From the frosty ballparks of Pickering, Canada, to the coaching box at Notre Dame College, Kyle Espineli's baseball journey embodies the grit and growth of the sport beyond America's borders. In our heartwarming chat, Kyle, the assistant baseball coach, unpacks the cultural exchange of bats and balls between Canada and the U.S. He lays bare the realities Canadian athletes face, where hockey skates often overshadow baseball gloves, and how events like Tournament 12 are shaking up the status quo. As he reflects on his own path, paved by the travel ball circuit, we're reminded that the diamond often finds its sparkle in the most unexpected of places.
As the conversation turns to the dugout, it's clear that the leap from player to coach isn't just a change in title—it's a transformation of spirit. Kyle's initiation into coaching, much like my own detour into a broadcast booth following an injury, is a testament to the profound ways sports can redirect our lives. Together, we explore the nuances of building a collegiate program under Ohio's capricious skies, eagerly awaiting an Orlando tournament that promises to test the mettle and heart of the team. It's a tale that underscores the beauty of mentorship, and how the seeds of passion for the game can sprout a legacy on the field.
Our episode concludes with a tip of the cap to Kyle for his candid narratives and invaluable perceptions on the Canadian baseball landscape and the coaching life. Listeners, you're in for an episode that throws a perfect game—full of stories about resilience, strategy, and the unstoppable underdog drive. It's an episode that not only celebrates the grand slam moments but also cherishes the camaraderie and life lessons that are the true home runs of sports. Share it around; there's something in here for every fan of life's unpredictable game.
From the frosty ballparks of Pickering, Canada, to the coaching box at Notre Dame College, Kyle Espineli's baseball journey embodies the grit and growth of the sport beyond America's borders. In our heartwarming chat, Kyle, the assistant baseball coach, unpacks the cultural exchange of bats and balls between Canada and the U.S. He lays bare the realities Canadian athletes face, where hockey skates often overshadow baseball gloves, and how events like Tournament 12 are shaking up the status quo. As he reflects on his own path, paved by the travel ball circuit, we're reminded that the diamond often finds its sparkle in the most unexpected of places.
As the conversation turns to the dugout, it's clear that the leap from player to coach isn't just a change in title—it's a transformation of spirit. Kyle's initiation into coaching, much like my own detour into a broadcast booth following an injury, is a testament to the profound ways sports can redirect our lives. Together, we explore the nuances of building a collegiate program under Ohio's capricious skies, eagerly awaiting an Orlando tournament that promises to test the mettle and heart of the team. It's a tale that underscores the beauty of mentorship, and how the seeds of passion for the game can sprout a legacy on the field.
Our episode concludes with a tip of the cap to Kyle for his candid narratives and invaluable perceptions on the Canadian baseball landscape and the coaching life. Listeners, you're in for an episode that throws a perfect game—full of stories about resilience, strategy, and the unstoppable underdog drive. It's an episode that not only celebrates the grand slam moments but also cherishes the camaraderie and life lessons that are the true home runs of sports. Share it around; there's something in here for every fan of life's unpredictable game.
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. This is, as always, your host, mike Bono. I have a great guest for us today. He comes all the way to us from Notre Dame College. He is the assistant baseball coach. Kyle Espinelli joins the show. Kyle, thanks for joining me.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, absolutely. I appreciate you having me. I'm excited Podcast for me, so you know I'm ready to get after it.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, man. Yeah, no worries, we're going to keep this light and fun here. But first and foremost, you know where did you grow up and where are you from originally. Tell all the listeners out there where you're from.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so I'm actually, you know, I'm actually from Canada, so a little bit out of the way from here.
Speaker 2:
A little bit out of the way from Ohio, yeah exactly Exactly, yeah, so I grew up and thrown out my whole life. I actually grew up in a city called Pickering, so it's just like the outskirts of it. So I grew up there my whole life and then, once I got over to over here to Ohio, that's when I kind of moved a little bit closer to the city. So it's just right outside of Toronto, about 45 minutes away. So I've been in Ohio for about six years now.
Speaker 1:
Okay, Okay. So what are some things Americans don't know about Canada? What people like to do up there besides hockey? I mean, that's a given.
Speaker 2:
I mean, that's, that's pretty much it, you know. For the most part, I guess that's why I'm over here living the American dream, you know. You know I'm a big baseball guy, as you know. So you know, the only way for me to make it happen and go be in the position that I am today was just to come here to the US. But now it's crazy because the game of baseball has grown so much in Canada. So it's kind of like, you know, I kind of wish the opportunities that happened over there in Canada was happening when I was there. But you know it is what it is and you know I'm just blessed to be here in the position I'm in you know absolutely so you played baseball in high school, correct?
Speaker 2:
Yes, it's funny because over there in Canada high school sports aren't as serious unless it's like hockey, I guess a little bit of football. It's basically hockey and soccer. Those are the two biggest ones. But honestly, my, for me, the only reason why I joined the team was one, you know, to get extra reps in, and two was just to get out of the class. That's basically how it is over there. I mean, you know, I had my baseball coach for a couple of years with my business teacher and I think it went to like my art teacher, I don't know something like that. But you know it's just for us to get extra reps in and stuff like that and just have a good time. But you know, it's not as serious as we, as they take it over here in the US. So I'm still trying to get adapted to all the little things as far as, like you know, recruiting and, like you know, just seeing how high school ball works over here compared to travel ball and stuff like that. So it's just little things like that. That's different.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so you mentioned recruiting. What was the recruiting process like for you coming out of high school for baseball in Canada?
Speaker 2:
Yes, the biggest thing was. So travel ball over there is a big thing for us. So when you joined it's travel I was on a team called the Ontario Cardinals. So when you join a travel ball organization it kind of it's more exposure into the US. So basically for the majority of us the kids on my team we all went on to play in the US, but it's basically all the tournaments that we play besides one and that's like playoffs they're all in the, they're all in the US.
Speaker 2:
So every weekend in like the summer I'd be in like Ohio, michigan, chicago, all that good stuff. So I had a pretty good feel of the US because I was there literally every single weekend for like two months straight. But besides that, though, that's kind of how I got recruited and just sending a whole lot of emails and just having my head coach, who's the player developed in the recruiting coordinator at the time, sorry, but he would basically just send me a whole bunch of schools that I was interested in and then from there I just kind of come in contact with a whole bunch of coaches. So it was pretty much relatively the same thing as it was, but obviously there are just some new things that I had to overcome and like kind of understand how the process worked. But yeah, you know pretty much the same.
Speaker 1:
Okay, yeah. So you know, when people think of Canada sports, you know we all know hockey's king and we know the Raptors in basketball, now the Blue Jays in baseball. Everyone knows the Canadian Football League is, you know. Is baseball, you know, getting more popular in schools and you know, does it make it hard to get recruited with all those other sports in Canada, kind of overshadowing baseball, it seems a little bit.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so you know, like I mentioned before, the game is definitely, you know, grew. It's grown a lot in Canada. So there's this, you familiar with, robbie Alomar.
Speaker 1:
A little bit yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so he has. He played for the Jays, I don't even know, I guess somewhere in the 90s give or take. But you know, since he I think I'm pretty sure that was the last team he played for Don't quote me on that but he basically has a tournament over there now. It's called tournament 12. And it's basically that's kind of how it all. I feel like that's how it all started and how the game kind of grew a little bit. So it's just them getting exposure for a bunch of kids in Canada that's kind of grow a little bit. So from there I feel like that's when I the following year, that's when I moved to the US, that's when I finally committed to a school. But now there's things called prep, baseball, report, and they kind of evolved over into the Canadian side. So in a bunch of all the, I guess, the teams over there they're now a travel ball organization, so like again, the game is really growing and they're all the exposure over here. They kind of all head over to the US now. So again, you know a lot of these teams. They make it in a way for them to get recruited so which kind of makes it a little bit easier.
Speaker 2:
But you know, since there's, since the game has grown a lot. Since it was at Josh Naylor he's, you know, since he made it over there, just like his I'm actually, we're actually the same age. So there was one year, actually a handful of years, where we played against each other in some championship games. So, like, my team would always face his team, but like I know his, his class, the team that he was on, a bunch of them went on to play in the US and stuff like that. So it's basically yeah, that's I mean, yeah, it's pretty much. It basically all their groups right, they kind of all evolved and whatnot, which makes the game just grow more and more. And even I worked in a PBR event over in BC and over there, since it's pretty close to the US, that game has grown. That side of Canada has grown a lot too over the years.
Speaker 1:
So that's awesome. So I mean you mentioned you landed out of college. I mean you ultimately land at Notre Dame College for academics and athletics, you know. So where did you come from and what made you want to end up transferring to Notre Dame College?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so when I first got, when I first moved to the US, my first school was actually Lakeland Community College. Okay, so from there I spent three years there and the reason for that was because the first year I had a medical, I had a medical record. I had like some ulnar nerve damage. Honestly, to this day I still don't even know how that even happened. I swung the bat in the game and then, like I don't even know, my hand blew up Like it's turned into a size of a balloon. So I was out for quite a while.
Speaker 2:
But then two years went by and then I actually committed to another school in Pittsburgh. You know, stuff happened over there. And then, honestly, if I wanted to keep playing, I had two options left. So I was living out in Painesville on the time, a little bit closer to Lakeland. So I only had two options. One of them was Lake Erie and then the other one was Notre Dame. And it was funny because Notre Dame was never my first option. I actually wanted to visit previously and then I didn't even know. I just I just saw other schools and I, you know, I decided to go elsewhere. But then things happened. So I reached back to the coach. He happily took me on. And then you know, here I am today. Like five years later, I'm still here.
Speaker 1:
Well, that's, you know, always good. You know I Excuse me. Similar thing happened me when I was in college. An unfortunate injury forced me to the college that I ultimately landed at. I was a swimmer and you know when you, when you blow out a shoulder swimming, that's kind of important to a lot of college they kind of frown upon you bev and an injured shoulder. But Bethany College ultimately kept their scholarship for me, so ended up there. But you know now, not only you know you're an alum there, but you're now coaching at NDC, you know. So how did you end up getting into coaching?
Speaker 2:
So I actually. So there is a. There is a travel ball organization around here called B2 Bowls. I ended up meeting him through a friend and, you know, one thing led to another.
Speaker 2:
I started being an assistant coach for a 13-year team because it was one of those things where I need to get my Internship done over with. So I decided to go there for one. I've coached in the past but it was just kind of, you know, just here in there I know baseball. So it was just one of those things where I just kind of see what it was like. But I didn't take it seriously until Probably towards my senior year. That's where I really started to kick it up a notch because, you know, I saw the kids that I was working with. I saw them grow. So the kids that I started coaching, at the time they were 12, 13. Now they're like 16, 17. So you know, it was one of those things where I kind of watched them grow, and then that's where I started to get more into it.
Speaker 2:
So then, as of last year, I actually had my own team. It was a, it was an 11, it was an 11 you team, and then now it was 12. Yeah, so now we're just slowly moving up the ranks with them and all that stuff. But no, yeah, it was just one of those things where, you know, this game has given me so much. So you know, I thought it was time to kind of give back and but you know, I kind of got to that point where All I know is baseball. So there's no better way than for me to kind of stick into the game really, and that's what you know. Again, that's why I moved here. It's mainly because of baseball. So again, it just kind of got to that point and just kind of fell into my lap a little bit. So now I'm just kind of running with it for as long as I can absolutely.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, hang on to that for as long as you can, man. I mean, I I've dabbed a little bit in swim coaching, some summer programs and YMCA programs, but you know, with with my schedule being a comedian as well, like in that Attic, a coaching schedule on top of that, it's just, it was impossible. I got way too much going on. Be coaching. I would love to be able to coach, but he's not the cards right now. So your season is actually going to begin like shortly after this episode is going to air. He talked to us about what your outlook is for the season and what your team is going to look like this year.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so, um, yeah, really excited to get things up Going with these guys. So we actually start February 17th, um, so we actually start off. Um, funny enough, we're going to be an Avon, which is our home field. We played the Lake Erie Crusher Stadium, yeah. So, you know, with the weather that we have here in Ohio, it's very unpredictable. But you know, regardless of that, we're going to have to get those games, and so, you know, we play it in snow multiple times. So it's nothing new to us. But, um, yeah, so we're going to start off our season over there and then we're going to make our way A few weeks later. We're going to leave from March 1st to the 9th and we're going to be in um Orlando Florida area. So we're going to join the tournament over there. It's basically just a bunch of college teams, obviously, who are privileged to be, you know, playing under the sun all year around. It's kind of meeting up over there playing a bunch of games, but, um, so far we're looking very good. We're looking very good.
Speaker 2:
Um, you know, last year might have been a falling uh, falling year out for us, because the year that I graduated we probably graduated majority of our starting lineup. So last year, that's where we had a whole bunch of freshmen come into play, um, obviously with no college experience and whatnot. But, um, you know, we were in the process of rebuilding but the coach did a very good job of, you know, kind of recruiting what we needed, um, so now we kind of have, we're pretty stacked on every position right now. Um, and then we also, um, funny enough, we brought in a new associate head coach, um, his name is Coach Zach Blair and, um, you know, he's really helped us um turn things around in this program. So, um, you know, he's had some pro ball experience and whatnot in multiple years of coaching. Um, he's actually the owner of the travel ball team that I coach for. Okay, so, um, he's one of my really good friends, but no, he's kind of, you know, it's fun learning, learning from him. So, you know, with the experience that he's brought and he's kind of, you know, um throwing it onto the guys that we have now. I mean, now we're just looking better than ever. So you know, we're really thankful for him to have him come along and whatnot.
Speaker 2:
But um, no, we're, we're looking for, we're looking forward to a good season. I mean, we are ranked fifth in our conference. So it was dead last. But you know, we already knew that we were going to get ranked last due to our results last year. So but it's good because you know, again, we expected it. So we now we kind of have that, um, we have that underdog thing. So now we're just going to get, we're just going to kind of get after it and we know what we're expecting. But again, you know, with the coaching and stuff and like you know, we're just in that rebuilding process. So, uh, yeah, no, we're definitely ready to get after it. And then, you know, show them what NDC baseball is really all about.
Speaker 1:
Basically, yeah, you guys, I mean honestly, you know your your last of the conference. Guys got nothing to lose. Let's go out there play some ball. You know what I mean. Like that's, I loved being the underdog and any sport that I ever did. I always loved it. When they're like, oh, no way, Not going to happen, there's no way you're going to be able to do this and swimming, there's no way you're going to be able to beat this in football base, whatever sport it was, I was like okay, keep counting me out Please.
Speaker 2:
Exactly yeah, I got nothing to lose.
Speaker 1:
at this point in time I'm just going to go out there and do what I can and if I win, it's a surprise If I lose. You were already expecting the middle news. You know so, but you mentioned it there a little earlier in that. But you know you played the Lake Erie Crusher's stadium, so what is that like for your players and the guys to actually play in that stadium?
Speaker 2:
Oh God, oh, it's a huge blessing, um, although it is 40 minute drive um from our campus, um, but you know it's. You know we're not in the middle of nowhere to tell you that. Um, the other teams in our conference you know um very good schools, but at the end of the day, you know, they're kind of on the in the middle of nowhere in West Virginia. So we are blessed to have a little bit of city life to us, um, and we do play in a very nice stadium where it's all turf and again, with our unpredictable weather that we have here in Ohio, um, it's a lot easy to just shovel that snow off and then get the game rolling. So it is very nice.
Speaker 2:
But, um, you know, the only bad thing is for our hitters. It's hard for the ball to fly out a little bit. But you know we'll make it work. We hit the ball on the ground, you know, move base runners over and that's how we score our runs. So we'll take advantage of the turf as much as we can. But, no, it is very nice to have that, uh, that the stadium. Honestly it is, it's so nice, I mean, you're playing in a minor league stadium.
Speaker 1:
You know that's a minor league game that plays there. I mean that's got to be. You never know. If you know for, even for your guys, if you know one of the coaches is going to be there, see something that he likes in one of your guys, or something like that, that's a huge advantage for your players. You know going forward. They want to go forward in baseball, yeah, so, uh, one of the last things here, and you know what do you ultimately see your career? Taking where you see it, taking you as a coach?
Speaker 2:
Um, honestly, again, you know I'm 26. So I like to consider myself, you know, fairly young. But, um, you know, I, again, just like the players, I still have a lot to learn about this game and you know, each and every day I'm still learning. So, um, again, I the the reward, the reward I get from coaching, you know, seeing them succeed and all that stuff, um, I want to stick around for his coaching for as long as I can. But then, you know, three years down the line, who knows, I kind of get myself into, like, um, a few different jobs here and there. I do baseball analytics for the MLB and such. So, um, I don't know who knows really where coaching is going to take me and if I want to, you know, pursue it. But, um, yeah, I mean, it's kind of hard to tell honestly, but you know, at the end of the day my mindset is I'm, I am really into coaching right now. So I'm going to write it for again for as long as I can and then just kind of see where it takes me. But then, you know, it's two years from now. Good opportunity with an analytics for another, you know, for a pro team offers me. You know, I'm not going to say no, but I'm not going to say yes either. So it all just kind of depends on, you know, where it's at right now.
Speaker 2:
But I'm really enjoying what I'm doing. You know, as far as like recruiting kids, and you know, the biggest thing I want right now, especially while I'm here at NDC, is to kind of give them whatever I didn't have here. So that's why we're kind of flipping things around, just, you know, giving them a new look and a new view of the program, because you know, especially last year, since we haven't had, like you know, the best history. So I just want to give the guys, you know, whatever I didn't have and just kind of keep moving forward from there. But yeah, you know, again, we'll see, we'll see where coaching takes me, but as of right now, I really am enjoying it. So we'll see, we'll see.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I mean you're 26,. Man, I mean, you just made me feel real old. I'm just going to say that I got. I got a sudden close to your age and you wore to my age. That's fun.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I mean analytics and baseball or coaching. You can't go wrong either way. Either way, you go and that. So best of luck to you on that. I'm definitely. I always follow Notre Dame College sports, mainly for Johnny, and we've had a bunch of people on from from your guys's institution and everything like that. I always follow them. So we're looking for big things for you guys this spring and I'm going to be watching you. But I do have to get this segment in here, kyle, before we end the show, and that is the Fast Fitty five, five random questions from the wonderful manager of the podcast, johnny Fitty Falcone, and for the new listeners out there, this is kind of rapid fire, but you can elaborate if you need to, and I and if anybody knows Johnny, these have nothing to do with what we've been talking about for the past half hour. So if you are ready, kyle, we'll get going.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, let's roll.
Speaker 1:
All right, Take a seat right there, let's go, let's roll. Question number one what has been your favorite restaurant you have found to enjoy the most since moving to the US? Chipotle, chipotle. Okay. Are snowball fights overrated or underrated? Underrated? Oh man, he's bringing a thunder for you on this one. Question number three who wins the World Series sooner, the Blue Jays or the Guardians?
Speaker 2:
You know, I got to go with the Blue Jays. I got to go with the Blue Jays. It's a solid pick.
Speaker 1:
I'm not going to lie to you on that one. Question number four Is turkey or ham a better food? Turkey About a doubt. Okay, Last question here which is a cooler nickname? The Iceman or Big Thunder?
Speaker 2:
Oh Iceman, I guess yeah definitely Iceman.
Speaker 1:
Iceman, you got to get it. It's top-gut reference, how do you not?
Speaker 2:
do Iceman Exactly?
Speaker 1:
That was a toss up for the end. One there, I think, big Thunder.
Speaker 2:
It just doesn't flow off the tongue as smoothly as Iceman.
Speaker 1:
No, it really doesn't. I'd rather be the Iceman, exactly For everybody out there. That was the Fast 55. I feel like it took it a little easy on you there, kyle. You guys worked together. I feel like it took it a little easy on you. Like I said, we are running down near the end of the episode. Kyle, I give every guest this opportunity at the end of any show. If there's anything you want to get out there, whether it's NDC Baseball, or if it's just a good message from you, I'm going to give you about a minute and the floor is yours.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I guess the biggest thing I have to say is definitely stay tuned for Notre Dame College Baseball. We got a lot of up-and-coming things going our way. There's a lot of positives looking to us. We are the underdogs right now, being ranked fifth. It's definitely going to be a season to watch and look out for, because we got a lot of big things coming our way. We're looking to revamp the whole program right now. Definitely be on the lookout for us.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely. Like I said, I follow everybody that's been on the show. I will definitely be following you guys this spring and, seeing what the team does, I will be rooting for you every day. That is going to do it for this week's episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. I want to thank my guest, kyle Espinela. I knew I was going to bust your name once or twice before here. We're coming on in a second time out of his busy coaching schedule to talk with us a little bit here about the up-and-coming season and, being from Canada, it was a lot of fun. Thank you for coming on. As always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend, tell a friend. If you didn't tell them anyways, they might like it. Just because you didn't, let's get it, do it for me and I will see y'all next week.
