Who's on First? Everything Baseball Players and Their Parents Need to Know, (Hardcover)

From tee ball to pro ball, this book is the ultimate baseball career advisor. Written by current and former professional baseball players and coaches, it is a game-changer for baseball players and their parents. Competing in America's pastime not only requires skill development and willpower to meet the challenges of the game, but also the wisdom to navigate the industry and exercise sound judgment with every decision. Combining expert baseball knowledge with first-hand accounts from Major League Baseball players, Who's on First? explains how to succeed and find fulfillment in the baseball journey - on and off the diamond.

Who's on First? is divided into three distinct parts to allow you to focus independently and process all the information you will need for each phase of the baseball journey.

Part I: Development and Competition. This part covers everything you need to know about private baseball instruction, recreation and travel leagues, camps and showcases, middle school, high school, junior college, NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, and all levels of professional baseball, including the recruitment process, agent and advisor representation, scouting, and parent etiquette. This section contains exclusive interviews from current and former big league players who reached the pinnacle of this career journey. The personal stories shared in this section are what bring meaning to the game, humanizing even the stars, and providing an inside perspective from players who progressed through each level.

Part II: Foundational Essentials. Regardless of what you think you know, pursuing the right development path is crucial as a ballplayer develops their career-determining playing habits and skill sets. If you are already in the middle of the journey, evaluate your current learning processes, coaching options, and development choices with the information we share to understand the aspects you should be aware of with respect to training. With insights into the necessities of failure and advice on developing athleticism prior to specializing in baseball, you will gain a foundational understanding of the best paths to take for long-term improvements. The Throwing Insider and Hitting Insider chapters that follow provide the most credible resources in the game to maximize the time and effort you will invest in this journey.

Part III: Performance and Wellness. This section will undoubtedly be part of the athlete's future, whether the journey ends before high school or at the Major League level. Building the foundation for success starts early. We first dive into baseball nutrition, strength, conditioning, and recovery, to build explosive, injury-free power, as well as prime the mental practices that separate the winners from the losers. Next, we provide industry-leading insight regarding common injuries, injury prevention, and injury rehabilitation. We include the latest medical practices and research on recovery remedies with surgical and non-surgical considerations. Trust this section to answer your questions, address common misconceptions, and provide relevant information when making decisions on general wellness, performance tools or injury prevention and recovery. Part III concludes with industry-leading insight regarding performance aides and state-of-the-art evaluation technologies, such as launch monitors, that will give the athlete the best