Per·se·vere, verb
to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.
Perseverance is a principal theme in the life of a baseball player. There are many situations in which baseball can test an athlete trying to make strides in the sport. Perhaps you are in high school trying to get a baseball scholarship or in college waiting to be drafted. Maybe you are pushing your way through the minor league system or already in the majors making near minimum salary. Whatever your situation, your job never rests. You have to wake up every day and strive to reach higher, go farther and push your limits in order to be better than you were yesterday.
Despite the physical demands, baseball is a sport overwhelmed by failures. The best in the game get on base a mere 3 times out of every 10 opportunities; yet, it is the sum of the few positive outcomes that define a baseball player’s greatness. It is for this reason that baseball is extremely challenging mentally, even more so than physically. For every RBI, there will be a strike out and a ground out, yet you have to approach your next at bat with your head up high and the past behind you. A ratio of 3:10 in most cases is considered subpar, but in baseball it is congruent with success. The players that succeed in this game are the ones that persevere despite their failures.
The point that I am trying to make with this blog is that failures are what make us strong enough to succeed. I am going to leave you with a quote by Michael Jordan who I believe said it best.
“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”