Hey—
I had a moment recently that got me thinking about this.
I drove up to Lathrop to watch my oldest son Easton (he’s 13) compete in a NorCal Baseball event put on by Prep Baseball.
There were about 50 eighth graders there.
And I’ll be honest…
Some of these kids looked like grown men.
A few were pushing 6’0, close to 200 pounds. Big. Strong. Physical.
And as a dad, you can’t help but think:
How is my kid supposed to compete with that?
But then it hit me…
This game isn’t about who looks the best at 13.
It’s a marathon. Not a sprint.
And I’ve seen this play out way too many times to ignore it…
The biggest, strongest kid early on?
He doesn’t always end up being the best player later.
The Problem
Most players (and parents) get this wrong.
They think being a “complete player” is about one thing.
- Being the biggest
- The strongest
- The most talented
So they double down on that one area.
And for a while… it works.
Until everyone else catches up.
Why This Matters
As players get older, the game evens out.
More kids hit puberty.
More kids train.
More kids get serious.
And when that happens…
The players who relied on just one thing?
They get passed.
That’s the part no one talks about enough.
The Solution: 3 Buckets
If you want to become a complete player, you need to build in three areas:
- Tools
- Skills
- Ballplayer
Miss one… and it shows.
Let’s break it down.
1. TOOLS
Your raw physical ability
This is what stood out at that event.
Size. Strength. Arm. Power.
Some of those kids had it right now.
And that’s great.
But here’s the truth:
Tools give you a head start… not a guarantee.
What this actually looks like:
- Getting faster (not just running a lot)
- Building real strength
- Improving bat speed and power
- Taking care of your body so you can stay on the field
I’ve seen plenty of early bloomers dominate at 12–13…
And then level off when everyone else catches up.
2. SKILLS
Your ability to actually play the game
This is where the gap starts to close.
Because skills are built.
And built the right way, they last.
Offensively:
- Can you control the barrel or just swing hard?
- Do you recognize pitches or just guess?
- Do you have a plan?
Defensively:
- Is your footwork clean?
- Do your hands work?
- Can you make plays consistently?
Overall:
- Do you move like an athlete?
- Can you adjust when something isn’t working?
- Do your mechanics hold up under pressure?
Here’s what I see all the time:
Players get a ton of reps…
But they don’t actually improve.
Because there’s no intent behind it.
3. BALLPLAYER
Who you are when the game starts
This is the one that changed how I felt watching that event.
Because yeah, some kids looked the part.
But you could also see…
Who competed.
Who handled failure.
Who carried themselves the right way.
This is you if:
- You show up ready to work
- You compete no matter what
- You don’t give away at-bats
- You handle adversity
- You’re coachable
- You’re a great teammate
I’ve seen less talented players pass more talented players every single year because of this.
And it’s not even close.
So What Should You Do?
Keep this simple.
1. Be honest about where you’re at
Don’t just focus on what you’re good at.
Ask yourself:
- Am I relying too much on my tools?
- Do I actually have real skills?
- Do I show up like a ballplayer every day?
No fluff. Just the truth.
2. Train with intent
Don’t just show up and “get work in.”
Have a purpose.
- What are you trying to improve?
- Are you getting feedback?
- Are you making adjustments?
That’s how players actually get better.
3. Decide who you’re going to be
You don’t have to wait to become a “ballplayer.”
You can choose that today.
- Hustle
- Compete
- Be coachable
- Control your body language
That takes zero talent.
Why This All Matters
Driving home from that event, I felt a lot better.
Because I’ve seen how this story goes.
The kid who looks the best at 13?
That’s not always how it ends.
The ones who keep building:
- Their tools
- Their skills
- And who they are as a ballplayer
Those are the ones still standing later.
That’s the goal.
And if you’re willing to work for it…
That can be you.
Talk soon,
Joey
