MLB Pitchers’ Top Mental Tricks

Talent is usually necessary for major league pitchers, but sometimes, it’s mental toughness that separates the “good” from the “great”.

Red Sox Ace David Price says he’s had to work on staying even-keeled, and keeping his emotions under control.

“Whenever stuff kind of starts to spin out of control,” said Price, “you can’t let that opposing team know that you’re spinning with it”

Price also added that it takes a trained mind to accept that everything in life, and baseball, is not under your control.

“There’s a lot of stuff that goes into a baseball game,” said Price. “You need plays to be made, you need some hard hit balls to go at guys. You need to know that you can only control what you can control.”

Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel is a four-time All-Star and an expert on dealing with pressure. His job is to come in with the game on the line, and shut down the opposing hitters.

Kimbrel says over-prepare, but don’t overthink.

“It’s preparation to get to that point,” says Kimbrel. “I go over video how I’m going to attack the guy. I think, not just in this sport of baseball or any other sport, if you overthink anything, you’re going to doubt yourself.”

Kimbrel also stressed the importance of focus. Worrying about too many things at once can take your focus off the main goal.

“I know it’s a cliche, but you have to throw one pitch at a time,” said Kimbrel.

Both say, mental toughness comes from experience, and constant work.

“It takes time,” said Price.  “It’s not something that’s going to happen overnight, it’s not going to happen in a month or two. It’s something that takes years of practice and it’s something you have to work on even if you have a lot of time in this game”