⚾ Picture It First: The Mental Side of Youth Baseball

There’s a quote we come back to often at 806 Drive:

“If you can see it, you can do it.”

It might sound simple, but it’s one of the most powerful tools we can give our kids — and it’s rooted in sports psychology, backed by decades of performance research, and echoed in the pages of 90% Mental by former MLB pitcher and mental skills coach Bob Tewksbury.

Tewksbury spent years pitching in the big leagues, but he’ll be the first to tell you: it wasn’t his arm that made the difference — it was his mind. In 90% Mental, he shares how visualization, breathing, and intentional thought patterns helped him survive and thrive in a game where failure is the norm. And what he teaches applies perfectly to youth baseball — because success at this level starts between the ears.

🧠 What Is Visualization, Really?

Visualization isn’t magic. It’s not pretending. It’s mental reps. It’s preparation. It’s seeing yourself succeed before the moment happens.

Whether your player is walking to the plate, stepping on the mound, or charging a ground ball, they can benefit from a quick mental image — of how they want that play to go. That visual cue primes the brain, quiets the noise, and increases the chances of success. Tewksbury calls it “mental batting practice,” and it’s just as valuable as the swings in the cage.

🥎 How We Teach It at 806 Drive

We start small. Before a bullpen session, we ask our pitchers to visualize the first pitch of a game — the crowd, the batter, the feel of the ball, the glove popping. Then we ask them to execute. Before a round of BP, we’ll say, “Close your eyes. Picture yourself driving the ball into the left-center gap. See it. Feel it.” It’s just a few seconds, but it builds focus and intention.

For our infielders and outfielders, we encourage visual reps before reps. Before a fungo or fly ball, see the ball coming, the route you’ll take, the throw you’ll make. Rehearse the rhythm of success in your mind — then let your body follow.

🕑 Off-Field Practice: Short & Powerful

One of the best things about visualization? You don’t need a field to do it. At home before bed, on the ride to a tournament, or during quiet time — we encourage our players to take 2–5 minutes to run through the game in their head. Tewksbury often says, “The mind doesn’t know the difference between real and imagined success.” That’s huge for a 12-year-old learning to build confidence.

So, instead of overloading their head with scouting reports or swing tips, we challenge them to do something simple:Picture the first pitch. Picture making the play. Picture the sound of the bat.

That repetition — over time — builds belief.

💡 Final Thought: Confidence Starts in the Mind

Baseball is a tough game. Players strike out, boot balls, walk hitters. But when kids know how to control their breath, quiet their mind, and picture success, they’re not shaken by failure. They’re prepared for the next play — because they’ve already seen it in their mind.

At 806 Drive, we don’t just train the physical tools. We build the mental ones too. We believe calm is a superpower, and visualization is a secret weapon that every kid can carry with them for life — not just on the diamond.