As a coach, I’ve had the privilege of working with exceptional players, including Pete Alonso during his high school days. The key lesson I taught him—and all hitters—is simple: Learn to hit first; the power will come later. Pete’s journey to becoming one of baseball’s top power hitters proves that disciplined development leads to lasting results.

The Science of Great Hitting

Hitting is about mastering foundational skills before expecting big results.

Here’s the formula:

• Timing and Tempo (90%) – Be on time and consistent with your load and movement.
• Tracking (80%) – Anticipate and respond to pitch types, speeds, and locations.
• Approach (70%) – Deliver a repeatable, short, and direct swing.

When these are executed properly, the outcomes follow:

• Hard Contact (50%) – Hitting the ball hard is the result of proper execution.
• Hitting for Average (30%-40%) – Consistent contact leads to base hits.
• Hitting for Power (10%-20%) – Home runs and extra-base hits are the natural byproducts of great mechanics and strength.

For example, to hit 50 home runs in a season, Pete would need approximately 500 at-bats. His power stems not from chasing home runs but from mastering the skills that make them happen. This is the essence of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators): focus on the processes that drive success rather than the outcomes themselves.

The 7 Parts of the Swing

I break the swing into 7 critical components:

1. Stance and Load
2. Timing
3. Tempo
4. Tracking
5. Approach
6. Contact
7. Extension and Finish

To make any one of these components a habit, it requires 3,000 reps. With seven parts, that’s 21,000 reps—a level of dedication that demands discipline, not just passion. Great hitters don’t hope to improve; they build improvement rep by rep.

The Four Phases of Hitter Development

Developing a hitter doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a structured process broken into four key phases:

1. August–October: The Lab

This is the time to experiment—figure out what works and what doesn’t. Analyze and adjust your approach to build a foundation for the year ahead.

2. November–January: The Grind

Commit to building habits through disciplined, repetitive practice. This is the hardest phase but lays the groundwork for success.

3. February–April: The Zone

Convert habits into skills. This is where consistency takes over, and hitters begin to execute at a higher level.

4. May–July: The Show

It’s time to maintain and showcase the skills built throughout the year in live competition. This phase measures how well the work has translated into performance.

Building a Chair: The Legs of Hitting

A seat becomes a chair when it has legs to stand on. In hitting, those legs are:

• Timing
• Tempo
• Tracking

If one leg is missing or weak, the entire swing collapses. That’s why it’s critical for hitters to focus their training on these foundational elements.

Proving the Point

When Pete Alonso was in high school, he wasn’t yet the powerhouse slugger we know today. Instead of chasing home runs, he focused on perfecting timing, tempo, and tracking. He committed to the grind, building habits through thousands of reps.

By the time Pete stepped into the MLB, his foundation was rock solid. In his rookie season, he hit 53 home runs, setting a new record. This wasn’t luck—it was the result of years of preparation, discipline, and trust in the process.

Great hitters don’t waste time chasing results. They invest their time wisely, developing the skills that lead to success.

The question is: are you ready to put in the work?

Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

Baseball is more than just a sport—it is a stage where dreams are realized or left behind. As we step into 2025, it is time to take a hard look at the types of players out there: those who rise to the occasion and those who fade into excuses.

Meet Woulda, Coulda and Shoulda, three players who had big dreams but let blame, complain and shame dictate their paths:

1. Woulda – The one who always says, “I woulda made it if I’d tried harder.” Stuck in regret, they never took action.
2. Coulda – “I coulda been great if only I had better opportunities.” Always looking for excuses, but never creating solutions.
3. Shoulda – “I shoulda trained more, listened to my coach, or taken that shot.” Forever stuck in hindsight but never looking forward.

Woulda, Coulda and Shoulda are stuck in the past. But what about “you?”

There’s another group of players who are chasing their dreams right now:

• The Go-Getter – Already putting in the work, staying disciplined, and treating every opportunity as a stepping stone to greatness.
• The Sleeper – Underrated but hungry to prove everyone wrong. They thrive on grit and the element of surprise.
• The Dreamer – They’re still at the beginning of their journey, but their vision of greatness keeps them moving forward.

And then, there’s The Elite: the top 10% who don’t just dream—they perform at the highest level.

Promises to Keep in 2025

This year is full of potential. If you’re ready to leave excuses behind, here are three promises and guarantees to make to yourself:

• I will focus on progress, not perfection. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but small, consistent steps lead to big results.
• I will take ownership of my development. No more blaming others—commit to your goals, put in the work, and seize opportunities.
• I will build resilience. Failure isn’t the end; it’s a stepping stone. Learn, adapt, and come back stronger.

Travel Baseball: Then vs. Now

Travel baseball has changed drastically since Guerry Baldwin, founder of East Cobb Baseball, invented it in 1985. Back then, it was reserved for the top 10% of teams in America. I had the privilege of coaching under Guerry for three years as the hitting and outfield coach for the East Cobb Astros 16U team.

At the time, anything outside of travel baseball was All-Star level or local recreation baseball. But today, travel baseball has become “pay-to-play,” allowing almost anyone to participate. Youth travel sports now are a $39 billion industry, and parents are footing the bill.

Still, the reality hasn’t changed:

• The top 10% of players will remain at the top.
• The bottom 10% will quit by age 14.
• The remaining 80%? Half are Go-Getters and Sleepers, while the other half are Dreamers hoping to break into that top tier.

The Profiles of Baseball Players

Every player has unique strengths and challenges. Here’s a breakdown of each type, based on mental, physical, emotional, tactical and technical attributes, along with their motivation, commitment and resilience:

Woulda

• Mental – Dwells on the past
• Physical – Never maximizes potential
• Emotional – Struggles with regret
• Tactical & Technical –: Unprepared for competition
• Motivation – Low, stuck in excuses
• Commitment – Minimal effort
• Resilience – Breaks under pressure

Question – What action can I take right now to stop regretting and start progressing?

Coulda

• Mental – Blames external factors
• Physical –: Inconsistent
• Emotional – Defensive and frustrated
• Tactical & Technical – Limited by lack of focus
• Motivation – Short-lived bursts
• Commitment – Half-hearted
• Resilience – Struggles to adapt

Question – Am I blaming others for things I could take control of?

Shoulda

• Mental – Lives in hindsight
• Physical – Lacks preparation
• Emotional – Guilt-ridden and hesitant
• Tactical & Technical – Poor execution due to self-doubt
• Motivation – Often paralyzed by fear of failure
• Commitment – Inconsistent
• Resilience – Easily discouraged

Question – What’s one thing I can do today to take a step forward?

The Go-Getter

• Mental –: Focused and driven
• Physical –: Strong and disciplined
• Emotional –: Confident and balanced
• Tactical & Technical – Prepared and strategic
• Motivation: High –self-driven
• Commitment – All-in
• Resilience – Learns and grows from setbacks

Question – What’s my next step to reach the top?

The Sleeper

• Mental – Quietly confident
• Physical – Shows potential but needs refinement
• Emotional – Steady under pressure
• Tactical & Technical – Raw but promising
• Motivation – Fueled by being underestimated
• Commitment – Dedicated to improvement
• Resilience – Uses doubt as fuel

Question – How can I surprise everyone, including myself, this year?

The Dreamer

• Mental – Full of ideas but needs direction
• Physical –Developing
• Emotional –Optimistic but unsure
• Tactical & Technical – Still learning fundamentals
• Motivation – Vision-driven
• Commitment – Ready to start the journey
• Resilience – Eager but untested

Question – What’s one specific goal I can work toward today?

The Elite

• Mental – Razor-sharp focus
• Physical – Peak performance
• Emotional – Calm and composed under pressure
• Tactical & Technical – Mastery of skills
• Motivation – Intrinsic drive for greatness
• Commitment – Total dedication
• Resilience – Thrives in adversity

Question – How do I maintain my edge and stay at the top?

Where Do You Stand?

The good news? You get to choose who you’ll be this year. Will you be a Woulda, Coulda, or Shoulda? Or will you step up as a Go-Getter, Sleeper or Dreamer, aiming to join the ranks of The Elite?

As we dive into 2025, remember that your choices—not your circumstances—will determine your success.

Let’s make this the year you take ownership of your journey and swing for the fences.

What promise will you make to yourself today?

Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.

This past Saturday, during the LEAD Ambassador Select Team orientation, our CEO, Kelli Stewart, taught a powerful lesson on the difference between receiving exposure and being exposed.

It is a critical distinction that applies not only to baseball but to life. Healthy habits, built with intentionality and discipline, foster humility. In contrast, bad habits often expose a lack of humility, leaving us unprepared for the challenges we face.

The Role of Habits in Winter Workouts

As we move into the winter workout phase—November, December and January—this is the time for my hitters to lay the foundation for success. These workouts build on the assessment phase we conducted during the fall months of August, September and October. The assessment phase allowed us to identify what works and what needs improvement.

Now, in winter, the focus is on repetition. It takes 3,000 reps to build a habit, and with seven parts of the swing to master, that’s 21,000 reps to ingrain the right mechanics. These reps are crucial, not only for skill development, but for building the mental and emotional resilience required to thrive under pressure.

Many players dream of playing Division I baseball, perhaps at the University of Tennessee, the hottest team in the NCAA, and recent College World Series champions. As early as 10 years old, players can attend college baseball camps, and schools like Tennessee likely host January camps to scout talent. But too many players hesitate to attend these camps—not because they don’t want exposure, but because they fear being exposed.

Exposure vs. Being Exposed

The fear of being exposed stems from unpreparedness. Players who haven’t built the right habits and skills often avoid opportunities where their weaknesses might be revealed. But as Kelli emphasized during our orientation, the key to overcoming this fear is preparation. This preparation begins with proper assessment and is followed by the development of healthy habits.

Having the right travel team and trainers is essential, but even before that, it is crucial to be scouted and assessed by someone with experience. With more than 25 years in professional baseball as a player, scout, and developer, I’ve seen firsthand how critical this step is.

An assessment allows us to identify where a player stands and what needs to be built so they can confidently pursue opportunities for exposure—whether at a Division I camp or beyond.

The Importance of Humility in Development

Healthy habits are rooted in humility—the willingness to accept feedback, put in the work, and trust the process. Bad habits, on the other hand, reveal a lack of humility. They show an unwillingness to acknowledge weaknesses or take the steps necessary to improve.

Winter workouts are not just about physical strength; they’re about mental and emotional growth.

With thousands of reps, players not only refine their swings but also build the confidence to step into the spotlight, ready to receive exposure rather than fear being exposed.

Don’t Let Time Run Out

The window of opportunity to be scouted and prepared doesn’t last forever. Too many players delay this process, only to find themselves unprepared when it matters most. The solution is simple: Get scouted as soon as possible and build your game based on that assessment.

For young players dreaming of playing Division I baseball or reaching the major leagues, preparation is everything. Choose the right travel team, invest in the right trainers, and most importantly, start with a proper assessment to build the habits that will carry you to the next level.

Remember: Exposure is earned through preparation. Don’t fear being exposed—fear missing the opportunity to grow.

Thanks for reading.

Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.

For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.

If you found this inspiring and thought-provoking, or if you have any questions, comments or concerns, add me on Discord and let’s go deeper.

C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and a track record of success that can work for you.