# Raising a Ballplayer in a Big-League Home

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172/raising-a-ballplayer-in-a-big-league-home
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172/raising-a-ballplayer-in-a-big-league-home.md
Podcast: [Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford](https://stenobird.com/podcast/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172)
Published: 2026-02-04T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://f19dff7d-cba9-4d19-b009-9fdbdd27ffc9.libsyn.com/raising-a-ballplayer-in-a-big-league-home
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/f19dff7d-cba9-4d19-b009-9fdbdd27ffc9/Final_Audio_056_Kurt_Suzuki_MVP.mp3?dest-id=4634517
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/most-valuable-agent-with-matt-hannaford-6966172/episodes/raising-a-ballplayer-in-a-big-league-home
Duration seconds: 3512

## Resource

Most baseball families believe the path to success is more reps, more pressure, more seriousness — but former World Series champion and MLB manager Kurt Suzuki sees it differently. In this special episode of The Most Valuable Agent, MLB agent Matt Hannaford sits down with Kurt Suzuki and his 12-year-old son Kai for an honest, refreshing conversation about youth baseball, parenting, pressure, and what actually builds confident, resilient players. This isn't a highlight-reel interview — it's a real look inside how a big leaguer thinks about development before the stats, rankings, and expectations take over. Kurt opens up about the mistakes he made as a player, the lessons he wishes he learned earlier, and why his number-one rule as a dad and coach is never telling a kid to "do more" after a bad game. Together, they talk through the emotional side of baseball: handling failure, separating identity from performance, why fun matters more than trophies at 12 years old, and how parents can support growth without accidentally creating burnout. Kai shares what it's actually like growing up around the big leagues — from clubhouse prank stories to what helps him stay loose when games get tense. If you're a parent, coach, or player navigating travel ball, pressure-filled weekends, and the constant feeling that your kid should be doing more — this episode brings clarity, perspective, and a much-needed exhale. Subscribe for weekly insight on player development, mindset, recruiting, and the business of baseball — with conversations families rarely get to hear this honestly. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • Why "having fun" isn't soft — it's a competitive advantage • How Kurt separates being a dad from being a coach • The one phrase Kurt refuses to say after bad games • Why practice should be inte…

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## Transcript

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