How do You Define Success at the Plate?
Many players rely on batting average, runs batted in, or homeruns as measures of success. While these statistics are objectively measurable, they fall short in defining overall success at the plate.
A limited view of success can dramatically impact a player’s confidence and production.
A high school senior who responded to our Peak Performance Sports’ Softball and Baseball Mental Toughness Survey asked: “After a bad game, I get really frustrated and down on myself. How can I keep my confidence after I go hitless in a game?”
When you narrowly define success by hits, you stack the cards against yourself. You put your confidence at risk because you will fail more often than not.
In the 2023 MLB season, only 11 hitters achieved a batting average of .300 or higher. That means most players failed to get a hit about 70% of the time. That degree of failure would break anybody’s confidence.
The solution to this predicament is to redefine success. In other words, expand your view of production at the plate, such as moving base runners over, making good contact with the ball, sacrifice flies, and good situational hitting.
By changing your perspective of success, you will feel more confident and less pressure throughout the game.
In an early-season 2025 MLB game, the New York Yankees beat the Milwaukee Brewers 12-3.
During the post-game interview, Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge spoke about success at the plate, not in terms of statistics but by quality at-bats.
JUDGE: “It’s just a lot of good at-bats, guys staying aggressive in their zones. Besides the home runs, I’ve been seeing a lot of good at-bats. Getting guys over, some good sac flies, some good situational hitting. It’s a lot of stuff that helps you win ball games.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised his team for their performance, but emphasized the importance of focusing on execution and mindset.
BOONE: “Most of the guys are in a pretty good place with their swings. They’ve done a really good job of executing the game plan and taking tough at-bats. You’re not always going to have days like this, obviously, but I like the approach and the frame of mind every day.”
Redefining success at the plate is crucial for confidence and consistency as a baseball player. When success is viewed solely through the lens of hits or RBIs, players set themselves up for disappointment and feeling like a failure.
By shifting the focus to quality at-bats, executing the game plan, and a strong mental approach, hitters can feel more comfortable in the batter’s box, improve their production, and feel like a success.
Expand your view of success and start tracking your “quality at-bats.” After a game, note times when you made solid contact, advanced runners, or battled through a tough count. Over time, you will notice that you are making a more significant impact than the box score shows.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- Are Your Trying too Hard at the Plate When Hitting?
- How this Yankee Manages Losses in the World Series
- The Psychology of Baseball: Dealing with Pressure
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