Lessons from Kershaw: What Youth Players Can Learn About Mental Toughness

Clayton Kershaw is a name many baseball fans know—but what does his 3,000 strikeout milestone mean to a 12-year-old athlete in West Texas?

It means more than you might think.

At 806 Drive, we coach not just baseball skills, but life skills. And this summer, as Kershaw became just the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts, it gave us a moment to reflect on what consistency, mental toughness, and effort really look like for our youth players.

Kershaw didn’t throw 100 mph. He didn’t always dominate. In fact, over the past few years, he's battled injuries and seen his velocity drop. But he keeps showing up. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it best: “You don’t always have to feel perfect to be productive.” That’s a lesson every young player needs to hear.

Everyday Excellence

For a 10- to 12-year-old, it’s not about being the best player on the field every game. It’s about building good habits. Showing up. Competing with focus. Listening to your coaches. Supporting your teammates. Just like Clayton did—even when things weren’t going his way.

Build the Mental Muscle

In Bob Tewksbury’s book 90% Mental, he talks about how major league pitchers use journals to track how they feel, what went well, and where they can improve. We challenge our players to do the same—even if it’s just one or two lines before bed. “I made good contact.” “I struck out but didn’t get down.” “I helped clean up after practice.” That builds confidence. That builds grit.

Baseball Is a Game of Adjustments

Kershaw used to throw in the mid-90s. Today, his fastball barely hits 90. But he’s smarter. He adjusted. That’s a lesson too—when your swing feels off, when you’re not making plays, don’t give up. Adjust. Ask questions. Watch video. Practice with purpose.

Why This Matters

Only 64 players make the MLB All-Star game each year. That’s fewer than 10% of all players. But what makes up the other 90%? Hard-working, smart, coachable teammates who show up, get dirty, and grind. That’s what we value at 806 Drive.

So here’s the takeaway for our players: Track your day. Write one note after every game or practice. Good or bad. Learn from it. Move on. Keep showing up.

Clayton Kershaw didn’t become great in a day. He became great by stacking up thousands of good ones.

And so can you.

#DriveTheStandard