Jeff Passan launches ‘Sources Tell Jeff Passan’ MLB podcast with ESPN, debuts with Cy Young winners

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• Baseball’s Top Reporter Finally Launches His Podcast
• The Cy Young Winners Steal the Show
• A Show That Educates and Entertains
• Where Baseball Needs More Good Storytelling
• How Does This Change Baseball Broadcasting?
  • Sources

Jeff Passan just launched a groundbreaking new MLB podcast with ESPN that debuted with the game’s brightest stars. The Sources Tell Jeff Passan podcast drops weekly episodes featuring exclusive conversations with Cy Young winners, World Series champions, and MLB’s biggest names. What sets this show apart is its combination of hard-hitting journalism and entertainment that makes baseball smarter.

Baseball’s Top Reporter Finally Launches His Podcast

Jeff Passan has spent 23 years covering major league baseball, breaking stories that reshape the sport’s landscape. His new podcast marks a natural evolution for one of baseball’s most respected journalists. Passan collaborated with Omaha Productions to create something different, something that elevates the interview format beyond typical sports podcasts.

Passan himself said the goal was simple: make baseball fans smarter while making them laugh. He knew he needed help with the comedic elements, so he brought on Richard Staff, a comedy writer known for his sharp one-liners. Though the two have never met in person, they bonded through constant creative collaboration.

The Cy Young Winners Steal the Show

The inaugural episode featured Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, winners of the 2025 Cy Young awards. For 45 minutes, these pitching aces discussed their craft with surgical precision. Skenes and Skubal opened up about the mental side of elite pitching, the development of signature pitches, and what separates good from great on the mound.

The conversation went deeper than typical sports media allows. These aren’t soundbites, fluff questions, or manufactured storylines. Passan uses his 23 years of relationships with baseball’s biggest names to unlock genuine, revealing moments. The chemistry between host and guests feels conversational rather than transactional.

A Show That Educates and Entertains

Sources Tell Jeff Passan stands out visually with retro 8-bit video game graphics inspired by RBI Baseball, the classic game Passan played growing up. Pop-up bubbles define baseball concepts in real time, turning complex strategy into accessible explanations. When Dave Roberts discusses the wheel play in bunting, a graphic appears explaining exactly what the wheel is and why outfielders execute it.

Episode	Guest	Topic	Air Date
#1	Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal	Art of Pitching	April 14
#2	Dave Roberts, John Schneider	World Series Strategy	April 21
#3	Cal Raleigh	Catching Excellence	TBA

“If I see a fire, I’m not running away from it. I’m going right toward it. That’s what I fear baseball is going to turn into, or could turn into, this winter. Those moments are interesting and somebody needs to tell the story behind it.”

— Jeff Passan, ESPN Senior MLB Insider

Where Baseball Needs More Good Storytelling

Passan believes the sport is in a place where it desperately needs quality journalism and depth. League labor disputes, competitive imbalances, and narrative-driven storylines require someone willing to investigate the real story. Passan promises that Sources Tell Jeff Passan will tackle the tough topics alongside the uplifting ones.

The podcast won’t shy away from controversy or complexity. During his first monologue, Passan made clear that journalism forms the foundation of the entire project. The mission is reporting what’s true, rooted in verified facts, without sensationalism or agenda. This approach has defined his two-decade career, and it carries forward into his podcast venture.

How Does This Change Baseball Broadcasting?

The competitive podcast landscape is crowded, yet Sources Tell Jeff Passan already feels essential. Passan’s unmatched access to baseball’s biggest names gives the show a distinct advantage. ESPN and Omaha Productions invested serious resources to make this work, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive within the first week of launch.

Episodes drop weekly on Tuesdays across ESPN’s YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Whether you’re a die-hard who tracks every stat or someone just learning the game, the show promises to make you smarter about baseball while keeping you entertained. Will this shift how MLB stories get told going forward?

Sources

• ESPN Press Room – Official announcement of Sources Tell Jeff Passan podcast launch details
• Forbes SportsMoney – In-depth interview with Jeff Passan about podcast creation and vision
• Reddit Baseball Community – Real-time discussion of debut episode and guest appearances