Just finished up my college baseball career last month, so I figured I would share some advice I wish I knew before I started my college career. These are based on my opinions and experiences, so if you disagree with some of these feel free to share your opinion.
The thing I wish my 14-year-old self knew earlier.
I made everything bigger than it was.
(This is a life lesson, too)
Every at-bat felt like the whole season was on the line.
Game 7 of the World Series with 50k people watching.
And that's the thing that beat me. Not the pitcher. That exact feeling.
Self-imposed pressure.
You make it up in your head.
The pitch is the only real thing in front of you.
One pitch.
Simple, focused.
Everything else, let it go.
It's this pitch. Then the next one.
Just like you're in the backyard with the boys, where nothing exists but the ball coming in.
Not thinking about girls.
The chores you gotta do.
What's for dinner.
Compete like crazy on that one pitch. Give it everything you've got.
Just don't drag a hundred things into the box that don't need to be there.
One pitch. The only real thing.
Win it, then go win the next one.
That's the advice I've sent to hitters that struggle with the same thing, and it's worked really well.
Doesn’t get much better than texts like this.
From the guys you know have been putting in the work.
—
Big time recruit. Middle of the order on a big time high school team.
We spent the whole offseason shortening up his swing. More ready to swing, gap to gap.
He also put real focus into skinny bat, 3 plate drill, and mixed pitches.
The skill of HITTING, not just the swing.
Both pieces matter. The swing (mechanical advantage) and the skill of hitting.
Find what you need.
Train what the game is telling you to get better at.
> Send this to who needs it
> Save this for when you need it.
College coach told me this week:
“We’re looking for mid-80s arms that throw strikes and can land a secondary.”
Because our 90+ guys can’t find the zone… it’s a walk-a-thon.
At every level—you can’t defend a walk.
Thoughts?
Nathan Napolitano (@NathanNap4820) was pitching JV last year while @wvhsbaseball won its first sectional in 20 years.
Now he's taken an opportunity for a role and run with it, and pitched Waubonsie past @OHS_Baseball1 6-1 Saturday.
@jwelge96's story:
https://t.co/IJMVhONoOa
Warriors pick up a Win, 6-1 against Oswego behind 6 innings of 1 run ball from @NathanNap4820@cerilli_nate picked up 2 hits & drove in 2
Jake Quinn 1-3 2 RBI’s
DVC Action Starts Monday at Home
President Trump’s executive order on college sports is below. Three key provisions: 1. Five years of total eligibility 2. Only “one” free transfer without sitting. 3. No players can return from pros. Goes into effect on 8/1. Common sense & solid: https://t.co/wWmosuirVz