What does it really take to go from high school standout to pro baseball?

In this episode of the Most Valuable Agent Podcast, former MLB player and Align Sports advisor Dylan Manwaring joins us to share the raw truths of navigating the path from youth baseball to the big leagues.

Dylan opens up about growing up with a major leaguer father (Matt Manwaring), standing out in a small town, and how showcases like Area Code Games and East Coast Pro shaped his journey to becoming an MLB draft pick.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or player trying to understand the pros and cons of going pro vs. going to college—this episode delivers rare insight and real talk from someone who's been there.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What MLB scouts actually look for at top showcases

• How Dylan got recruited out of a small town

• The role of Prospect Link and digital scouting today

• What families should consider when weighing college vs. draft

• How to parent (and coach) through pressure without control

• The mental grind of proving yourself in pro ball

If you're a parent, player, or coach looking to better understand how to navigate the path to college or pro baseball, this is the episode for you.

Subscribe to Most Valuable Agent Youtube Channel for more content

https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent/

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RESOURCES + LINKS

ALIGND Sports: Elite Representation. Strategic Growth. Maximum Impact.

From contract negotiations to career development, we put athletes first—helping you secure your future on and off the field.

Ready to take your career to the next level? Book a 1:1 consultation with Matt HERE.

FOLLOW

Dylan Manwaring: @d_manwaring

Matt Hannaford: @mfhannaford

In this premiere Travel Team Spotlight episode of The Most Valuable Agent podcast, we sit down with Andy Burress—former Reds draft pick and founder of Five Star National, one of the most successful and expansive travel baseball programs in the country.

From his playing days to building a 50+ location organization (spanning the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Australia), Andy opens up about the realities of youth baseball—the wins, the mistakes, and the deeper mission behind it all.

You’ll hear how his son Drew Burress (a Georgia Tech standout) developed as a player, and why Five Star’s model focuses on accountability, structure, and long-term growth—not just exposure or trophies.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Five Star National became a standout in the world of travel baseball

• The biggest misconceptions about “development vs. showcasing”

• What really helps players succeed in college recruiting

• Why failure, structure, and accountability matter more than early wins

• How Andy approached his own son’s development—and what you can learn from it

• Key advice for parents navigating the travel ball journey

⚾️ Know a baseball parent or coach who needs to hear this?

📤 Share this episode and help spread insights from one of the game’s most respected voices.

👍 Like if you’ve ever struggled with balancing development and exposure.

💬 Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway—we read every one!

Resources & Mentions:

Five Star National: https://www.fivestarnational.com

Georgia Tech Baseball: https://ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-basebl/

PG Baseball (Perfect Game): https://www.perfectgame.org/

Subscribe to Most Valuable Agent Youtube Channel for more content

https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent/

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RESOURCES + LINKS

ALIGND Sports: Elite Representation. Strategic Growth. Maximum Impact.

From contract negotiations to career development, we put athletes first—helping you secure your future on and off the field.

Ready to take your career to the next level? Book a 1:1 consultation with Matt HERE.

FOLLOW

5 Star National Baseball: @5starnational

Matt Hannaford: @mfhannaford

Welcome back to The Most Valuable Agent podcast!

In this power-packed episode, Matt and Brian Hannaford unpack one of the most critical—but often misunderstood—aspects of a player’s career: how to actually maximize your relationship with your agent.

Whether you're navigating college recruiting, exploring NIL deals, entering the MLB Draft, or managing life in pro ball—having an agent isn’t enough. You need to know how to be a strategic partner in your own success.

From walking on at Arizona State to negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts, Matt and Brian share lessons learned on both sides of the player-agent relationship—along with hard truths every athlete and family should hear.

• Why college baseball is now a business—and how to approach it like one

• How NIL and the transfer portal have changed the game forever

• The “freedom point” every player should define to stay grounded

• How your honesty, interest, and communication affect your agent’s ability to advocate for you

• The #1 mistake players make when choosing an agent

• What a great agent-client relationship really looks like (spoiler: it’s not hand-holding)

• A behind-the-scenes look at the Austin Riley extension and what it reveals about long-term planning

• The 7 essential questions every player should ask before signing with any agent

This episode isn’t just about representation—it’s a masterclass in agency, alignment, and personal ownership.

If you're a player, parent, or coach looking to navigate the complex world of college recruiting, NIL, and pro baseball with clarity and confidence—this one’s for you.

👉 Ready to take control of your future?

Subscribe to Most Valuable Agent Youtube Channel for more content:
https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent/

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RESOURCES + LINKS

ALIGND Sports: Elite Representation. Strategic Growth. Maximum Impact.

From contract negotiations to career development, we put athletes first—helping you secure your future on and off the field.

Ready to take your career to the next level? Book a 1:1 consultation with Matt HERE.

FOLLOW

Brian Hannaford: @bhannafo

Matt Hannaford: @mfhannaford