Former MLB player Chris Burke. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Chris Burke played six seasons in the major leagues, the majority of which were spent with the Houston Astros. In his second season, he delivered arguably one of the most memorable moments in Astros history — a walk-off home run in the 18th inning of Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series, defeating the Atlanta Braves and sending the Astros to the NL Championship Series. The Astros then defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS and reached the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
Burke spent his final two seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2008) and San Diego Padres (2009), then had brief stints with the Braves and Cincinnati Reds on minor-league contracts before deciding to retire. It was in the final chapter of his career when he developed a heart for coaching and mentoring, and he did so for a number of years at the youth level.
Burke now works as a college baseball analyst for the SEC Network and co-hosts the “Coach Me Up” podcast with ESPN college basketball analyst and former coach Jimmy Dykes. Burke joins Scott Linebrink this week on “Get in the Game” to discuss his career, his faith and serving.
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Nolan McLean didn’t need much time to make an impression in the big leagues.
The New York Mets right-hander struck out eight over 5.1 scoreless innings in his MLB debut on Aug. 16 against the Seattle Mariners, allowing just two hits with four walks.
He finished his debut stint 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. At 24 years old and the No. 6 overall prospect according to MLB.com, he’s now projected to open the season in New York’s starting rotation after entering pro ball as a third-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
The #Mets are no strangers to right-handed pitching phenoms, and Nolan McLean appears to be the next star in Queens.
The call-up itself came with a rush of emotions. McLean was able to share the news with his family and fiancée, but the turnaround was quick. There was little time to reflect before he had to prepare for his first start. Having not participated in major league spring training, he also walked into a clubhouse where he didn’t know many people.
Veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo — now with the Texas Rangers — was one of the first teammates to take him under his wing and help ease the transition. Even so, McLean said his sense of calm came mostly from his faith and preparation.
“I think it all kind of falls back into God’s plan,” he said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in December. “I don’t think He’ll ever put me in a situation He hasn’t prepared me for. So I was confident going in and just comfortable.
“The most comfortable part was me going out and pitching. I felt prepared for that. I felt like God had put me in a good position to develop and prepare and build confidence in myself.”
He entered pro ball as a two-way player, but he gave up hitting prior to the 2024 season to focus exclusively on pitching — a move that accelerated his development and helped lead to his major-league opportunity. After his strong debut last season, he was selected to Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster.
A native of Willow Springs, North Carolina, McLean grew up in a Christian household and attended church every Sunday. His faith continued into college at Oklahoma State, where he originally arrived as a two-sport athlete.
He walked on as a three-star quarterback and redshirted his freshman season before ultimately deciding to focus solely on baseball. Even then, he said his relationship with God was present but not as deep as it could have been.
“Growing up, I always knew and felt there was something out there, that there was a God of some kind,” he said in 2022 on Sports Spectrum’s “Table Forty” podcast. “I didn’t really know what, so I started researching and reading and started reading the Bible.”
He even led a Bible study while at Oklahoma State, though he now looks back on those years knowing he could have gone deeper in his faith.
Nolan McLean discusses his offseason, what he's working on at Spring Training, and his excitement for the World Baseball Classic 💪 pic.twitter.com/6ifaYAzT1F
A turning point came after the death of his grandfather, a strong Christian influence in his life. McLean stepped away from the team to attend the funeral, where he estimated roughly 1,000 people showed up — each with stories about the impact his grandfather had made.
“Just seeing how many people that my granddad had an impact on, he did that with a platform in Andrew, North Carolina, with nobody,” he said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “And I’m over here worried about all this other stuff when I could be devoting my life to God and helping out other people on a much bigger platform than what my granddad did it on.”
The moment became a catalyst for McLean to pursue his faith more intentionally. He said he realized he knew about God, but not enough to confidently teach others about Him.
“And I want to be able to teach people,” he added. “If someone asks me a question, I want to be able to answer it and help others get closer to Christ.”
That perspective now shapes how he carries himself on the mound.
“A full love and compassion for Him makes everything on the field go so much smoother,” McLean said on “Table Forty.”
The World Baseball Classic runs from March 5-17, with the championship game being played at loanDepot Park in Miami. The Mets open the 2026 regular season on March 26 at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle throws a pitch in a spring training game, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The margin between a spot in the starting rotation and the minors can be small, and Payton Tolle is right in the middle of it this spring with the Boston Red Sox.
After making his MLB debut last August, the Red Sox’s top pitching prospect and MLB’s No. 19 overall prospect is now competing for Boston’s No. 5 starter job. A second-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of TCU, Tolle has quickly climbed the system behind a high-90s fastball.
“I like to view it as a competition, just because that’s how we’re going to make each other better,” Tolle told MassLive.com, “whether that’s with Kutter (Crawford) or Connelly (Early) or (Patrick) Sandoval, whoever it is, we’re all fighting for that fifth spot and in the long run, that’s going to make us better.
“Everybody wants to be part of a starting five, so I’ll just try to do what I can, day after day. It’s a process that’s fun to be part of and I think that’s what makes everybody better.”
While his fastball has been his calling card, he knows his secondary pitches are where he needs to show improvement if he wants to break camp with the big-league club. Tolle said his offseason “was a process” as he worked to refine the pitches that will help his fastball play up at the major-league level.
“Changeups, curveballs, adding the sinker in there,” he told MLB.com. “Trying to prioritize those and really hammer in having things that are going to protect the fastball. So that’s going to be the big thing this year, and trying to execute those along with executing the fastballs where I need to execute them. I’m excited where I’m at with stuff. Obviously, you can keep getting better.”
Payton Tolle flashed a brand new pitch today against the Twins: a sinker!
Averaging 11.9" iVB and 16.1" HB, he used it on three straight pitches against the only LHB he faced, Matt Wallner. It sat a tick slower than his fastball and caught Wallner looking for the K!
As his career has accelerated, Tolle credits his faith in God for helping him stay grounded.
“It’s been a big part of my baseball career,” he told His Huddle in 2024. “I have always tried to surround myself with people that are like-minded in my faith, and that has played a role in where I have gone as well. Always trusting God and knowing He has a plan has put me in the best spots for me.”
He was baptized in January, and posted about the occasion on Instagram with the caption, “Ask me about my Jesus.” Tolle also carries a reminder of his faith with him every time he takes the mound. Stitched on his glove is “Matthew 5:16,” which reads, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Though he grew up around church, Tolle said it wasn’t until college that his faith became personal.
“My faith has changed over the years,” he told His Huddle. “When I got to college, I finally put my faith first and tried to make it my own.”
That faith has been especially important over the past couple years. In May 2024, while finishing his final season at TCU, Tolle’s mother, Jina, died at age 48 after a battle with cancer. He said he hopes the way he’s handled both success and hardship can point others to Christ.
“I think I just hope my platform can give others hope,” Tolle told His Huddle. “I have been through some hard things during the past few years, and I want to show people that by trusting God, you can make it through and have a good attitude. I feel like I have a unique opportunity to show others the love of Jesus with the platform He has blessed me with.”
The Red Sox open the 2026 regular season on March 26 on the road against the Cincinnati Reds.
Jason Adam pitching in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING JASON ADAM
Jason Adam is a pitcher with the San Diego Padres. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 2010 MLB Draft and made his big-league debut with the team in May 2018. In addition to the Royals and Padres, he has also pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays. He was selected to his first MLB All-Star Game in 2025.
Today on the podcast, Jason Adam joins Matt Forte to discuss progress in the recovery of his quad tendon rupture from September 2025, how God has helped him through it, dealing with doubt in his career, and the beauty of being a girl dad.
