Harrison Bader enters his 10th MLB season with a new team: the Giants.
The 31-year-old outfielder explained to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic that he credits his mindset for allowing him to reach the major leagues and remain consistent.
Staying present and enjoying the moment is the key function of Bader’s outlook.
“The biggest thing is just playing where your feet are,” Bader said. “I think baseball players are trained so intensely to focus in on whatever’s directly in front of us.
“But the guys who can use past experiences, kind of as like a rear-view mirror if you will, to learn from them and then adapt and adjust for the current moment, I think will allow you to have a nice blend of reminding yourself where you came from and how challenging it was to come here, but also be reassured that you do have a lot left in front of you. And I think we lose that if we look too far ahead.”
Finding oneself in the present moment is easier said than done. But Bader explains that reminding himself of his path to the present, as well as the near future, helps provide that self-assurance in any given moment.
Bader suggests it’s important for young players to stay grounded in their journey to the majors.
“If you’re a young player that’s trying to work your way through the minor leagues; if you’re a young player who doesn’t know what school to go to — I think at the end of the day baseball is so connected that you will end up in the major leagues if you belong in the major leagues,” Bader explained. “But in order for you to get there, you have to remain present.”
Clearly, the path towards reaching the professional level is laced with challenges. Keeping that in mind helps Bader enjoy every single moment as it happens.
“I just know how hard it was to get here, and furthermore, I know how hard it is to stay here,” Bader said. “And even further than that, I know how hard it is to have success here on a continued and sustained level.
“So, I think just using and reminding yourself of how fortunate you are, I think, allows you to take the present moment for what it is, which is a beautiful and just awesome thing to experience.”
As he begins a new chapter of his career with the Giants, he surely will look to continue positioning himself in the present moment. While he aims to enjoy it in any way it manifests, he clearly wants it to be enjoyable for his team, and Giants fans, alike.
“So, I try to stay in that little dome, if you will, and just keep chugging along and rack up as many wins, and hopefully a ring, as possible,” Bader said.
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