I hope your season is going well and that the work you put in during the off-season is paying dividends for you on the field.

The Major League Draft starts today, and if things go well some of the players that you know will get the opportunity to play professional baseball this summer.

The one thing that those players will notice is was how hard everyone will work.

Sure, some of them busted their tails in high school and college ball to get to this point.  That's how you develop a 90+ mph fastball or a strong, flexible lower body.  Working hard!

But in pro ball, EVERYONE works their tail off year round to give themselves the very best opportunities to succeed.

Even if you think you're working hard, trust me someone's working harder than you. And come this June (or next June, or any June after that), you're going to have to compete against that guy for a Major League Draft slot. Or for a spot on the pitching staff of a minor league team. Or, if you're in high school, for a college scholarship or a spot in a college pitching rotation.

And all those days you miss now at working hard and getting better mechanically, or getting stronger physically, or getting mentally tougher will catch up with you.

There are no shortcuts in baseball. If you want to open up opportunities for yourself, you have to MAKE the opportunities happen by working harder and SMARTER than the next guy.  You can't just show up and expect it to happen!

You can have the best Strength and Conditioning Manual for Baseball Pitchers but even that will only take you so far. If you don't put in the effort, remember there's a guy in the next town or next city or next state that is.

And he's going to take your spot. And he's NOT going to apologize to you when he does.

You can start now, even if you're in-season, just like college and professional pitchers.

It is never too early or too late to improve your game....

Work Hard!