Major leaguers aren’t the only baseball players with spring training ahead: Lots of youth league players will be taking their swings and throws in tryouts in upcoming weeks. So Bill Melton, a White Sox radio announcer and former Sox third baseman, pitches this game plan to get ready:
–Tee it up. Rather than take your first swings when the coach is watching, work out the kinks now in your garage or basement. Practice your swing off a batting tee, with or without a ball. Or if you can make it to a batting cage, even better.
–Throw slow. To be well-armed on tryout day, start throwing slow and easy with a friend for a few weeks. Or throw a tennis ball or baseball against a wall. Coaches will be looking first at form, not distance or speed. And while practicing, wear a long-sleeve T to keep shoulder ligaments warm.
During tryouts, Melton says, don’t be tentative while at bat. “If you miss a pitch,” he says, “don’t dwell on it. Get ready for the next swing.”
And remember, it’s normal to be nervous. Even the best players get butterflies. But, Melton says, don’t forget to have fun — and to show some hustle: “An upbeat attitude always impresses the coaches.”
