Advice For Youth Baseball Players

[@danmanfre5209]

Just watched this video....the story you told about your dad getting a break from cooking at the family restaurant to come back and play catch with you is a great story and a great memory for both of you. You have a great dad and now have a great memory. It's the little things...

[@preston_ritt]

Thank you so much im 11 amd love the game

[@mikbakunin]

Great stuff. Especially when you say, "you'll get as far as your supposed to get." So true. As a youth coach, you can see the desire or lack thereof. Lol. Great shot

[@dric30]

Awesome advise and experiences shared from a pro, can’t get better then that. Keep up the excellent content Matt! Drills and guidance are great for all the dads out there with kids of all ages.. right now working my 6yr old into tball from soccer.. he’s loving it

[@iamkurgan1126]

"Its great to have big dreams". Well played sir. Chill dad.

[@cfsherrill]

Also like that Antonelli notes "you'll get as far as your supposed to get." A lot of people have a hard time understanding this about The Game. They think if a ballplayer doesn't play in the pros or college that he's failed somehow. They spend all their time worrying about the next cut and fail to enjoy the journey. But I've come to believe that The Game has a purpose for every player, and for that matter, everyone that loves The Game. Usually it does not involve going pro or playing in college. It may be becoming a Dad, being a great little league coach, and passing on The Game to the next generation. Or any number of other things.

[@cfsherrill]

Funny, this vid sums up my unified theory of baseball and life: The 1st rule of baseball is #OwnYourS***. The 2nd rule of baseball is "Never compare yourself to someone else; always compare yourself to the ballplayer you were yesterday and improve a little bit everyday." The 3rd rule is "See Rule #1." Works for life too.

[@markdamschen5930]

My 10 year old really needed to hear this. Thank you, I was struggling with finding these words

[@Advocate4kids]

These principles could apply to so many areas of life. Great stuff!

[@jane3ta]

Matt, you are so right about loving practice. And about parents supporting and working with their kid. Look for a book called “The Prophet of the Sandlots”. Your story about throwing the ball against the brick wall reminded me of it.

[@Mitten4371]

Yea I pitched from little league to highschool and at the age of 13 I went to play for a traveling team and I played for coaches that played pro or college and so my baseball knowledge is rich to this day. But he's right you have to have love for the game but see in highschool they are looking for players who wants it more but see the problem that I had was running. But for pitching at my old house we had vinyl siding on the side of the house and I would spend hours just throwing a tennis ball up side the house. Then I would take a baseball or tennis ball and throw it as high as I could straight up in the hair to see if I could catch it. But if you are wanting to play highschool baseball then be prepared to do alot of running. But I'm 45 years old now and I still have love and passion for the game and I still have the pitching mechanics, hitting mechanics, fielding and throwing mechanics as well

[@Deraneholloway]

Great video .my son is 11 years old . 5 foot 10 ,170 lb ,left-handed, first base , pitcher . Finished his rec department season with a .480 batting average . But does not care a whole lot about practicing. He loves to play. I've been told by several coaches including a college head coach that he has everything it takes to play at a high level one day if he will put in the work. I just hope one day by the time he's in high school he will develop a good work ethic so he could see his full potential.

[@rockyesposito7051]

Best of luck to your son man!

[@johnhanson5492]

My son is 4 foot 10, 75 pounds soaking wet. Hes also 11 years old.... guess my son is what they call a "late bloomer". I will say that he LOVES the game, and probably works harder than anyone else on the field. I think it s bc he wants to prove to everyone he can play even tho hes small.

[@Deraneholloway]

@@johnhanson5492 my son's problem is that it has always come easy for him to be one of the top players and it will probably be his downfall to not make it without a work ethic I've always tried to tell him hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard

[@paulcorsetto6047]

Thanks so much for this. I always tell my son this and you saying it helps reinforce it.

[@Jbzero999]

Thank you for the video. I tell my boys this all the time, but it helps to hear it from someone else.

[@dougp7934]

Good video. But even tons of those Dominicans fail too. Its so much about luck, timing of injuries, along with skill and love for the game!

[@bremms1]

The practice and love of the game is what I always say. Yes the stories about the Dominicans are great. People here in SC keep telling me you need all these special coaches, you need to get him playing travel ball at 8 yrs old. I 'm not sold on it, he just loves to play. Funny thing is, I played tennis in HS and played summer league (Connie Mack) with my baseball friends. I really started to love playing baseball. My skills improved, but I never tried to play in college. Had a friend on the team in college that I would throw with and he and his friend told me to try out as a walk on ( I was too busy partying). I practice with my son a few day a week and after 35 years of not really any my arm has started to come back( my son has even noticed.) even though I had a very bad hand injury and badly dislocated my shoulder bike racing (That was my sport for 8 years) Really loving the game of base ball again. We go to see the Fireflies, Riverdogs, USC and the Orioles when we are in Baltimore. I find your videos enjoyable and can really see your passion for the game.

[@jason916]

Great video! While not having the skill to play beyond college , my friends and I played catch everyday and played sandlot ball anytime we could. It helped us all be solid high school players without massive talent. Love of the game and a strong work ethic will get you on a team and starting

[@Bigkaeg]

Thanks Coach!!

[@johnlifts2220]

Dude love your videos keep it up

[@rckark9724]

Thank you!

[@redline201]

Thanks so much for all the information you share. My son plays 10u travel now and your videos help me so much. Hoping he makes the club team next year.

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Good luck to him!!!

[@bobl8687]

Great advice Matt. Thumbs up mentioning UNH hockey!

[@Geotubest]

Nice video. Gosh, I used to LOVE playing. As a kid, I'd stand in front of the TV with a baseball bat in my hands watching the Cubs games. Later, fast-pitch off a wall for hours and hours each day in the summer. Lob ball in the park all day on the weekends. On and on and on.

[@peterattar6968]

Good video and great advice. One thing I will add is that you can love the game, work your butt off at it and have talent for it but as a baseball player you cannot assume that all of those ingredients makes you infallible. You have to learn be able to handle failure otherwise, as you stated, the game will eat you up to the point where it isn't fun anymore. Some people are naturally better at this than others and for those who aren't you have to work just as hard at getting that under control as you do the physical aspects of the game.

[@rockyesposito7051]

Great video, so much truth... Its the only sport where you can go 3 for 10, (and if you did that for your career) you'll probably be a HOF'er. In regards to being a Parent who has a 13yr old son myself.. Mr. Antonelli is 100% correct again... You can share your love for the game with your children, but if you find it difficult to get them ready to go to the field and play/practice, etc. That same attitude/desire has a funny way of displaying itself on the diamond. One last thing I would say too... When your young you might be good in the town where you live, even the state where you live, but once you start traveling across the country and playing against other talented players in your same age bracket, man that was an eye opener for me. I was blessed when I was younger, and I was able to play in the RBI Tournament the MLB runs annually. Love of the game & hard work!

[@jason916]

Practice ?! Practice...Antonelli talking bout Practice , not a game , not a game..Practice!? Practice!-Iverson

[@rockyesposito7051]

😂😂😂 You had me dying, comment of this video for sure

[@SpookyApparition]

"I have really bad pants and my hair stinks, but I'm gonna hit the ever living you-know-what out of this ball." Hahah... good stuff man, love the channel.

[@bremms1]

You have a great outlook. Great stories. My son loves to practice. He sees his improvement. LOVE of the game is key! My son is a good soccer player too , but doesn't love the game like baseball. Your stories are great..

[@AntonelliBaseball]

Thanks!!!!

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheritrix5733]

Thank you for watching, commenting, and not trolling Matt!

[@TexasTough1836]

So true

[@DanielG0926]

Cmon Matt! Gotta start earning some of that money!

[@shane9095]

To think that guy is still waiting for Matt to start earning some of that money! 😂

[@JK-lp3lw]

can u do one on fines and suspensions

[@joemchavez]

Truth that many can't accept.

[@BravestOfTheBrave]

How’s the draft like did you watch it on tv and wait your pick or were you at the place were they were announcing the picks

[@stt5v2002]

Here is a tip that a brilliant soccer coach once told a group of parents. “A child’s love of the game dies in the backseat of the car.” He was lamenting how his own daughter ultimately stopped playing soccer and went on to another sport, which he blamed on his own mistakes. He cautioned to not pressure or badger your kids going to and from games / practices, and that kids hear every little thing you say and every subtle tone in your voice. Let their coaches coach and as parents you do the parenting. Easy to say, but often hard to do.

[@johnhanson5492]

Well said Steven! I tell my son before each game to "Have Fun"

[@matthewthompson1783]

Do you think passing this information on to my 9 year old would ‘center’ him enough to understand that he needs to love the game and to practice for the game or does it need to be naturally in him already? Thanks for any feedback!

[@drasticbread249]

Matt what are your most and least favorite baseball movies?

[@Kamrunzdoesfunctionalfitness]

You ever do online hitting lessons?

[@walkerallen124]

I am a left handed 2nd basemen/ ss. Should I switch to outfield

[@trutwijd]

The emphasis in youth summer ball from what I've seen in my area is to fill the season up with as many games and tourneys as possible. There's so little time to actually have "practice" so we throw these kids into summer ball right into high pressure situations. They don't get a chance to just relax and learn the game before trying to play it in front of their parents, some of whom contribute to the stress. By the time they are 14/15/16 many just hate baseball. It's tough to watch.

[@lucaspoulsen889]

When you throw should you have your ball facing down

[@landonlivingston8667]

Can you do a house tour please

[@tonysahatjian3719]

Hey man I have a question I am a college baseball player and all the summer leagues got cancelled and all my teammates live across the county and everyone in my family refuses to help me get better with bp or with fly ball work. How do I get better this summer with no help and parent who scolds me if I even go out to the field and hit off the tee calling that baby ball.

[@PloopPlab]

I’m just trying not to suck in high school since I’ve never played before

[@yunghanhuang8188]

Matt, sometimes bad call for strikes will destory my sense of strike zone, my rest at bats I would chase redicules balls, what would you do?

[@johnhanson5492]

Hey, you need to focus on each pitch of each at bat. Watch the pitcher before you get in the batters box (Matt had a couple great videos about this recently), whether its in the on deck circle, or just on the bench. You can pick up a pitchers tendacies, as well as what the umpire is calling, especially when your in the field and can see if hes calling the outside corner, maybe hes calling the low strike, etc. Umps are gonna make bad calls, its gonna happen. How you react to those calls will determine whether you succeed or fail. Remember, you do get 3 strikes, so just shake it off next time and be ready for the next pitch! Best of luck! :)

[@andystack7449]

any advice for someone whos 31 n wants to make it to the majors? played high school ball in the past

[@JDJD-mw9rr]

Get a time machine, and when you get it give me a yell because im 31 too and would like to go play in the MLB

[@joemilner206]

Can you make a vid about baseball cards? I see your signed cards online... are they legit?

[@itsgotime3341]

Hey mat, I was wondering what college you coach at??

[@lukeriha6667]

He owns and coaches a travel ball team but he played and volunteer coached at Wake Forest

[@aidenginn2361]

You don’t need travel baseball to go far even though it really seems like you do

[@thatboydre8649]

Can you make a video about how to stop pulling the ball and how to hit inside pitches

[@jordankendall2705]

in the minor leagues teams will do promotions almost every game, are you aware of this as a player

[@menstrualgravy4621]

Henry Arron used to smack and old tire with a stick. Tony Fernandez was so poor he had to turn a milk carton into a glove.

[@baseballdave65]

Do you reply to messages at all?

[@johnhanson5492]

yes he does

[@baseballdave65]

Hopefully he see's mine...I am from Peabody originally and I played with either his dad or uncle..not sure ...

[@ryanwalker1763]

What advice would you give me. I live in small town middle of no where Texas and our highschool doesn't hqve a baseball team we only have a city league and the guys on the team absolutely hate baseball. I don't even know why they signed onto the team. Anyway... I really love baseball and I'd love to play in the major league one day but i don't have any good baseball around me. What should i do

[@johnhanson5492]

Sounds like the movie "The Rookie" with Dennis Quaid. True story of pitcher names Jim Morris... You should check it out. As for your situation, there has to be SOMEBODY in the whole city that also loves to play baseball... go on social media and find a few people and just go out and play

[@Lawomenshoops]

What do you think of parents who "pink shirt" their kids for purely sports/athletic reasons? Holding back their kid just for sports reasons! How the hell is Bobby Witt Jr. playing his entire HS senior year at 18 years old? Not accusing his parents of pink shirting the kid, but that can't happen.

[@edwardlindsey1390]

Lawomenshoops what do you mean by “pink shirt”? I’ve never heard that term before. Thanks

[@Lawomenshoops]

Edward Lindsey you know what red shirting in college is? Pink shirting is the samething for kids before college. Where parents hold back their kids a grade purely for sports reasons.

[@iamkurgan1126]

I'd never heard of this either. I agree that its messed up.

[@gabesachse5391]

First

[@malenursesrock2258]

Im desperate guy...need your help. I have Shohei Ohtani on my fantasy baseball team. I have a chance to obtain Hunter Renfroe. Hunter has been doing well and Shohei has not...but he came off of the injured list a couple of weeks ago and I'm afraid if I let him go he will start homering like Babe Ruth...what would you do?

[@johnhanson5492]

Keep Ohtani, or trade for an area on your team that is lacking. Renfroe has been doing well, but don't think that will continue. Ohtani has much more upside - hope this helps P.S> I'm a 3x fantasy bb champ :)

[@ethannneff]

No views, 4 likes, 3 comments🤦🏼‍♂️

[@mikebearup4379]

Good hitters get s hit 30% percent and FAIL 50% not 70, good hitters should be taking walks too.

[@anthonyraineri5190]

Baseball a game where you have to prepare and practice your butt off to fail 70% of the time Without failure there is no success.