Most travel ball parents focus on the wrong things — more reps, more tournaments, more lessons, more mechanics, more "fixes." But in this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford brings together two of baseball's most respected insiders to reveal what actually develops a player:
• Hugh Quattlebaum — former MLB hitting coach, coordinator, and father of three boys in the youth baseball world
• Gus Quattlebaum — Vice President of Scouting Development & Integration for the Boston Red Sox

Together, they break down the essential (and often misunderstood) ingredients that help players become confident, adaptable, self-aware competitors — not just hitters with pretty mechanics. Hugh shares lessons from his upcoming book on youth development, while Gus provides rare insight into how scouts truly evaluate players, what stands out, and what hurts a young athlete's projection.

You'll learn why players should fail more, why aggression beats perfection, why kids must learn to coach themselves, and why "zoo tiger" development is holding thousands of players back.

If you're a parent, coach, or player navigating travel baseball today, this is the conversation you never get — directly from the people who work with elite athletes at the highest levels of the game.

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• Why "control the controllables" is the foundation of great development
• The difference between conditional vs. unconditional confidence
• Why aggression is a competitive advantage — and passivity kills performance
• How parents unintentionally create fear, confusion, and hesitation
• The power of game-like reps vs. traditional drills
• How major league teams train hitters to prepare for real in-game chaos
• What scouts actually look for: decision-making, adjustments, process
• How to teach players to coach themselves — and why it matters long-term
• Why individualization beats one-size-fits-all mechanics every time
• The dangers of TikTok hitting trends & constant tinkering
• How to design practice with the end in mind
• What it really means to "love the game more at 18 than at 8"

Vice President, Scouting Development & Integration — Boston Red Sox
Gus oversees professional scouting, integration, and evaluation strategy for the Red Sox after decades in MLB scouting across multiple organizations. His career includes influential roles with the Yankees, Orioles, Expos, and Red Sox, shaping amateur, pro, and international scouting systems. He is known for his process-driven approach, holistic evaluation, and deep expertise in player projection.

Professional Hitting Coach
Hugh has coached hitters at every level of professional baseball — including serving as Major League Hitting Coach for the New York Mets and Assistant Hitting Coach for the Atlanta Braves. He has led hitting development departments, coordinated minor league systems, and built player plans for elite hitters. As a father of three young ballplayers, Hugh brings a unique blend of big-league expertise and real-world youth baseball experience.

Matt Hannaford is a 25-year MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He has negotiated historic contracts, represented MVPs and All-Stars, and now delivers weekly insights on development, scouting, and the business of baseball.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/
Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/
YouTube (subscribe for weekly coaching): https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent

#YouthBaseball #TravelBall #PlayerDevelopment #MLBScouting #HittingCoach #BaseballParents #MostValuableAgent #BaseballMindset #BaseballTraining #ScoutingInsight

Every parent watching their son strike out in the bottom of the ninth has felt that surge of frustration — not because of the strikeout itself, but because of the unspoken expectations they carry. Expectations about effort. About performance. About gratitude. About results.

But here's the problem: most parents never say these expectations out loud — and because of that, players don't know the rules, don't know the standards, and don't know how to win. The result? Disappointment for parents, defensiveness for players, and a breakdown in trust that lasts far beyond a single tournament.

In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down one of the most important — yet rarely discussed — principles in travel baseball: the difference between expectations and agreements. You'll learn why silent expectations sabotage performance, erode motivation, and create resentment…and how simple parent–player agreements can transform your son's growth, your relationship, and his entire baseball experience.

Matt gives you scripts, real examples, and a step-by-step process to start having collaborative, empowering conversations with your son — conversations that build ownership, confidence, and commitment.

If you've ever wondered why your son "doesn't seem to care," why you get frustrated so often, or why baseball feels more stressful than it should…this episode is the reset button your family needs.

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• The real difference between an expectation and an agreement
• Why unspoken expectations create frustration, defensiveness & poor performance
• What "leadership failure" looks like in a parent–player relationship
• The exact conversation to start having with your son (word-for-word)
• How agreements increase ownership, motivation, and on-field results
• Why agreements work in baseball, business, and high-performance environments
• How to set roles, responsibilities, and timelines that actually stick
• How to build trust, improve communication, and create a healthier baseball journey

Matt Hannaford is a 25-year veteran MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He's represented MVPs, negotiated historic contracts, and guided families through every step of the baseball journey — from tee ball to the Major Leagues. Through The Most Valuable Agent, Matt gives parents the honest, strategic insight they need to support their son's development, performance, and long-term future in baseball.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/
Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/
YouTube (weekly coaching & breakdowns): https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent

#TravelBall #YouthBaseball #BaseballParents #PlayerDevelopment #BaseballMindset #MostValuableAgent #ParentCoaching #BaseballLeadership #BaseballJourney #YouthSportsParenting

Every travel team promises "elite competition," "national exposure," and "top-tier development." But when you're the parent making decisions, the real questions are much simpler — and far more important: What actually serves my son's long-term future? What protects our family's time, budget, and sanity?

In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford breaks down the four essential questions every baseball parent must ask before choosing a travel team. You'll learn how to evaluate a program's philosophy, how to separate hype from real development, how to avoid the exposure trap that hurts young players, and how to make sure your son is coached by the right person — not just the organization's most famous name.

If your family is debating whether to stay, leave, or join a new team… this episode will give you the clarity and strategy you've been missing.

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• Why travel coaches are recruiting you just as much as your son
• How to identify the real reason you're looking for a new team
• The #1 mistake families make when chasing "exposure" too early
• Why development—not showcases—matters before age 16
• How to assess your son's physical, skill, and mental readiness
• What a realistic travel baseball budget actually looks like
• How to talk to an organization honestly about your financial limits
• Why your son's actual coach matters more than the program's brand
• The four non-negotiable questions every parent must ask before committing

1. Why are we looking for a new team? Understand what went wrong or what you truly need.

2. Where is my son developmentally? Development first (≤15). Exposure later (≥16).

3. What is our actual budget and sustainable schedule? Be honest. Protect your time, energy, and finances.

4. Who will coach my son week-to-week? The coach matters more than the organization's name.

Matt Hannaford is a 25-year MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He has represented Hall of Famers, negotiated landmark contracts, and now helps families navigate the development and business of baseball with clarity, honesty, and strategy.

CONNECT WITH MATT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/
Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/
YouTube (subscribe!): https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent

#TravelBaseball #BaseballParents #MostValuableAgent #PlayerDevelopment #TravelBallTruths #YouthBaseball #BaseballExposure #BaseballRecruiting