When you’re a baseball player, you’ll find that the further you advance toward the big leagues, the more it feels like there’s always someone gunning for your spot. That’s why no matter what level you’re at, it’s important to find ways to stand out from all the competition.

Whether it’s making a spectacular play in the field, hitting a home run when your team needs it most, or just being a great teammate, there are countless ways to be an asset to your team and earn respect from your peers.

We all strive toward these things. Dreaming that someday, we’ll come through in the clutch, and that’s when everyone will start to remember our name.

It may not be as romantic, but if you play baseball, the simple fact is that training is the most straightforward way to take your game to the next level.

And yet, out of all the players out there, so few really take advantage of training.

Why is that?

Well, the most obvious reason is that training takes time and effort. It’s not as simple as showing up to the field and swinging a bat. You have to commit to a development plan and stick with it. 

Long term development for baseball players can require significant investments in time and effort, and not everyone is willing to make those investments.

But if you’re serious about becoming the best player you can be, there’s no way around it. You have to put in the work.

Another reason that training is neglected for baseball players is also surprisingly simple: Many players don’t realize how big of a difference that more training would make if they simply put in the extra work. They see the top players in the world and assume that they were born with their skills.

The truth is, those players worked hard to get where they are. They didn’t just show up and start hitting home runs. They put in the time and effort to develop their skills.

If you want to stand out from the competition, you need to do the same. You need to find ways to improve your game and make yourself a better player. Training is one of the best ways to do that.

There are a lot of different ways to train for baseball. You can work on your speed, your power, your conditioning, your hitting, your pitching, your fielding, and more. The key is to get a plan that works for you. And stick with it.

Key Areas of Training to Focus on

Many of the specific game mechanics that players can improve upon can be broken down into a few key areas. Three of the most important areas are:

• Speed is one of the most important tools for a baseball player. If you can’t run fast, you’re not going to be able to steal bases or leg out infield hits. Speed also helps you in the field, allowing you to track down balls hit into the gaps. Increasing your max velocity will make you a better all-around player. Speed training can help you achieve those gains.
• Power is also important for baseball players. If you can hit the ball further, you’ll have more home runs and extra-base hits. More power also means more opportunity to drive in runs. And runs are what win games. There are a lot of different ways to train for power. You can work on your hitting mechanics, lift weights, do plyometrics, and more.
• Endurance is important for baseball players because the games are long. If you’re not in shape, you’re going to get tired as the game goes on and your performance will suffer. Focusing on endurance (and conditioning) will help you develop the stamina you need to play your best for nine innings, and sometimes beyond.

When you’re training for baseball, be smart, but don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. The more you train smart, the better you’ll become. And the better you become, the more you’ll stand out from all the other guys on the field.

More Ways to Develop in Baseball

There are other ways to stand out from the competition, of course. Ways that don’t require extra hours in the gym or on the field.

One way is simply to be smarter about the game. Baseball is a mental game as much as it is a physical one. If you can outthink the competition, you’ll give yourself a big advantage.

To do this, you need to understand the game at a deep level. Know the ins and outs of strategy. Be able to think two steps ahead of your opponents.

You also need to be able to read the situation on the field and make adjustments on the fly. This comes with experience, but you can also learn a lot by studying the game and analyzing what other successful players do in different situations.

The physical and mental sides of baseball are both important. If you don’t bother developing one side, the other won’t do you much good. But if you can find ways to improve both, you’ll be in a great position to stand out from the competition.

So, bottom line, how do you become the best baseball player you can be?

By putting in the work. By training hard. By being smart about the game. And by never giving up.

Keep training.

Keep developing.

Keep pushing forward.

Do those things, and you’ll be surprised at how far you can go.