Youth Inc. Recommends: Five Ways Baseball Players Can Stay Mindful

Baseball is a mental game — and for many players, that mental load can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s performance pressure, fear of failure, or the weight of expectations, anxiety is more common in the sport than most people realize. The good news? Athletes don’t have to face it alone. There are tools, strategies, and stories that can help players manage anxious thoughts and stay grounded on and off the field. Here are five resources we recommend for players, parents, and coaches looking to better understand and cope with anxiety in baseball. 

5 Mental Skills Every Hitter Needs 

What it is: In this article, Patrick Jones outlines five essential mental skills for hitters: vision, self-awareness, focus, process orientation, and routine. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing automatic negative thoughts to enhance performance at the plate. Patrick Jones Baseball 

Why we like it: Jones provides a practical framework for hitters to develop mental resilience. By focusing on controllable aspects of the game and establishing consistent routines, players can improve their confidence and consistency. This approach is valuable for athletes, coaches, and parents aiming to support mental toughness in baseball. 

Mindfulness Techniques With A MLB Mental Skills Coach 

What it is: In this Sports Illustrated interview, Pirates mental conditioning coach Bernie Holliday discusses how mindfulness and stress management techniques—such as stillness, breathwork, and reframing nervousness—can enhance performance both on and off the field.  

Why we like it: Holliday offers practical, science-backed strategies that help athletes and everyday people alike stay grounded under pressure. His insights into balancing stress with recovery and turning nerves into performance fuel are especially valuable for players, parents, and coaches navigating the mental demands of competitive sports. 

Are Top-Level Athletes Really Mindful? 

What it is: In his Baseball America column, Tony Abbatine explores the concept of mindfulness in elite athletes, suggesting that "mindless" training—where actions become automatic through repetition—may be the key to peak performance.  

Why we like it: Abbatine challenges the traditional emphasis on conscious mindfulness by highlighting the value of instinctive, automatic responses developed through consistent practice. This perspective offers valuable insights for coaches and athletes aiming to enhance performance by balancing mental preparation with ingrained physical routines. 

A MLB Draft Pick Shares How Mindful Meditation Can Help 

What it is: This ABCA article explores how mindful meditation can enhance athletic performance by improving focus, reducing stress, and fostering mental clarity. The piece provides practical guidance on incorporating meditation into daily routines, emphasizing its benefits for athletes seeking to optimize their mental game.  

Why we like it: This article offers a straightforward introduction to mindfulness tailored for baseball coaches and players. By highlighting simple meditation techniques, it empowers athletes to develop mental resilience and composure, essential qualities for consistent performance on the field. 

Dylan Cease Explains His Mental Training Process 

What it is: An interview clip of MLB pitcher Dylan Cease, explaining how he meditates every morning, focusing on breathing and mindfulness. 

Why we like it: Hearing a major leaguer like Dylan Cease talk openly about daily meditation helps normalize mental training as part of an athlete’s routine. His commitment to mindfulness shows that staying calm, focused, and present isn’t just helpful — it’s part of what makes success at the highest level possible. 

MLB Players Are Staying Mindful On The Diamond With Barefoot Walks In The Grass 

What it is: This AP article dives into a growing trend in MLB — players using mindfulness practices like barefoot walking (“earthing”) and breathwork as part of their pregame routines. Stars like Christian Walker and Sean Manaea swear by it as a way to slow down, reset, and get mentally locked in before the first pitch. 

Why we like it: It’s easy to think of mindfulness as something reserved for yoga mats and meditation apps — but this story shows just how personal and creative mental prep can be. From walking barefoot in the outfield to using breathwork to calm nerves, these pros are redefining what game-day readiness looks like — and offering up some surprisingly simple takeaways anyone can use.