The Sports Xchange
Mental preparation helps Swisher get off to strong start
Last April, Nick Swisher opened his season in a massive slump, feeling the pressure to produce as he tried to persuade the Yankees to pick up his $10.25 million option for 2012.
Swisher is now facing free agency for the first time in his career, but the 31-year-old isn’t letting that influence him on the field. Having consulted a sports psychologist this winter, Swisher’s head is in a great place, and the results are bearing that out.
“I’m just trying to be the same guy every day,” Swisher said. “I don’t really worry about much. I’m just trying to have as much fun as I can.”
Through 15 games, Swisher is hitting .283 with a .371 on-base percentage, a .583 slugging percentage, four home runs and an American League-best 20 RBI. He’s hitting .308 with runners in scoring position, though he claims he isn’t taking any different approach than he has in the past.
“I’m just trying to go out there and put a good swing on it,” Swisher said. “Whether I’m successful or not, that’s not my process. My process is everything leading up to that point. I’m trying to do everything to get my mental checks ready, try to go out and put a quality at-bat together. Whether I get a hit or I don’t, that’s not what really drives me right now. It’s the process of getting myself ready to go up to the plate every single time.”
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