Hook Line & Splitter, a Jersey Shore BlueClaws Podcast

We sat down with BlueClaws C Kehden Hettiger, a Southern California native, about the east coast, his walk-off home run on May 6th, how close he came to going to Oregon instead of signing with the Phillies, what he's learned in his two years as a pro, and much more!

25 years ago, when a Minor League Baseball team was coming to the Jersey Shore, the team was nearly named the Pine Barons, in honor of the unique territory that spans seven counties across the southern part of New Jersey. Now, 25 years later, the team is honoring that near-identity with the Shine Barons, Shine of course representing the silver of a 25th anniversary. Today, we're joined by Joel Mott of the Pinelands to learn about the history (wars, trains), ecology, and more about this one-of-a-kind area right here in New Jersey!

BlueClaws closer Jaydenn Estanista talks about his baseball journey from Curacao to the BlueClaws, pitching in the World Baseball Classic, what he misses most about Curacao during the baseball season, his soccer background, his baseball idols, and more.

We're joined by BlueClaws C Luke Davis, who shares his baseball journey from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast! He talks about his patience at the plate, getting signed the Phillies, and much more.

We're joined by BlueClaws RHP Alex McFarlane on our latest episode, who talks about his baseball journey: His season in 2025 with the BlueClawsGrowing up in St. ThomasYouth Baseball in the Virgin IslandsComing to the StatesWhat he's learned over the last few yearsHis recovery from Tommy John SurgeryMuch more!

BlueClaws OF Pierce Bennett stops by to talk about his career, his time at Wake Forest, the College World Series of 2023, facing Paul Skenes, his hitting exploits, his cornhole exploits, and much more!

We're joined by BlueClaws IF Carson DeMartini, who blasted a home run on Opening Night at the Jersey Shore on April 8th. We talk about his time at Virginia Tech, getting drafted by the Phillies, growing up as a Mets/David Wright fan, golf, baseball, playing in the Phillies system, and much more!

We're joined by BlueClaws manager Greg Brodzinski on our latest episode of Hook Line & Splitter as we go through the roster and preview the season! The BlueClaws open the season on Friday in Hudson Valley and the home schedule on April 8th against Aberdeen!

We're joined from Clearwater by 2024 BlueClaws RHP Casey Steward at the tail end of Spring Training. We talk about: How Spring Training wentSpring Breakout, his selection, and his strong performance in the game against Pirates prospectsWhat he's worked on over the course of the offseasonHis favorite part of spring trainingWhat he learned in his first full season in the organization in 2024His baseball background from Kansas and Washburn University to the Phillies organizationMuch more!Thanks to our sponsors: GroundworksLightstar Energy GroupBally Sports Live App (download today to watch every BlueClaws game free)

We're joined by BlueClaws manager Greg Brodzinski from Spring Training this week and he joins us to talk about a few topics including: Spring Breakout Game on Friday, March 14th, which he will manage. A Day in the Life at Spring TrainingHis time in the Arizona Fall LeagueWhat he's learned in his first two years as BlueClaws managerWho has stood out so far at Spring TrainingSome Favorites including SAL Stadium, off-season activity, Phillie growing up, BlueClaws uniform, and moreHook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

We're joined from Clearwater by Phillies prospect and '24 BlueClaw Aidan Miller! Among the topics discussed: What he learned last year in his first full professional season What he's looking forward to most about his first big league spring training Favorite offseason activites His whirlwind 2024 that saw him play at three different levels How he's improved as a player Trade season Much moreWe also break the news that he'll be getting his first BlueClaws baseball card very soon!Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

We're thrilled to be joined by Luke Murton, the Phillies Director of Player Development, for a spring/season preview. Luke joined us from Clearwater to talk about a variety of topics including: The start of Spring Training The state of the system Select players he looks to have big years in 2025 Transitioning into a new role Drafting high school vs college players Much more!Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

Entering 2025, the BlueClaws have played 3,001 regular season games, and only once has a player hit three home runs. That was Jake Blalock, who did so on May 20, 2004 in a game at Lexington. We catch up with Blalock, now a match teacher and baseball coach at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, the same school from which both Blalock and Cole Hamels were drafted by the Phillies in 2002.Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

We're joined by former BlueClaws manager, and current Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan on the latest Hook Line & Splitter podcast. Dusty led the BlueClaws to the 2009 SAL title and has been the Phillies third base coach since 2017. We look back at his time with the BlueClaws, what he learned as a minor league manager, the art of being a third base coach, he reminisces about Bryce Harper's NLCS-winning home run, and much more. Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

2024 BlueClaws pitcher Ethan Chenault joins us for our latest episode. We talk about his time with the Phillies since being drafted in 2023, playing high school baseball in Virginia for Billy Wagner, how he's grown as a pitcher since coming into the organization, and much more! Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

In our final episode of 2024, we share some of the best clips from the podcast over the course of the year! Hear from the following as we wrap up 2024: BlueClaws SS Aidan Miller Phillies longtime International Scouting Director Sal Agostinelli 2011 BlueClaws C Cameron Rupp BlueClaws RHP Charles King BlueClaws RHP Jack Dallas BlueClaws C Jordan Dissin Angels LHP / Former BlueClaws LHP Sam Aldegheri BlueClaws OF Jordan Viars Thank you for spending part of your year with us. Stay tuned for more in 2025! Happy New Year everyone! Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

Phillies VP & General Manager Preston Mattingly is our latest guest and sits down in advance of next week's the Winter Meetings. Mattingly was just appointed to his position after spending the last three years in charge of the Phillies farm system, the topic of our conversation. We talk about prospects Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter, and many others. We look at some past BlueClaws and future BlueClaws, the Phillies 2024 draft class, how the game has changed over the last few years, where the Phillies have made their biggest strides, and much more!

We're joined by Josh Norris of Baseball America who recently put out their annual Phillies Top 10 Prospect list. Their list was headed by RHP Andrew Painter (2022 BlueClaw), and we talk about Painter, Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford, and some other former, and of course, future BlueClaws. Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

We're joined by BlueClaws OF Troy Schreffler to talk about his season with the BlueClaws, growing up a Phillies fan, how he's spending his offseason, growing up a Phillies fan, the chance to play in his hometown of Harrisburg this year with Double-A Reading, what he's learned in his three years as a professional, and much more.

We're joined by BlueClaws super-utility player Bryson Ware, who started games for Jersey Shore this season at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and in the outfield! We also talk about his baseball journey from growing up in Mississippi to Auburn to the Phillies organization, his growth as a hitter this year after his promotion, and much more.

We're joined by Sam Jellinek of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Jake Starr of the Reading Fightin' Phils as part of our Phillies Minor League Year In Review episode. Who were each team's player and pitcher of the year? Breakout players? Guys to watch heading into 2025? We cover it all!

BlueClaws broadcasters Greg Giombarrese and Tony Graham sit down for a full Year in Review of the 2024 BlueClaws. We cover everything throughout the roster and the season, top players, top moments, best games, memorable finishes, best stories, and much more. Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

We're joined by BlueClaws OF Jordan Viars for our final interview taped during the BlueClaws season. We talk about his season, his three home run game with Clearwater, having a former teammate (Sam Aldegheri make his big league debut and watching it with the team), the team's reaction to Pierce Bennett's intentional walk with the bases loaded against Hudson Valley, and more! Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

Braydon Tucker, who went 4-2 over eight starts with the BlueClaws in the last two months of the season, joins us on our latest episode. We talk about his season, his growth as a pitcher this year, signing with the Phillies out of Lipscomb, his time at Indiana where he grew up, and much more.

We're joined by RHP Luke Russo on our latest episode of Hook Line & Splitter. The right-hander from Eastern Michigan talks about his baseball journey, bouncing back from injuries to post a big senior year in 2023, joining the Phillies, winning the first half title with Clearwater, joining the BlueClaws, and much more.

We're joined by BlueClaws IF Trent Farquhar on Episode 104 of Hook Line & Splitter. The infielder from Michigan State talks about his baseball journey, his goals for the season, his promotion to the BlueClaws, growth as a player, playing for his father in high school, and much more.

We're joined by Jordan Dissin on the latest Hook Line & Splitter podcast. Jordan grew up outside of Philadelphia as a huge Phillies fan and played at Malvern Prep. Two years after graduating, he was drafted by the team he grew up rooting for in the 12th round of the 2022 draft. We talk about that, his season, which pitches thrown by various BlueClaws pitchers he likes from the standpoint of being a catcher, and much more! Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

We're joined by Aidan Miller, Phillies first-round pick from 2023, on our latest episode. We talk about his experience at the Futures Game, how he found out he and Justin Crawford were going, his experience as a pro so far, the advice he would give to high school draftees coming into the game this year, how he found out he was promoted to the BlueClaws, and so much more. Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks.

Jim McNamara has spent 20 years with the BlueClaws, now serving as the Senior VP of Ticket Sales & Service and the Executive Director of BlueClaws Charities. He joins Hook Line & Splitter to talk about his time with the BlueClaws, look back on some great moments, and share stories about his two decades with the Jersey Shore's Hometown Team. Hook Line & Splitter is presented by Groundworks, dependable foundation and crawl space repair solutions, basement waterproofing, and concrete lifting for New Jersey residents. Click here for more information.

BlueClaws 1B Keaton Anthony joins the 100th episode of Hook Line & Splitter. The infielder from the University of Iowa signed with the Phillies last year and has made a quick impact with Jersey Shore. He talks about his time at Iowa, signing with the Phillies, winning the first-half title with Clearwater, how he found out he was promoted to the BlueClaws, and more!

We're joined by BlueClaws LHP Danny Wilkinson on our latest episode. The left-hander grew up in Scotch Plains, just 50 miles from ShoreTown Ballpark before heading to Villanova and later signing with the Phillies. We talk about his experience with the organization, growing up in Jersey and playing close to home, and much more.

We're joined by BlueClaws left-hander Sam Aldegheri on the latest Hook Line & Splitter. Aldegheri, from Verona, Italy, talks about his goals, his season, growing up in Italy and playing baseball, and much more.

We're joined by BlueClaws RHP Jack Dallas on our latest Hook Line & Splitter. The right-hander from Lamar University talks about signing with the Phillies (and where he was when he found out they wanted to sign him), his development over the last few years, holes-in-one and golf, and much more!

We're joined b BlueClaws RHP Daniel Harper on our latest episode. The right-handed pitcher from the University of Kentucky has three saves to lead the team. He talks about his baseball journey from the Kansas City suburbs to Kentucky and now to the Phillies. Plus, he tells a great story about that year's draft, when the Phillies took back to back Kansas City-area pitchers including Harper.

We're joined by BlueClaws Development Coach Beth Greenwood on Episode 95 of Hook Line & Splitter. Beth is the first female coach in BlueClaws history and talks about what that means to her. Plus, we talk about her baseball career, from high school through the University of Rochester, her path to the Phillies, playing for Team USA's Women's National Baseball team, and much more!

We're joined by BlueClaws LHP Braeden Fausnaught on our latest Hook Line & Splitter. The southpaw grew up in Danville, Pennsylvania as a huge Phillies fan, and his baseball journey led him into the organization. We talk about his season, his time at West Chester University, playing in the MLB Draft League with the Trenton Thunder (for former BlueClaws manager Jeff Manto), signing with the Phillies, playing this past winter in Adelaide, and much more!

BlueClaws pitcher Charles King got the last five outs for a save in his professional debut Saturday, a debut that has been a long time coming! The right-hander graduated from TCU with a biology degree before working for the Padres for two years as a pitching analyst. After changing paths, he decided he wanted to pitch again, so he went to Driveline this winter and ended up signing with the Phillies in February. He talks about his story, what he learned from his time as an analyst, his professional debut, and much more!

We're joined by BlueClaws manager Greg Brodzinski on Episode 92 of Hook Line & Splitter. It's Opening Week, so we go through the roster with Bull and help preview the season. The BlueClaws open the season on Friday with Aberdeen at 6:35 pm. Opening Night at the Jersey Shore includes post-game fireworks and is presented by Jenkinson's Boardwalk.

From Georgia Tech to the Jersey Shore! We're joined by new BlueClaws groundskeeper Steven Guertin on the latest Hook Line & Splitter podcast. Steven, who got to the BlueClaws in March, talks about his time in New England, working for the Red Sox grounds crew, Georgia Tech, come up north, getting the field ready for the season, and we play 20 questions!

Baseball season is here and we go through a Phillies minor league preview with Phillies Assistant GM Preston Mattingly. We cover many players that could be with the BlueClaws this year, talk about the depth of the system overall, and talk development philosophies in general. Any Phillies fan will learn a great deal about the organization from listening to Preston and we thank him for a few minutes on the eve of the season!

We're joined by BlueClaws OF Cade Fergus on the latest episode of Hook Line & Splitter. The Florida native talks about his experience this winter in Australia, where he helped the Adelaide Giants in the ABL title and hit a playoff game-winning home run in the process. He also talks about his baseball journey, his goals for 2024, and much more.

We're joined by 2011 BlueClaws catcher Cameron Rupp on Ep. 88 of Hook Line & Splitter. Rupp played for the BlueClaws 13 years ago and reached the big leagues in 2013. We talk about his baseball career including his time with the BlueClaws. Later, he tells us how he found out he was going to the big leagues and about his first big league home run, which came at Yankee Stadium off CC Sabathia in 2015.

We're joined by BlueClaws manager Greg Brodzinski, who will return as manager of the BlueClaws this year after leading Jersey Shore to a league-best 73-58 record and the SAL Northern Division Second Half Championship in 2023! We talk about his first year in charge, what he learned last year that will make him a better manager this year, what's going on at the Phillies complex in Clearwater, and much more.

Sal Agostinelli, now the Phillies Senior Advisor for International Scouting and their longtime Director of International Scouting, is our guest on the latest Hook Line & Splitter. He talks about how he ended up with the Phillies, becoming a scout, how he became an international scout, the industry in general, and tells some great stories about finding and signing Phillies players including Carlos Ruiz, Ranger Suarez, Seranthony Dominguez, and others.

We're joined by Luke Murton, the Phillies Director of Hitting, on our latest episode. Murton is in charge of the Phillies minor league hitting development, and also works with the amateur scouting department finding hitters before the draft. We talk about this unique, two-sided role, his background, some players within the organization that you could see with the BlueClaws this year, and much more.

Our annual Best Of episode includes clips from eight of our episodes this year. Hear from Orion Kerkering, Trevor May, Andrew Walling, Nick Ward, Otto Kemp, Christian McGowan, Mitch Neunborn, and Gunner Mayer. These are just some of our favorite clips, so be sure to head back and listen to all eight of these episodes and others in full. Thanks for your continued support and have a Happy New Year!

We're pleased to be joined by Phillies right-handed pitching prospect Christian McGowan on our latest episode. He details his rehab from Tommy John Surgery, his 2023 season including time with the BlueClaws, a playoff start, a Triple-A start, and time in the Arizona Fall League. We also touch on his baseball influences, and much more.

We're joined by Preston Mattingly, Phillies AGM of Player Development, on our latest episode. We talk about the 2023 season around the organization, the amazing run of Orion Kerkering up the ladder and all the way to the big leagues, touch on some players that played for the BlueClaws this year, some that will play for the BlueClaws next year, plus general organizational tidbits. Thanks to Preston for taking part of his day to talk.

Former BlueClaw Trevor May retired after the 2023 season, ending a 16 year professional career which included two seasons and two championships (2009-10) with the BlueClaws. He joins us on our latest episode where we talk about his career, his time with the BlueClaws, influences on his career, why he decided to retire now, and what's next.

We're joined by broadcasters from all over the system as we wrap up the Phillies minor league season! Thanks to Sam Jellenik from Lehigh Valley, Jake Starr from Reading, and Josh Sperber from Clearwater who sat down for a roundtable discussion about the 2023 Phillies minor league season. We talk about, of course, Orion Kerkering, who pitched at all four levels. Plus we give our Hitters and Pitchers of the Year at each level, breakout players from 2023, breakout picks for 2024, and shoutout players that had great years. It's a great way to wrap up the Phillies minor league season. Enjoy!

A magical BlueClaws season, one which included a furious finish to the regular season, a ninth-inning comeback in the final game of the regular season just to qualify for the playoffs, and a game-winning go-ahead home run in a playoff win, came to an end in Game 3 of the SAL Northern Division Championship Series at Hudson Valley. Greg Giombarrese and Tony Graham go through and recap the season while looking ahead to 2024!