What Attributes Make the Perfect Baseball Player?
Coaches often say, “If I had nine of these ballplayers, I’d never lose a game!”. Whenever coaches fawn over a player, it’s not the raw talent that makes them giddy, but more so the player’s intangibles. People can shine on the diamond when they have the attributes that make them the perfect baseball players, even if they cannot hit the ball a country mile or throw 100+ mph. So, what are some of those attributes?
They Can Stay Focused
Remaining focused is pivotal on the diamond. Baseball is a unique sport because you aren’t doing anything 90 percent of the time, particularly if you are a position player. There may be games where a ball doesn’t even get hit your way, causing you to lose concentration. But you don’t want to daydream while a flyball sails over your head. Physical errors may frustrate coaches, but mental errors infuriate them.
They Have the Will To Win
Every baseball player should have a fire in their belly that allows them to accomplish great things. Some believe that competitiveness is a negative trait because it may bring out the worse in you. However, without a competitive edge, what will be the driving force that puts you over the hump? It never hurts to have something fuel your will to succeed, as long as it isn’t harmful to yourself and others, and you don’t take any shortcuts to get there.
They are Coachable
One consequence of being overly competitive is becoming uncoachable. Coaches don’t want a player who disregards their wishes and does things to the beat of their own drum. Coaches tend to gravitate towards approachable players, so don’t become argumentative if they offer advice about picking out the right baseball bat or any other wisdom they want to share.
They Demonstrate Humility
You’ll likely hear baseball is the only game that can fail 70 percent of the time and still find its way into the Hall of Fame. Failing at baseball is as inevitable as aging. You can do nothing to stop it, so you might as well embrace and learn from it. Reacting like the world is ending because of one at-bat will wear on you as the failures keep coming.
They Have a Strong Work Ethic
These attributes that make a perfect baseball player wouldn’t be possible without an impeccable work ethic. Going the extra mile rarely goes unnoticed, giving you an advantage over your peers. While they sit on their rear ends and refuse to improve, you can bypass them with sheer determination. Plus, having a strong work ethic translates to any vocation, regardless of where your career takes you.