🚨 In this edition of Reliance Baseball News, we’re talking about the mental side of the game. From routines to focus to bouncing back from slumps, resilience might be the most valuable skill a player can build.
A couple years ago, I went to a handful of Fredericksburg Nationals (Low-A for the Nats) to watch Brady House- the stud middle infielder from Georgia. I remember his demeanor was tense, rigid, and overall, like he was consumed by the frustrations that come from a short time span between being a top high school player, to a pro player struggling to make the adjustments. I also noticed one of his teammates demonstrated a completely different attitude- calm, smooth, and a guy that just looked like he was having fun. That player was Daylen Lile. Lile wasn't exactly tearing up the minor leagues but he just looked like a kid that could handle adversity and grow. Now Lile is playing in the MLB, and thus far, has done much better than House: the first rounder. I'll be interested to follow both of their careers now that they are big leaguers- as the mental challenges shift from breaking into the league to foundational players on a young team/limited payroll with new ownership.