program — but the families who navigate the recruiting process best are the ones who make the right decision the first time and never need it. We are rereleasing this conversation with St. John's University Pitching Coach George Brown from 2024 because it is as relevant today as the day we recorded it — and with St. John's coming off a super regional appearance in 2026, Coach Brown's insights on building the right culture and making the right recruiting decisions have never felt more timely.
What we cover:
- How St. John's University and the Big East approach college baseball recruiting and what makes the conference an attractive destination for recruits
- What Coach Brown specifically looks for when recruiting and evaluating pitchers for his program
- How recruiting timelines play out in the Big East and what families need to understand about when and how to engage with programs
- How the transfer portal has reshaped the college baseball landscape and what it means for programs trying to build rosters and recruits trying to find the right fit
- Why making the right college decision the first time is more critical than ever — and how to set yourself up to do exactly that
- What players and families should be specifically looking for when evaluating a college baseball program during the recruiting process
- The questions every recruit should be asking on campus visits and in conversations with coaches to make sure the fit is genuinely right before committing
- How to avoid the red flags that families commonly miss during recruiting that lead to transfers and difficult situations down the road
St. John's made a super regional in 2026 — and this conversation from 2024 shows exactly the kind of program building and recruiting philosophy that gets a program there. This episode is essential listening for every baseball family in the recruiting process right now
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Chapters
- (00:00:00) - George Brown on The Dugout Dish Podcast
- (00:02:51) - St. John's Baseball: Identifying Pitchers
- (00:12:05) - Pitching Prospects: Has the game changed?
- (00:20:11) - Tom Leyland on Being Emotional as a Coach
- (00:23:15) - Pitching Staff in College Baseball
- (00:32:33) - Pitchers on the Staff
- (00:39:11) - Punters: Coach Plays Favorite
- (00:46:14) - Tom Leyland on Character
- (00:54:57) - Older Guys Share Responsibilities
- (01:01:58) - Jimmy Dykstra on Teaching
- (01:07:31) - Andy Pederson on Coaching
- (01:11:13) - Andy Pederson on Coaching Legends
- (01:16:17) - George On The Recruitment Process
