Too many kids dominate early and disappear by high school. The game rewards development, not early peaks.

Growing up, I was a pretty good ballplayer in my area—but I wasn't a national prospect. In high school, I was an above-average pitcher in New England, but only lightly recruited by D1 schools.

Seton Hall recruited me when I was 15. I was invited for an unofficial visit junior year. Then—nothing. Crickets. They ghosted me. Never heard from them again.

I wasn’t sure what happened. I kept thinking, What could I have done better?

After the silence from Seton Hall, I received one scholarship offer: University of Rhode Island.

URI's Head Coach Frank Leoni believed in me when no one else did. He saw potential where other coaches saw limitations. He gave me a chance to prove I belonged.

I was grateful.

But I also knew—I had to get better. So I got intentional about improvement.

I studied Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Roger Clemens—their mechanics, workouts, mentality. I mimicked what they did. I made it my mission to find out everything I could to get better.

I kept improving. Year after year.

Fast forward to my junior year at URI. We're playing Seton Hall in West Palm Beach, Florida. As fate would have it—I was the starting pitcher that night.

We won 5-2. I threw a complete game and beat the team that didn't think I was good enough to play for them.

To me? That was redemption. My World Series. My chance to show Seton Hall what they missed.

That was all mentality. Driven to win. Fought to the last out. One of the most memorable games I ever pitched—because it was personal.

Three months later, I was drafted at 20 years old—while most of those 'best 12-year-olds' had already left the game.

⚡ This Week's Play: The Long-Term Development Mindset

1. Play Multiple Sports

The best athletes I know played multiple sports—whatever interested them. Different sports build different movement patterns, disciplines, improved athleticism, and help prevent injuries.

And it’s not just me saying it — MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz preaches the same thing.

Watch: Hall of Famer John Smoltz on the importance of playing multiple sports  (start at 0:30)

“Playing multiple sports — it’s the reason why I played baseball as long as I did, and it’s the reason, for the most part, why I stayed as healthy as I did.” — John Smoltz

2. Development First, Exposure Second

I wasn't invited to the elite national showcases as a kid. I competed for Lincoln High School in Rhode Island, summer ball for American Legion Post 14, and focused on getting better, not getting 'seen.’

My father always told me, "If you're good, they'll find you"— and he was right.

The game has changed, I get it. But the principle hasn't: build the player first, then let exposure happen naturally. Don't sacrifice development for hype.

3. Study the Game & Practice with Purpose

Read about players you admire. Watch how they train. Understand the why behind what they do. This separates kids who mindlessly grind from kids who improve intentionally.

I had off-seasons where I did other things. Then I came back hungry. Year-round baseball at 12 doesn't make you better by 20. Intentional practice with breaks beats mindless grinding.

4. Trust the Process

One scholarship offer. But I kept improving. By college, pro scouts were watching. By 20, I was drafted.

Trajectory matters more than where you start.

Kids who develop steadily stay in the game longer. Kids who peak early often flame out. The best 20-year-olds played the long game, not the short one.

💡 Parent Tip: Recruitment is a side effect of development—not the goal.

Peaking at 12 vs. Playing at 20

One is chasing stardom. The other is building a career.

If your 12-year-old is already feeling pressure about college, take a step back. They should be having fun, playing multiple sports, and competing.

The kid who's still getting better at 17 and 18? They're usually the ones who:

Your job isn't to create a prospect at 12. It's to raise a player who's still competing—and improving—at 18.

⭐ Pro Tip: Find your Nolan Ryan

I studied Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Roger Clemens. I watched highlights. I read books. I broke down their mechanics.

Your kid should do the same—start with 1 or 2 players they admire and study them:

Make it a project. Learn from the best to become your best.

Development isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's about learning from players who've already done it.

🧠 Mindset Rep

Before practice, ask yourself: Am I chasing approval or chasing growth? Write it inside your hat or notebook. Remind yourself every day.

Those are two different mindsets. One leads to burnout. The other leads to sustained improvement.

The best players choose improvement. Every time.

Remember: If you're good, they'll find you.

Ask Coach Steve

Got a question? Hit reply and ask me anything—about coaching, parenting, player development, expectations, or keeping kids in the game.

Let’s figure it out together.

Help me keep more kids in the game. If you found this helpful, please forward it to another parent or coach.

Thanks for being here. See you next week Inside the Dugout.

-Coach Steve-

Steve Holmes
Founder, Inside the Dugout
2006 MLB Draft | All-American | Youth Coach | Dad