For some athletes, baseball can become a bridge to academic excellence.
But that bridge has to be built carefully.
Course rigor.
Grades.
Development.
Maturity.
Communication.
Character.
Fit.
None of those pieces can be faked late.
Fernando Mendoza was a 2 star coming out of high school.
He had to beg his way into college football.
He won the national championship.
He won the Heisman trophy.
He is the first pick in the NFL draft.
The coaches that knew him the best growing up were probably telling college coaches he was special but the college coaches were reliant on the rankings to formulate their opinions.
Makeup, work ethic, toughness, maturity and aptitude are monumentally more important than showcase skills.
Special players have special traits from a young age that don't show up in player rankings.
Players
If you're genuinely outworking the competition and sacrificing like a maniac.
Believe in yourself and be relentless like Fernando Mendoza.