3 Truths of Playing Baseball at the Next Level
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3 Truths of Playing Baseball at the Next Level
For 20 years, I spent a majority of my time on a baseball field. As both a player and coach.
My path:
- Little League
- Travel Baseball
- High School Baseball
- College Baseball
- Professional Baseball
- Coach at Two Universities
Since stepping away from the diamond - I'd like to think I have gained more clarity on what it takes to play baseball at the next level. Much like a painting, being up-close is good for the details - but, to see the whole picture - it's best to step back.
I know what it's like to be a kid with a dream of playing in the Major Leagues...or, wanting to get a scholarship to play college ball...or, hoping to make the varsity roster in high school. There is challenges, fears, worries, & unknowns at every level.
With that said, here are my truths, and I hope you can use them to make better decisions for what ever you next level is on a baseball field.
#1 It's Not About Winning
I will probably get hated on here. But, it's the truth.
You will have coaches that want you to be a winner.
That's what they (the coach) gets measured on...that's their metric that determines whether they get hired or fired.
And, many times -- coaches that go hard on "winning" don't realize that is a result of doing the right things -- not force feeding the mentality.
Concluding thought: when you get to pro baseball -- moving levels is about a mixture of money invested in you as a player and individual results that align with the metrics that the organization sees as valuable. Not about winning.
#2 Playing is the Most Important Thing
Sitting the bench sucks.
Be a good teammate...cheer on your team..."pick em' up"
Agreed, a player needs to know and accept their role. Not accepting it, being a sour teammate in the dugout and in the clubhouse is toxic at many different levels.
But, here's the deal: what's better? Playing or not playing? Playing. So, optimize your decisions to make that happen right away.
Many kids dream of D1 baseball -- as did I. But, one of the single most important questions you can ask yourself and the coaching staff:
Do I have the opportunity to play right away?
If the answer is no - consider a different path.
#3 A Coach Doesn't Control Your Destiny
This is within reason.
There is two (main) scenarios:
1. You have a coach with a good reputation & well respected ... and, he doesn't have good things to say about you ... that's no bueno.
2. You have a clown show of a coaching staff ... and they don't have good things to say about you ... well, this is less no bueno.
The great thing about today -- word travels much faster, and circles have become much more intertwined in the baseball world. So, when you are a clown -- word travels fast.
In other words, if you have a clown-show coaching staff in high school -- and, the clown-show coaching staff says bad things about you -- it's taken lightly because of the reputation of the staff.
I am not advocating you to be a jerk because your coaching staff doesn't like you -- just show up -- do your job -- smile more -- worry less what your coach is telling others/scouts, and perform...everything else will take care of itself.
Thank you for reading! My name is Randall Thompson, and in 2014 I started a company where we turn baseball bat barrels in drinking mugs.
I'd love to write more things like this -- so, if you think it's valuable -- share with someone in the baseball community that can get value from it.
When you share it will help spread the word about Dugout Mugs!
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A bat barrel turned into a 12oz drinking mug.
- Made in N. America
- A company started in a college baseball dugout
- Perfect mug to watch the big game on TV
- Conversation starter at a party or tailgate
- Put on display in an office, home-bar, or man cave
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