What’s the Most Important Thing for Young Baseball Players to Think About for Greatness—On and Off the Field?

The journey from a rookie to a great athlete, ball player, and individual isn't about flashy plays or overnight success. It starts early and small—with habits, mindset, and commitment to doing the details right every day. Below, you’ll find vital resources and a step-by-step plan to help young players shape not only their game, but their entire approach to life.

Key Ideas for Young Players

• Master the Fundamentals: Greatness in baseball starts with boring, often-repeated basics—fielding, clean throwing motion, proper hitting stance, and smart baserunning. Even pros build their game on consistent execution of fundamentals, not flash or tricks.hittersbaseballacademy
• Practice with Purpose: Show up to every practice focused on getting better at a weakness. It’s not about practice length, but quality—set a goal for every session.hittersbaseballacademy
• Build Healthy Habits: Fuel your body right, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly—but remember, baseball should still be fun.americanbaseballcamps
• Develop Mental Toughness: Learn from mistakes—don’t fear them! Growth comes through adjustment and resilience.americanbaseballcamps
• Be a Great Teammate and Person: Respect coaches, officials, and opponents, play with integrity, and be coachable. Your character will always go farther than your stats.

Top Podcasts for Young Baseball Players and Families

• Clearing The Bases: Deep dives into youth player development, for players, coaches, and parents. (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)podcast.feedspot
• THE 8020BASEBALL Podcast: Efficient, practical strategies on coaching and developing young talent. Short, actionable episodes. (Apple, Spotify, YouTube)podcast.feedspot
• Driveline Academy Youth Baseball Podcast: Data-driven skill development and big-picture insights for youth players and teams.podcast.feedspot
• Coaching Youth Baseball with Dave Holt: Practical tips on coaching, processes, and player growth from a pro with 19 years’ experience.youth+1
• The Youth Baseball Edge Podcast: Interviews and actionable secrets for youth baseball success, coaching drills, and strategies.podcast.feedspot

Articles Worth Reading

• Top 10 Things Every Young Baseball Player Should Know (Hitters Baseball Academy): Breaks down the essentials—mastering fundamentals, purposeful practice, self-care, and more.hittersbaseballacademy
• 5 Healthy Habits for Young Ballplayers (American Baseball Camps): Covers nutrition, resilience, sleep, enjoyable exercise, and why baseball is a mental game.americanbaseballcamps
• Youth Baseball Training 101: From Practice to Play (GoRout): Practical drills, how and when to learn advanced skills, detailed breakdowns on hitting, fielding, and throwing mechanics.gorout

YouTube Videos to Jumpstart Development

• 10 Best Baseball Drills for 7-8 Year Olds – You Got Mojo: Fun, age-appropriate drills that are easy to integrate into any practice.youtube
• Effective Hitting Techniques & Drills for Youth Baseball Coaches – Dominate The Diamond: Step-by-step hitting mechanics and fun, practical drills for beginners.youtube
• The 7 (ULTIMATE) Youth Pitching Drills – ARM Pitching Development: Focused specifically on young pitchers, these drills build confidence and skill.youtube

Actionable Plan for Young Players

1. Set a Weekly Intention

• Choose one fundamental per week (e.g., fielding ground balls, throwing accuracy, hitting stance).
• Spend at least 10 minutes daily working on that skill.

2. Practice with Purpose

• Before practice, pick a goal (e.g., improve footwork, swing mechanics).
• Use a drill from a recommended video for targeted skill-building.

3. Keep a Baseball Journal

• Each day, write down what you did well, one thing to improve, and something you learned from a mistake.

4. Physical and Mental Preparation

• Prioritize good sleep and healthy meals.
• Do weekly “fun” exercise outside of baseball (bike, hike, swim, etc.).

5. Character Development

• At every practice or game, introduce yourself to someone new, thank a coach or teammate, and set an example for hustle and sportsmanship.
• Model learning from losses as much as from wins—growth mindset is everything.

6. Monthly Check-In

• At the end of each month, review your journal, set a new skill goal, and ask a coach or parent for feedback.

A Final Word

Becoming a great ballplayer and a great person isn’t about talent alone—it’s about forming and sticking to the right habits, practicing with intention, treating others well, and loving the game for the journey it offers. Use these resources, stick to your plan, and greatness will be within reach—on and off the diamond.

Start today: pick a fundamental, line up a podcast, watch a new drill, and record your first journal entry. Your future self will thank you!

References:

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Add to follow-up

Check sources

 
1. https://hittersbaseballacademy.com/top-10-things-every-young-baseball-player-should-know/
 
2. https://americanbaseballcamps.com/baseball-camps/american-baseball-camps-5-healthy-habits-for-young-ballplayers/
 
3. https://podcast.feedspot.com/youth_baseball_podcasts/
 
4. https://www.youth.inc/learn/youth-inc-recommends-best-podcasts-for-coaching-and-training
 
5. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coaching-youth-baseball/id1451532886
 
6. https://gorout.com/youth-baseball-training/
 
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzDHd9Tc1M
 
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEfaNRgWJdU
 
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxr2IeFkUyI
 
10. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elite-baseball-development-podcast/id1457825804
 
11. https://ericcressey.com/csp-elite-baseball-development-podcast-navigating-youth-baseball-development-and-college-recruiting-with-walter-beede/
 
12. https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1ay7o1y/whats_a_good_baseball_podcast_that_focuses_on_all/

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