#TBT Game 7 of the 2016 World: Biggest at-bat of my life. Ripped a line drive to right center for an RBI double. Not posting this to flex, just putting it out there because I think a lot of people could get some value out of how I kept my mind right during that at-bat. 🧵 Cont…
This at-bat, just like all the others, started way before I actually got in the box. It started before each game.
The biggest part of that pre-game routine was visualization: putting myself in different situations and envisioning success.
The biggest part of that pre-game routine was visualization: putting myself in different situations and envisioning success.
This obviously doesn’t guarantee success by any means, but it does 100% put you in a much better position to succeed.
It’s a game changer. Many studies show that through visualization you can enhance your skills with very similar payoffs of actual physical practice.
It’s a game changer. Many studies show that through visualization you can enhance your skills with very similar payoffs of actual physical practice.
That at-bat was a great example.
I had envisioned being in that moment since I was a kid.
Granted, when I was a kid I didn’t think I’d ever stare down somebody capable of throwing a 105 MPH fastball.
I had envisioned being in that moment since I was a kid.
Granted, when I was a kid I didn’t think I’d ever stare down somebody capable of throwing a 105 MPH fastball.
Nowadays it seems as if every team has someone that can, so you better believe I started visualizing at-bats against all of them.
Throughout that series, after practices, in hotels, whenever we weren’t on the field, I’d close my eyes and stay in the batter's box.
Throughout that series, after practices, in hotels, whenever we weren’t on the field, I’d close my eyes and stay in the batter's box.
I made sure to get to get as many ‘mental reps’ against Chapman as I could, being that I had never faced him before.
Reggie Bush caught Drew Brees doing this a couple years ago in the Saints practice facility the day before a big game.
Reggie Bush caught Drew Brees doing this a couple years ago in the Saints practice facility the day before a big game.
Those mental reps pay off by making big moments feel routine.
It felt like a normal at-bat in the dog days of summer because I had been there hundreds of times in my head.
It felt like a normal at-bat in the dog days of summer because I had been there hundreds of times in my head.
What I didn’t envision was my man @rajai11davis hitting a bomb after me to tie the game. Still get hyped thinking about that!
I saw success play out so many times in my head and I truly believed it would happen in that moment.
I saw success play out so many times in my head and I truly believed it would happen in that moment.
To some, extra mental work may sound like a ‘sacrifice’ in one way or another, but you can tell from my reaction when I got to second, all the time I spent visualizing was worth it.
If you’re a baseball or softball player looking for tips on how to develop a Major League Mindset, you can definitely ask me here or check out brandonguyer.com 👊🏻
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