College Development Priorities & Professional
What to Prioritize
In college, you’re juggling more than just your sport. You’ve got classes, social life, weight training, practices, and recovery—all while trying to perform and develop. You can’t do it all unless you know what to prioritize. First, take care of your body. Sleep, hydration, nutrition, and recovery aren’t luxuries—they’re necessities. If you’re constantly running yourself into the ground, your performance will suffer. Second, focus on development. Being the most talented doesn’t matter if you’re not improving. If you’re stuck on the bench or not playing as much as you’d like, use that time to level up your game, not sulk. Finally, prioritize your relationships. Your teammates, coaches, and support staff are part of your journey. Build those connections. They’ll be there long after the games are over.
Where Do You Fit In?
Not everyone plays right away. And that’s okay. Some guys start as freshmen. Others redshirt. Some don’t get their shot until their junior or senior year. You need to focus on finding your fit and making the most of it. That might mean being a bullpen arm, a pinch runner, or even just a grinder who brings energy in practice. Every team needs role players, and often the ones who buy into their roles early are the ones who eventually get bigger opportunities. Nothing is static—how you fit now isn’t how you’ll fit later. Embrace the process, contribute where you can, and understand that your value goes beyond the box score.
Coach Hates Me?
Let’s address this head-on. There’s a moment for almost every player when you start to feel like your coach is against you. Maybe you’re not getting innings, maybe you’re not starting, maybe the feedback feels harsher than it should. It’s easy to spiral into thinking they just don’t like you. But most of the time, it’s not personal—it’s performance. Coaches have to make tough decisions. They have to win. Your job is to take ownership of what you can control. Ask for feedback. Be coachable. Take your lumps and use them. The players who find success aren’t the ones who get coddled—they’re the ones who can handle the hard conversations and turn them into fuel.
Professional Career
What It Comes Down To
By the time you reach pro ball, everything changes and nothing changes at the same time. The game becomes a job. You’re paid to perform. There’s no more “potential” or “projectability”—you either get outs or you don’t. You either hit or you don’t. The lights are brighter, the travel is worse, and the competition is relentless. But what it still comes down to is the same thing it always has: consistency and execution. Can you bring your best stuff every day? Can you adjust quickly? Can you bounce back after a rough outing or bad week? The window is small, and the margin for error is even smaller. What separates guys who stick from the ones who wash out isn’t just talent—it’s the ability to show up every single day and compete like your life depends on it.
More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
There’s something funny about pro ball. Everything around you changes—the stadiums, the gear, the paychecks, the travel. But the game itself doesn’t. You’re still trying to fill up the zone, drive the baseball, and compete pitch to pitch. You’re still just playing catch. It’s easy to get lost in the business side, the numbers, the pressure, the politics. But the ones who last are the ones who stay connected to the game. They keep showing up. They keep working on the little things. They understand that the basics never go out of style. No matter how high you go, it’s still about playing the game with passion, purpose, and a plan.
John