Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford

Why the Coach's Kid Plays Over Yours (An MLB Agent Explains)

You are paying real money for travel ball, the coach's son gets the prime spot, and you are left wondering if the whole thing is rigged. Before you pull your son off the

The Line In An MLB's Scouting Manual Most Parents Never See

An MLB team's internal scouting manual is blunt about it: if two players have similar physical ability, the organization says it will go with the player it believes has b

The One Question That Tells You If Summer Baseball Was Worth The Money

You spent the money. You drove all over the country. Now school starts, the credit card bill lands, and you still don't know if any of it was worth it. This episode gives

How to Avoid Wasting Money on the Wrong Travel Baseball Program

If you're deciding between a big-name travel baseball program where your son may not play and another program where he'll get more reps, the name on the jersey shouldn't

What 25 Years As An Agent Taught Me About Travel Baseball

Everybody around you says the same thing: get your kid into travel baseball now, or he falls behind forever. Matt Hannaford spent 25 years as an agent, and his answer sta

Stop Looking for the "Best" Travel Baseball Team. Find the Right One.

Every travel baseball program can tell you why it's a good program. That doesn't mean it's the right program for your son. One of the biggest mistakes families make w

Before You Talk to Your Son's Coach, Watch This

Most parents judge a coach by the small part of the process they can see: the lineup, playing time, positions, and in-game decisions. But that is rarely the whole story

Travel Baseball Is a Tool, But Only If You Know How to Use It

A sports agent of 25 years explains why the travel baseball cost that scares you might be the wrong thing to worry about. If your son is good enough, the industry is buil

What You Say After the Game Is Hurting Your Son

Who is actually developing your son—and are the adults around him helping or hurting? In this episode, veteran MLB agent Matt Hannaford, who has more than 25 years of e

MLB Wants to End the High School Draft. What It Means for Your Son

MLB just proposed ending the high school draft, and before you panic, you should understand what is being negotiated. MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down the proposal

Travel Baseball Can Cost You More Than Money

Travel baseball can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, and the real bill is bigger than the checks you are writing. Here is what you are actually paying for.   ML

Is a Travel Team Really Necessary?

You think the $45,000 travel team is buying your kid a shot at the next level. A former pro hockey player explains why that promise is youth sports' biggest lie. Every

The Hidden Negotiation Behind Your MLB Signing Bonus

If you are a baseball parent waiting on the MLB Draft, the wait is the hard part — and rushing it is the mistake. MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down what actually happe

Danny Espinosa: How a big leaguer would develop your kid

A former MLB player who coaches travel baseball says winning tournaments is quietly stunting your kid. Subscribe for the insider playbook.   Most travel baseball pare

How You Act in the Stands Affects Your Son's Draft Stock (An MLB Agent Explains)

You think MLB scouts are evaluating your son. They are. But they are evaluating you just as carefully — and what they see in you can move your son's draft stock up or dow

The Car Ride Home Is Killing Your Son's Game (An MLB Agent Explains)

What you say to your son on the car ride home after a bad game can either build him up or push him out of the sport. MLB agent Matt Hannaford gives you the framework to g

Why Your Son Doesn't Want to Practice Anymore (An MLB Agent's Honest Answer)

You think you know what's wrong with your son's swing — but an MLB agent says you're solving the wrong problem.   MLB agent Matt Hannaford answers three questions bas

Stop Paying for Exposure — Your 11-Year-Old Doesn't Need It

You're probably spending too much on travel baseball for the wrong reasons — and the people telling you it's necessary are the ones who benefit when you do. MLB agent M

The Goal Isn't To Be the Best 8-Year-Old — It's To Be the Best 18-Year-Old

Kevin Gergel played at Georgia Tech, became an All-American catcher at Kennesaw State, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners — and saw his pro career end almost before it r

Almost Every MLB Player I Work With Has the Same Wound — And It's Their Dad

Almost every pro baseball player Matt Hannaford represents has the same wound — and it traces back to their relationship with their dad. In this live event, MLB agent Mat