ABOUT THE HANDBOOK

I have spent the better part of 30 years trying to figure out the best way to hit a baseball. I played 4 years of high-level college baseball winning two National Championships, and played 13 years of professional baseball for the Mets, Marlins, Twins, National, Royals, and the Major Leagues in Japan. Following my playing career, I have coached for 10 years in the Texas Rangers organization at every level of the minor leagues.

I have been the best hitter on the team, and I have been the worst hitter on the team, and everything in between. I have failed over and over again, but through failure, I learned. I learned that failure is a gift. If you are open-minded and are willing to adjust, you can accomplish remarkable things in this game.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is what NOT to think while in the batter’s box. I discovered how I could separate myself, and my 34th-round talent, from the players that were bigger, stronger, and more talented than me. While they were swinging till their hands bled or trying a new stance for the 100th time, I was exploring the mental side of being an elite hitter. I was developing a crystal-clear plan of attack that allowed me to be consistent while others were streaky. I began to learn how the body follows the mind. What you can see, you can create. I went down the mechanical rabbit holes and never really found any success down there. So, I went a different route. And you can too.

Do I think mechanics are unimportant? Of course not, however, I do believe they are overly focused on and trained. The entire baseball world is looking for the next quick fix, the hottest gadget, the most elaborate drill, the newest hitting guru, or the next Major Leaguer to emulate who had a swing change and became a perennial All-Star. I feel like young hitters have been sold a false bill of goods. They have been sold a lie, that there is some magic swing that will make them a great hitter. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Swinging and “hitting” aren’t the same thing. Being a good hitter involves much more than a pretty swing. Yes, mechanics are a factor in being a good hitter but let’s be open-minded on the other facets and shine a light just as bright on them.

The swing, whether good or bad, is usually a byproduct of the factors that come BEFORE the actual swing. In my experience playing and working with elite-level hitters for the last 23 years, the following components come before, and outweigh, the actual mechanics of the swing…