How To Become A Professional Baseball Player

Whether it is the big bucks that inspire you or your very passion for the sport, hard work and perseverance are quintessential to become a professional baseball player. As with any sport, making baseball your career choice is a huge decision as there are many inherent challenges involved. However if you are confident about your goal and are willing to do all that it takes to make it a profession, you might just be on the right track to realizing your dream.

What You Should Know About Making Baseball Your Profession

I created this guide with the idea to help baseball enthusiasts like you pursue your dreams of entering into this profession. Over the course of this guide, I will tell you all that you need to make your goal a reality, and also address the different steps to take you towards your goal. Together, we will cover the following steps in sequence

• What you should know before you start
• Equipment you will need
• Skills to develop
• How to begin your journey
• How to get recruited

Step-by-step Guide To Becoming A Professional Baseball Player

One important factor to remember is that there are no short-cuts to becoming a professional baseball player, since the competition and stiff. With many aspiring candidates who are ready to do all that it takes to join the league, you should endure and put in your best efforts to get noticed. And here are the tools to help you with this goal.

Step 1: What You Should Know Before You Start

Although you may have a fair knowledge of the rules and theory of the game, a deep understanding of it will help you understand it better. Turn to the books on the subject, watch games and observe other players objectively to understand it better. Books like The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract will provide you valuable insight on the game, so is worth investing time in. Visit this video to understand the science behind baseball, and other valuable information pertaining to the game. (Video)

Discuss strategies and winning factors with coaches and good players to learn tricks and tips that will help you improve your game. To be a successful baseball player, you should also be physically fit. So indulge in workouts and strength training exercises on an ongoing basis, to be well-prepared.

Step 2: Equipment You Will Need

To become a professional player, you should know how to play well. The right equipment will considerably aid your efforts. So, make sure you get the right gear and tools. Specialized gear is required depending on the position you aim to practice for. Nevertheless, your kit should contain all the basic elements. This includes the following:

• Baseball Glove: Baseball team members require baseball gloves to be worn during the course of the game. However, if you prefer a catcher position, you will also need a mitt which is bigger than a standard baseball glove. In either case, pay attention to the size and find one that fits your hand correctly. Baseball gloves should be made from good quality leather to last long and feel comfortable.

• Baseball Bat and Ball: Find a bat that is the biggest you can handle, which means you should be able to hold and swing it comfortably. For professional level games, high quality wooden bats are suggested. College bats are usually made of alloy materials for safety requirements. Although high quality leather baseballs are used in proper games, it is a good idea to set up your equipment with lots of tennis balls to get on with the practice.

• Batting Helmet: Baseball is a sport where your head is vulnerable to hard hits from balls that fly at amazing speeds. So, you need a helmet to protect your head, whether you are in a bat or bowl. Choose a helmet that fits your head snugly and is equipped with the right amount of cushioning to protect your head from injuries.

• Catcher’s Gear: If you wish to be a catcher, invest in some sturdy catcher’s gear that fits right. Suit yourself up with the best you can afford, since this is essential to staying safe from fast and hard balls during the game. Most of the catcher’s equipment is made from high quality materials like leather that are durable, easy to maintain and efficient in protection.

Apart from having the right equipment and tools, you should also have a good team to train with. Continuous playing is the only way to practice, and you need the right people to challenge you and help you improve your skills. So, set out to find the right training setup for this purpose.

Step 3: Develop The Right Skills

For professional sports, you should develop both general sports related abilities and specifically baseball related skills. Excellent hand-eye co-ordination is essential to excel in any position in this game. You will also have to build physical strength and stamina to endure the physical exertion involved in this sport. Finally, also work on your sprinting skills, since speed is a crucial capability for success in baseball.

If you are serious about a career in professional baseball, start working on these skills right away. Successful players usually have their youth saturated with baseball-related events and activities, so make it a big part of your life in every way. Daily training for several hours is absolutely essential to getting set for professional success. Strict training regimens and practice sessions are also essential to foster skill development and employ the right strategies in this field of sport.

Your personal history is also a factor that will help your journey. Keep a clean reputation and have a good track record, as nobody wants an unfit player on their team. Also find the right coach who can offer specialized training for the skills you wish to polish, to get ahead of the game. A good instructor can help you hone your skills, develop and improve ones you lack, create a general sense of discipline and help you understand the best techniques for success.

Step 4: How To Begin Your Journey

It is never too early to begin your efforts to end up as a major league player. You can begin as early as when you are in school. While in school, sign up for tryout camps hosted by baseball coaches and players to gain exposure to the game and practice it well. This will help you learn the fundamentals and gain valuable insight about the game. Don’t forget to document your wins and achievements for future reference. Also collect video clips and footage of all your successful efforts, to showcase later.

After school, there are two options for you to continue along the right path to making baseball a career. You can either join junior college or transfer to a Division 1 school, where professional scouts recruit potential candidates. Or you can directly join a minor league through try outs and work your way up.

Step 5: How To Get Recruited

In the previous section, we discussed the two options to get your professional baseball career started. With the first option of joining college, your goal should be to get noticed by a major league who will initially recruit you into a suitable minor league team that requires your skills. The second option of directly attending minor league try outs usually involves more competition. You will have to demonstrate good baseball skills to get noticed and be absorbed.

Your success greatly depends on being visible to the decision makers. So, it doesn’t simply do to play well and hope for the best. Do your research and find decision makers who can help you. Attend all possible try outs, camps and work on publicizing your image so you get noticed.

As an essential step to success, make sure that you focus on your strengths and polish them. It is a good idea to find a coach who specifically focuses on you. Although you should be good on all fronts, being particularly capable in one particular area will improve your chances of getting picked. So, a good instructor should be able to identify your strengths and also have the right approach to helping you develop it further.

I hope this brief guide has helped and inspired you to get started with your journey towards being a professional baseball player. One thing to keep in mind is that it is a route wrought with challenges. There are few positions to be held, so pure commitment and passion, apart from talent are the only ways to reach your goal. However, professional success can change your life in every way. Apart from fame and fortune, you also get the chance to live your passion and enjoy what you do every day.

If you liked this guide, don’t forget to share it with your friends and anyone else who may benefit from the information provided here. Also, please share your thoughts and comments with us and the rest of the community who are equally eager to embark on a professional baseball career.