The Only Person

At the end of the day, the only person that controls your career and where it ends is you. Take the feedback, process it, and if you don’t like it…do something about it.

The Only Person

It’s common for players to get feedback from coaches. Whether it’s getting an evaluation from a showcase or a meeting with their current coach… they’re going to hear what they’re good at, what they’re bad at, and what level of baseball they “should” play at. Unfortunately, that may mean hearing things you don’t want to hear…

You’re not a varsity level short stop. You’re not a DI player. You’re not a pro player. You’re not a big leaguer.

It’s really important to be open to feedback about your game, however, you also need to add the phrase “right now” to the end of any of those sentences…

You’re not a varsity level short stop (right now). You’re not a DI player (right now). You’re not a pro player (right now). You’re not a big leaguer (right now).

As coaches, giving players our honest feedback is very crucial in this process. Players need to be open to hearing it and understand why a coach is telling them that, BUT also need to know that THEY can change it if they work really, really hard too.

Just because you aren’t a pro guy right now, doesn’t mean you can’t make yourself into one.

At the end of the day, the only person that controls your career and where it ends is you. Take the feedback, process it, and if you don’t like it…do something about it.

Someone who understands that their career is THEIRS and only theirs is one dangerous player. 

Be open to feedback, but realize it’s not written in ink, it’s written in pencil and only you have the eraser. It most certainly won’t be easy, but you are the only person that has the ultimate say in your career. Be obsessed.

Ken Spangenberg
Director of Baseball
Maplezone Sports Institute