The Show Before the Show: Episode 340

Balkovec's hire, Katz's move to UK, Hat Draft on latest episode

Rachel Balkovec will make history when she takes over as Low-A Tampa manager this season. (Cliff Welch/MiLB.com)

By MiLB.com Staff

January 14, 2022

Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review "Minor League Baseball podcast" on iTunes. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Stitcher and other podcast-listening apps. Send questions or feedback to [email protected], and follow hosts Tyler Maun (@TylerMaun) and Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) on Twitter.

Intro (0:00)

Tyler, Sam and Ben open this week's show with a discussion surrounding Rachel Balkovec's historic hire as Low-A Tampa manager for the 2022 season. The segment includes a clip from Balkovec's 2016 appearance on The Show Before the Show when she worked in the Astros system.

John Katz interview (17:18)

Katz worked in Minor League front offices for decades, including most recently with Columbia, before jumping over the pond to work for Woking FC in the fifth tier of English soccer. He joins the show to talk about the transition and the similarities and differences around working in both sports.

Minor League Hat Draft (55:43)

Tyler, Sam and Ben return with a fun third segment. The trio of co-hosts hold a Minor League Hat Draft, selecting their favorite caps in the game from four categories: Primary, Alternate, Copa and Wild Card.

Ghosts of the Minors/Wrapping up (1:32:36)

Before the episode comes to a close, Josh is back with another shocking edition of Ghosts of the Minors.