For Bobby Witt Jr., Committing to the Mental Game is “Simple”

Bobby Witt Jr's Glove, Courtesy of Wilson

Blog post written by Rachel Schreibstein, M.Ed

Last week, I was watching the Yankees game – as any New York sports fan living in Boston would. They were facing the Kansas City Royals on a rare Monday afternoon game being broadcast by ESPN. 

It was a relatively low-scoring, slow game, so for the most part, I had it playing in the background while doing other tasks in my apartment and, if I’m being honest with myself, scrolling on my phone. However, in the top of the 7th inning, something from the broadcast pulled my attention to the TV screen probably more than a grand slam would’ve. 

As the Royals were taking the field, the camera centered on Kansas City’s star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., while the commentators described him as “one of the best players in the game, not just offensively, but defensively.” The broadcast crew then proceeded to explain how Witt Jr.’s commitment to the mental side of baseball has become a “focal point” of his career. I put my phone down; now I was listening.

They highlighted Witt Jr. ’s work with mental skills coach Brian Cain, who encouraged daily use of a “Success Hotline,” created by Dr. Rob Gilbert, Professor of Sport Psychology at Montclair State University. According to the broadcast, Witt Jr. calls this hotline number every day and listens to a 3-5 minute message which tells him that he has all of the necessary talent inside of him - he just needs to provide the water and sunlight to let those seeds of talent grow. He is also reminded of the power of the word “yet” – instead of “I can’t do it,” “I can’t do it, yet.” 

The commentators continued to provide color into Witt Jr. 's work with Brian Cain, including the development of a breathing routine that he can be seen practicing throughout the game. And, in full display on Witt Jr.’s glove is the word “Simple.” While they did not talk about his glove on the broadcast, I have a sneaking suspicion that “Simple” is stitched into his glove as a cue word to slow down and take the game one pitch at a time – something that Witt Jr. can look at to feel grounded when the game is speeding up on him. 

For someone in the field of sport psychology, these are foundational skills that we would encourage any athlete to use. But I couldn’t help but wonder about the impact of this clip on younger players looking to play competitively, more common baseball fans, or even my family, who still doesn’t fully comprehend what I’m doing for my career. 

The broadcast team put it perfectly: “The mental skills area is not talked about enough.” As someone who has watched baseball for most of her 24-year-old life, I’ve heard plenty of dissections of physical technique – slightly altering a batting stance, fixing footwork in the outfield – but this was the first time that I’ve heard the mental game spotlighted in this way, by a national broadcast, nonetheless. 

And I’d guess for most viewers of the game, that was probably the first time they were introduced to mental skills, period. More than just talking about it, the broadcast highlighted how one of the best players in the MLB today invests in the mental side of the game, understanding how developing strong mental skills is what makes great players elite. If younger baseball players see that even Bobby Witt Jr. needs a reminder that he has the talent inside of him, to simplify the game, and to regularly take a deep breath, it gives them permission–and encouragement–to do the same.