Progressive Training vs. Correct Training

How many times have you heard the phase, you need to change to make it to the next level. When progressing up the ladder from rec. ball, to travel ball, and onto high school, collegiate and professional baseball, every player is taught, by their coaches, things that will make them better and "take them to the next level." This method of progressive training is a good way to keep up with the game, and stay playing baseball longer, but it will never get you ahead of the game without some amazing inate ability.

As my progression continued up the ladder in the heirarchy of baseball, I always stood out. I was always a great baseball player, but as you continue to play the game longer, so is everybody else. I have always managed to seperate myself from the rest of the great baseball players and get noticed for big opportunities by two reasons. The first of which, which everybody is told, is my work ethic and my hustle. When it has come down to getting offers from teams, I have been told that I was chosen for no other reason then no matter how good I am, I'm always at 110% energy. However the secong thing that sets me apart, and I have been told this by scouts, is the fact that I play the game with the maturity of someone who has been in the game longer. This is to say, I play the game, not with the techniques to be better than everyone else in my level of play, but I have always played the game with the same techniques as a professional.

As a child, I once had my coach tell me to learn to field a ball a certain way, when I noticed he himself fielded the ball differently. I asked him the reason for this and he said I don't need to field the ball like him yet, and that the reason for him doing that is because at his level of play, there is less time allowed to get the ball to first. It was from this day on I made the decision to learn the game at the highest level even if it was above my current skill level.

This maturity in the game can seperate baseball players from the rest. A scout who sees two baseball players with the same ethics and skill, the player who will be able to play at the next level without having to reset his whole game will be the on who is picked. For this reason, always make sure you try to reach the highes level of play no matter your compatition.