Cues and clues. What are the cues and clues that you will need to become a Major Leaguer? Here are the five I think you need:
- Awareness
- Acknowledgement
- Aptitude
- Attitude
- Achievement
You want to be a Major Leaguer one day. And if your teammates admit it, they want to as well.
Major League players receive a scouting grade of 20-80, with 50 being Major League average and 80 being the highest. They are graded on their ability to run, throw, field, hit for average and hit for power.
You get a current and future grade. The bridge between the two are awareness, acknowledgement, attitude, aptitude and achievement.
These are the five skills you need to be able to convert tools to talent. Here are the reasons we don’t already have the skill and how you can achieve it:
No. 1 – Awareness
What it is – Awareness is the realization that you’re doing something right and wrong with your swing mechanics or attitude.
Why you may not have it – You may not have great awareness because the coaching you received was micro managing. Your coach commented on what you do most of the time and prevented you from thinking critically.
How to get and keep it – Ask your coach to be clear about what’s right and wrong with your hitting mechanics. Next, ask him to give you the space to be aware of what you’re doing – right and wrong.
No. 2 – Acknowledgement
What it is – Acknowledgement is stating when you’re doing things right and wrong. It’s usually easier to state when you’re right than when you’re wrong. At least it is for me. You must state it so that you can make the necessary adjustments.
Why you may not have it – You may not acknowledge when you’re wrong because you lack humility.
How to get and keep it – It’s like I always say, “If you don’t name it, you can’t change it.” Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. Get in the habit of acknowledging when you’re wrong, so that you can make adjustments and achieve.
No. 3 – Aptitude
What it is – Aptitude is the ability to learn and apply.
Why you may not have it – You may not have high aptitude because you don’t know what it is. You need to know so that you can achieve it. You also may think that understanding how to do it is enough. Knowing how to do something and being unable to execute it means you’re smart. If you know it, you can do it. You’re intelligent.
How to get and keep it – Set high standards for yourself in your training sessions. Know what you need to know and do what you need to do.
Do you know how to get loaded on time? Remember, it takes 3,000 reps to build a habit and another 3,000 reps to convert a habit to a skill. Aptitude is getting loaded on time 3,000 times this spring, whether it’s in training or games.
Can you do that?
No. 4 – Attitude
What it is – Attitude is a way of feeling and thinking.
Why you may not have it – We all have an attitude. It can be good or bad. Your attitude may be bad because you aren’t humble.
How to get and keep it – You get and keep a good attitude by acknowledging you aren’t perfect, never will be, nor do you need to be. If you have an opportunity to learn from your failure in games, count it a blessing and keep moving forward.
No. 5 – Achievement
What it is – Achievement is getting things done based on awareness, acknowledgement, aptitude and a good attitude.
Why you may not have it – Achievement isn’t just getting a hit, it’s also about the effort that leads to hits. And i’t not the kind of effort where you take take 1,000 swings after you game in the rain. It is in the effort as in taking 3,000 reps to convert a habit to a skill.
Tracking pitches is a skill as well as repeating the swing, hitting the ball hard and getting hits. Remember”
- It takes 3,000 reps to convert a habit to a skill
- Major Leaguers successful track pitches 80 percent of the time
- They repeat their swing 70 percent of the time
- They hit the ball hard 50 percent of the time
- Thus, they achieve by getting a hit 30 percent of the time
How to get and keep it – Be humble; get going; and keep a great attitude.
Remember: Intelligence trumps being smart.
For more information, visit www.diamonddirectors.com today. Also, check out our Digital Magazine.
BIO
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 area scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, CJ has more than 12 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 track record of success that can work for you.
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