The Small Business Radio Show #835 When They Call You a Bust: How a Top Pick in the MLB Draft Came Back
Jun 14, 2025
30:13
We all love great comeback stories. This is one but not like you think …but not in the way you think.
Matt Antonelli was the 17th pick in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft by the San Diego . By the 2008 season, he was a top-50 prospect in baseball. But he only played 21 games in the MLB and by 2013 his professional baseball career was over. Matt says “ I’ve been called a bust so many times, I stopped caring a long time ago.” He is now a coach and business owner.
His hardest moment was the year he made my big league debut. He was a top prospect in the Padres’ organization going into the 2008 season. Matt began the season in Triple A and, for the first time in his life, he was horrible. He forgot how to hit and had no idea how to fix it.
We discussed:
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Matt Antonelli was the 17th pick in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft by the San Diego . By the 2008 season, he was a top-50 prospect in baseball. But he only played 21 games in the MLB and by 2013 his professional baseball career was over. Matt says “ I’ve been called a bust so many times, I stopped caring a long time ago.” He is now a coach and business owner.
His hardest moment was the year he made my big league debut. He was a top prospect in the Padres’ organization going into the 2008 season. Matt began the season in Triple A and, for the first time in his life, he was horrible. He forgot how to hit and had no idea how to fix it.
We discussed:
- His first big league hit against Greg Maddux.
- What the hard moments teach you and what the easy ones never could.
- Your identity must be bigger than your achievements. Why so many business owners think they are their business.
- Sometimes the greatest growth comes after letting go.
- What feels like a loss can actually be relief in disguise.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.