I was 12 years old, struggling at the plate, when Randy Hien pulled me aside one day after practice.

Randy was a legendary Little League coach. He took two teams to the Little League World Series from my hometown of Lincoln, RI. When he had advice for you, you listened.

I've always wanted to learn, always wanted to get better. So when Randy wanted to share something with me, I was all ears.

He kept it simple and his message was clear: The night before each game, sit down and spend a few minutes visualizing success on the field. The more details, the better. The more real it becomes, the more likely you are to achieve it.

I started that night. And I continued doing it until my playing days were over.

It gave me an edge that many kids didn't have.

Looking back, I'm grateful for that struggle. If I hadn't been struggling at the plate, Randy might never have pulled me aside. That moment, and what he taught me, changed everything.

I'd see myself putting on my batting gloves. Grabbing my bat. Walking to the plate. Digging in. I'd see the pitch I wanted to hit and watch myself hit it. Line drive up the middle. Hard liner in the gap. I made it as real as possible.

When I pitched, I visualized attacking hitters, commanding the strike zone, controlling my emotions. Fastball away. Curveball down. Fastball inside. I'd see them swing and miss or hit a weak ground ball.

At shortstop, I'd visualize making the routine plays and, of course, one or two web gems.

And I always visualized us winning. High-fiving my teammates. Dogpiles. Pure excitement.

The more vivid I made it, the more real it felt. When it was game time, it didn't feel new. It felt familiar. I'd already been there in my mind.

Your brain can't tell the difference between a clear mental picture and the real thing. When you visualize with enough detail, your mind treats it like a real rep.

You're building confidence, creating muscle memory, and preparing for pressure moments without stepping on a field.

Mental reps don't tire your body or wear out your arm. But they sharpen your mind and build belief. That's a huge advantage.

Tonight, before bed, close your eyes for 2-3 minutes.

See yourself succeeding. Make it detailed. Who's pitching? What pitch are you looking for?

See yourself hitting the ball hard. Making the play. Throwing a strike. Celebrating with your team.

Before your next game, visualize your first at-bat going well. See yourself executing.

When you can't practice—rainy days, off days, injuries—do these mental reps. Keep your mind sharp even when your body is resting.

The more you do this, the more natural it becomes. And the more your mind believes you can do it, the more your body follows.

Randy Hien taught me this at 12. I used it until my last game as a pro. Mental reps are real reps. They gave me an edge. They can give you one too.

Your mind is a tool. Train it like you train your body.

Start tonight.

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