EPISODES

Dustin Moseley: The Hidden Struggles of Pro Baseball and Building Mental Toughness

What does it really cost to chase a dream all the way to the big leagues? And what happens when the game that defined your identity suddenly... What does it really cost to chase a dream all the way to the big leagues? And what happens when the game that defined your identity suddenly disappears? In this episode of The Resilience Playbook, Cole Rodgers sits down with former MLB pitcher Dustin Moseley for an honest conversation about pressure, loss, reinvention, and the kind of resilience that only develops when success stops being the whole story. Drafted 34th overall by the Cincinnati Reds straight out of high school, Dustin went on to pitch seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, and San Diego Padres. From the outside it looked like the dream. Behind the scenes it was injuries, rehab, loneliness, doubt, and the weight of a performance-driven relationship with his father that shaped him long before professional baseball ever did. SPONSORED BY ONEAMERICA This episode of The Resilience Playbook is brought to you by OneAmerica. OneAmerica helps individuals, families, and businesses protect what matters most through employee benefits, life insurance, and long-term care solutions. Learn more: https://www.oneamerica.com During this conversation, Dustin opens up about losing his father to methamphetamine addiction during his minor league career, enduring multiple surgeries and the mental toll of recovery, learning a career-changing cutter from Billy Connors in Yankees camp, and the unexpected moment on a high school football field that reignited his path forward. He also shares what it meant to have his identity tied to performance, what repeated setbacks taught him about discipline and gratitude, and how he ultimately built Proformance Sports Academy into a place where young athletes develop not only as players, but as people. If you are a parent, coach, athlete, or anyone rebuilding life after things didn’t go according to plan, this conversation will resonate. IN THIS EPISODE • Growing up in Texarkana and becoming a first-round MLB draft pick • Choosing professional baseball over college • The pressure of performance-based approval • Losing his father to addiction in 2004 • The emotional toll of injuries and rehabilitation • Why discipline, accountability, and competition still matter • Learning a cutter from Billy Connors with the Yankees • The football field moment that changed his career trajectory • The full-circle moment in Chattanooga that ended his playing career • Building Proformance Sports Academy from the ground up • Why gratitude is the foundation of lasting fulfillment • What he would tell his younger self today ABOUT DUSTIN MOSELEY Dustin Moseley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played seven seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, and San Diego Padres. Drafted 34th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, he built a career defined by resilience, command, and competitive grit. After retiring from professional baseball, he founded Proformance Sports Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he coaches youth, collegiate, and professional athletes with a focus on discipline, character, and long-term development. Instagram: @proformancelr Website: https://www.proformancelr.com ABOUT THE RESILIENCE PLAYBOOK The Resilience Playbook is a long-form conversation series hosted by Cole Rodgers, featuring leaders, athletes, entrepreneurs, and high performers who have faced adversity and come out with something meaningful to share. These conversations explore resilience, faith, leadership, family, mental health, and the defining moments that shape who we become. Follow the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresilienceplaybook/ X: https://x.com/TheResiliencePB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-resilience-playbook/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theresilienceplaybook Website: https://theresilienceplaybook.com – Dustin Moseley read more