The latest episode of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast features former Major League Baseball player Matt Kata, who is set to be inducted into the Round Rock Express Hall of Fame on August 14th. The episode, titled 'Matt Kata | Inside an MLB Career: Baseball, Mindset & Making It,' premieres on August 12, 2026, and explores how Kata's diverse baseball career has shaped his approach to banking and youth coaching.
Kata, who played seven positions for the Express and spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, emphasizes the importance of versatility in his career. He describes embracing the 'Swiss Army knife' role as a key to staying in the majors. 'That versatility kept a jersey on my back,' Kata says, highlighting how being adaptable made him valuable to his teams.
One of the most vivid moments in the podcast is Kata's recollection of Randy Johnson's perfect game. Sitting in the dugout in the sixth inning, Kata realized no one had reached base and battled negative thoughts by repeating a mantra: 'Hit it to me, hit it to me, hit it to me.' He explains, 'I could not let space in my mind with anything negative. So literally, probably a million times, I didn't even care. Even when I was hitting, I was saying, hit it to me.'
Kata's foundation was built on his father's three quotes, including 'Shoot for the moon' and 'Preparation is always in season.' These principles guided him through his playing days and into his post-playing career. He now works as a commercial lender in Central Texas, where he applies the relationship-first mindset he learned from MLB players like Tony Clark. Kata connects character, one of the '5 C's of credit,' to the trust-building skills essential in both baseball and banking.
In youth sports, Kata draws on his experience overseeing youth baseball and softball programs with the Cleveland Indians. He collaborated with former British forces trainer Mark Bennett to develop 'the Indians way to coaching excellence.' He credits mentors such as Mark Shapiro, Andrew Miller, and the Positive Coaching Alliance with shaping his coaching philosophy. Kata also praises Round Rock coaches Brandon Janeka and Keith Jackson for teaching discipline and fundamentals.
Kata introduces his ACE framework—Attitude, Concentration, Effort—as the three things athletes and professionals can control. He warns that 'a coach's impact is never neutral' and argues that parents often choose coaches for the wrong reasons. 'The coach's impact is never neutral,' he reiterates, emphasizing the need for coaches who prioritize positive development over winning at all costs.
The podcast, hosted by bestselling author Bryan Eisenberg, airs on August 12, 2026, and is available wherever podcasts are heard. It is part of the Rock Solid series, which highlights the entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and companies fueling growth in Round Rock, Texas.
