By Isaiah Trevino –
Oftentimes (and especially through the summer and fall), athletes are stuck between playing travel ball and actual training. While playing and seeing live batters and pitchers can help you prepare for your spring season, there isn’t a substitute for actual training. On the other side, it is hard to replicate game-like scenarios and feelings during training. There are pros and cons to both, and there are a few things you must consider when deciding what to do for the summer and fall.
If you are at the stage of your career where you need development more than anything – whether it is at the plate, on the mound, or in the field – I believe it is more beneficial to train as opposed to playing all or most of the summer and fall. I know that playing baseball (especially in the summertime) is the more glamorous thing to do out of the two. However, if it is not the most beneficial to your development and your career, then you should reconsider what you decide to do.
There’s nothing wrong with playing partially in the summer, just to try to get some game reps in. If you can do both, sometimes that is the answer for a lot of people. If that is all that you do and you never train, it is going to be very difficult to continue to get better by just playing the game. In my experience, I didn’t play much in the summer as I spent most of my time training. If I had to do it again, I would’ve tried to play a little bit more, but I still would have gotten close to the same amount of training that I did get during the summertime.
On the other hand, if you are already pretty well developed for your age and are trying to get your name out there for college and professional scouts, I think playing in the summertime can be a great idea!
There’s no single answer that will fit everybody, as each person is on their own developmental path and will have different needs at different times in their career. For example, if you are going into your senior year of high school and you are throwing 82 to 84 mph, you have no business going to a University of Texas prospect camp. Instead, you should be training to gain 4 to 6 mph before the start of your senior year. Now, if you’re 91 to 93 mph and, for some reason, you do not have a place to play in college yet, then going to a prospect camp would be a good idea.
Like most things here at the Ranch, even this is not a one-size-fits-all answer. At some point, you’re going to need to train more. And at some point, you may need to play in games more. Whatever stage you are at in your career right now – whether you are training or playing – stay in the moment and be 100% engaged in whatever you’re doing.
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Important TBR Updates
- Registration for our Youth Camp is now open! The Youth Elite Pitchers Bootcamp is the perfect event for youth pitchers eager to start their Ranch journey. This year’s event is October 14th-15th for athletes ages 8-12! CLICK HERE to learn more and to register. There is an “Early Bird” $300 Registration Savings through July 31st.
- Have you been considering attending The Ranch but don’t know which program to choose. Our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamp is the place to start. More information and registration can be found on our website. Click here to learn more and to register. We also have a detailed mailing package entitled “What Makes This Boot Camp Different”. If you’d like to receive this package, email Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a copy.
- Would you like to experience and train at The Ranch for a few weeks? If so, take a look at our 2023 “Summer Intensive Development Program”. We’re about to begin week 7 and tremendous gains have been made. To learn more and download a registration form CLICK HERE. We’d love to have you join us!
- Would you like to experience both? We do have that option. Attend one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamps and Add-On one week of our Summer Program immediately after for a total stay of seven days. These opportunities are limited. Call for the details (936) 588-6762 and special savings.