Blue Sox Director of Player Development Gary Van Tol joins us to unpack how Sydney is building a local-first, sustainable roster one smart decision at a time—coming off a minor premiership and aiming higher. Gary explains his selection philosophy, how he and the team are balanceing winning now with pathway minutes for NSW talent, and the import profiles that best complement a young core.

We also dive into Gary’s journey through the game—college coaching, a decade in the Cubs system, managing in short-season ball (Eugene, Boise), relaunching Boise State baseball before COVID cut the program short, and lessons from independent ball—plus how he meshes with Brooke Knight. It’s a smart, candid look at roster building, development, and what fans should expect to see on the field this season.