As Major League Baseball’s spring training kicks into gear, players across the league are shifting into conversion mode, transitioning from building habits during winter workouts to refining skills for the upcoming 162-game season.
This critical phase, spanning from February through April, sets the stage for players to solidify their techniques and elevate their performance on the field.
In the quest to convert habits to skills, there are three key principles that separate successful MLB players from the rest:
1. **Efficient Time Management**
MLB players understand the value of every moment and maximize their practice time to focus on areas that need improvement. They don’t waste time on non-essential activities, ensuring every practice session is purposeful and productive.
2. **Effective Energy Allocation**
Energy conservation is crucial during the conversion phase. MLB players prioritize rest, recovery, and nutrition to maintain peak performance levels throughout the grueling season. By managing their energy levels wisely, they optimize their training efforts and avoid burnout.
3. **Quality Repetitions**
Every repetition counts. MLB players prioritize quality over quantity, ensuring that each practice repetition is deliberate and focused. They emphasize proper technique and execution, striving for consistency and mastery in every aspect of their game.
While seasoned MLB players have honed these principles over years of experience, young hitters often struggle to grasp their importance. But mastering these intangibles is essential for young hitters looking to elevate their game and catch the eye of scouts and coaches.
Talent serves as the foundation, but skills are what ultimately separate the elite from the rest. Skills, honed through disciplined practice and repetition, are the key to success on the field and pave the way for long-term success in the sport.
Breaking down the hitting mechanics into seven key components—Stance/Load, Timing, Tempo, Tracking, Approach, Contact and Extension/Finish—provides a roadmap for hitters to focus their efforts during the conversion phase.
To illustrate the importance of targeted practice, here’s a drill focusing on extension and finish that has proven effective over the years. By incorporating this drill into their training regimen and logging 3,000 quality repetitions, hitters can enhance their power production and overall performance at the plate.
As hitters across all levels embark on their journey from habits to skills, embracing these principles and committing to deliberate practice will lay the foundation for success both on and off the field.
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C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.
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