Baseball Blog #2 "7 Pieces of Advice to Young Players" 12/28/23

Baseball has changed a lot over the years. With all the new opportunities available to understand a player's metrics and measurables, I wanted to touch on some parts of being a player that get lost with all the other info getting the spotlight. Most of the advice in this post is as old as sports, but it's always nice to have a reminder. One of the principal pieces to this essay's puzzle is that most of what follows is entirely within the control of every player, talented or not.

#1 "Failure"

Baseball is hard. The game is built on failure; Bryce Harper had 546 plate appearances in 2023, but he only got on base 40% of the time and only got a hit a little less than a 1/3 of the time. Harper is considered one of the best players in the world and fails 60% of the time to reach base. As a player, failing is only failing when it affects the ability to move forward. Accepting failure is part of the game; understanding that there will be more opportunities and learning from the previous ones is the nature of the game. When a player dwells on not coming through, it can hurt themselves and the players around them. Take time to analyze success and failure, learn from them both, but no matter what, embrace the next opportunity with positive energy. The same goes for mistakes; shake it off and have a short memory. The freedom to fail is the ability to excel.

#2 "Be the right cliché"

Every player has heard these sayings: "he's the first one here and the last one to leave," "They do all the little things," and "They're all in." For all the good examples, there are just as many bad clichés. Most of these sayings are effort-oriented, and effort is 100% controllable. Be the player that makes life easy by enjoying the hard things. Get to bed early, wake up early, do your homework, and make good decisions about social gatherings and where to go on Friday nights. The individual governs all these positive opportunities, and no talent is needed. As players continue their journey through baseball, they will encounter players on both sides of the spectrum, some falling into the middle. It is up to each player to control their narrative by their actions.

#3 "Work hard to be great, not to be seen."

Practice doesn't make perfect; it makes progress. Learning to practice hard, with intent, is essential for players who want the most out of their ability. Realizing the dedication to work hard when no one is watching will pay dividends when there is an audience. Devoted solo sessions help increase an individual's ability to focus during drills and reps. This work will also bolster personal accountability that aids in overcoming struggles and inevitable failures in baseball. If working hard in the dark goes well, getting after it with a team should be a piece of cake. During team practices, remember to be engaged and supportive, ask questions, and take every opportunity/rep seriously. Being completely present is so vital for improvement. If practice is two hours long, be invested for all 120 minutes. Like tip #2, the amount of sweat poured into practice is entirely up to the player.

#4 "Don't be defined by tools."

A player can have all the tools in the world; if they don't refine or know how to use them, the game will pass them by as competition improves. Being fundamentally sound, mastering the routine skills will allow the opportunity to be exceptional. Work hard on parts of the game that don't come naturally and don't be one-dimensional. Be open to coaching; trying something new doesn't always feel right at first; give it a chance; coaches want the best for their players. Optimizing tools, valuing reps, and grinding out deficiencies are excellent ways to fast-track potential into results.

#5 "Be part of the team"

Not every player is a leader, but every player has the opportunity to be part of the team. Not all teammates get along, but they understand that they need one another to accomplish a common goal. The pursuit of success can help put aside players differences. Be part of the team, learn from teammates, support teammates, and be involved. The game gets taken away from everyone at some point; when that time comes, be whole with the effort and respect you gave it. A common theme for all of these tips is to control the controllable.

#6 "Understand the game within the game."

Become a student of the game. Watch baseball, take it in, analyze it, and understand situations. Let's use hitting as an example; understanding the count and what that means to the hitter and the opposing pitcher is a huge part of being a good offensive player. A player can use at-bats to set up other at-bats later in the game. If a player takes the first pitch in their first three at-bats and their last at-bat, there is a runner in scoring position. They have a chance to be aggressive on the first pitch, hoping the pitcher remembers they frequently take the first pitch and ambush it to drive in a run. In baseball, every little thing matters, sticking with hitting, use the count to help anticipate what pitch might be coming. A 3-1 count with runners on 2nd and 3rd base is different from a 3-1 count with loaded bases. In the first situation, there is a base open, and the pitcher can throw anything; in the second situation, the hitter will most definitely get a pitch to hit. Start trying to recognize what the position dictates and take advantage of it. On the defensive side, there are little nuances that players can pick up that will help make great plays. A small right-handed hitter with a 1-2 count. The right fielder should take a couple of steps in to defend against a bloop base hit from dropping. The second baseman takes two steps into the grass to shrink the hole more. The game has countless intricate parts to master; the game will never stop teaching or showing little ways to get ahead and improve.

#7 "Be a communicator"

Everyone learns differently; players need to determine their best approach to understanding concepts and other information. Also, players need to be able to communicate with coaches. Sometimes, a coach will use a term that a player doesn't understand; the player needs to be comfortable asking for further explanation. Don't be afraid to ask questions; a good coach will want to answer and be excited that the player is working towards implementing whatever the coach is teaching. If players don't clarify things they don't understand, they are doing a disservice to themselves, and the coach won't realize that he needs to adjust how they teach concepts.

Conclusion

These tips are not based on talent but on effort, attitude, and love of the game. Good luck out there!