April is a powerful month. Not because it’s the beginning, but because it’s the end of a phase. February, March and April represent what I call the Empowerment Phase—also known as The Zone. This is where players grow in confidence, gain clarity and begin to understand who they are becoming.
But May is coming. And May introduces a new phase: The Application Phase — The Forge
The Forge is where development gets tested.
It’s where what you’ve learned must now show up in how you perform.
The Four Phases of Development
Every hitter I train develops through four phases:
- Assessment (Lab) – What do you have?
- Engagement (Grind) – How do you work?
- Empowerment (Zone) – Who are you becoming?
- Application (Forge) – Can you perform under pressure?
Right now, we’re closing out the Zone.
Next… it’s time to produce.
Summer Is The Separator
May, June and July will reveal a lot.
Players will step into different environments:
- Recreation Players (Local)
- All-Star Players (Regional)
- Travel Elite Players (National/International)
Each level matters.
But let’s be clear: Every level requires a foundation.
The Truth About Recreation Baseball
There was a time when recreation baseball was everything.
I grew up playing at Cascade Youth Organization at Adams Park in Southwest Atlanta. Hundreds of kids. Full fields. Packed summers. Strong community.
No travel required.
We built our game locally.
Then we earned the right to become All-Stars.
Then we traveled.
That was the progression.
Today?
Recreation baseball has been demonized.
Kids are being told: “If you’re not travel, you’re not good.”
That’s not just wrong…
It’s dangerous for development.
Foundation Before Exposure
Everything in life starts with a foundation:
- You learn to read before you analyze
- You learn to walk before you run
- You learn money basics before investing
- You learn to drive before you race
Baseball is no different.
Recreation baseball is foundation ball.
It is where:
- Confidence is built
- Repetition is introduced
- Love for the game is developed
Skip the foundation… and you build on sand.
The Baseball Diamond Framework
Think of development like running the bases:
- Home to First – Recreation Level (Foundation)
- First to Second – All-Star Level (Refinement)
- Second to Third – Travel Elite (Advanced Competition)
- Third to Home – College/Pro (Mastery & Performance)
You don’t skip bases.
You earn your way around them.
The 8 A’s: What Separates Levels
I teach what I call the 8 A’s:
- Attitude
- Awareness
- Adjustments
- Adaptability
- Aptitude
- Athleticism
- Aggressiveness
- Assertiveness
Recreation Players
Strong in Attitude and early Awareness
Developing everything else
Typical range:
Awareness, Adjustments, Adaptability → 1–4
Athleticism, Aggressiveness, Assertiveness → 1–5
All-Star Players
More balanced across categories
Beginning to compete with consistency
Typical range:
Core performance traits → 4–7
Travel Elite Players
Strong across all 8 A’s
High-level consistency and competitiveness
Typical range: Most categories → 7–10
Performance: The Power of Repeatability
At the end of the day, production matters.
Out of 10 opportunities:
Recreation Player
Hits ball hard: 1–2 times
Throws strikes: 1–2 times
Makes plays: 1–2 times
All-Star Player
Produces: 3–6 times
Travel Elite Player
Produces: 7–10 times
That’s the difference.
Repeatability.
Not talent alone…
But the ability to do it over and over again.
How Players Move Up
You don’t move up levels based on hype.
You move up based on production and development.
To move from Recreation → All-Star:
- Show consistent effort and attitude
- Improve awareness and understanding of the game
- Begin producing 3–4 times out of 10
To move from All-Star → Travel Elite:
- Improve adjustments and adaptability
- Increase strength, speed, and athleticism
- Produce consistently (5–7 out of 10)
To move from Travel Elite → College/Pro:
- Master the 8 A’s
- Perform under pressure
- Produce at a high level consistently (7–10 out of 10)
Don’t Skip The Process
The biggest mistake I see today?
Kids quitting the game…
Because they’re not “travel players” yet.
Let me say this clearly: Where you start does not determine where you finish.
But skipping steps will absolutely limit how far you can go.
Recreation baseball is not a weakness.
It’s the beginning of strength.
As We Enter The Forge
May is coming.
This summer will reveal:
- Who trained
- Who developed
- Who is ready
But most importantly…
Who respected the process.
Because in baseball… and in life…
You don’t become elite by skipping the foundation.
You become elite by building on it.
The watch the podcast, CLICK HERE.
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.
