In Episode 54 of The Grind Podcast, D1 baseball player Carter Beck opens up about the side of the game that often gets overlooked — the mental strategies that separate good players from great ones. Baseball is a sport of failure and pressure. Even the best hitters fail 7 out of 10 times, injuries are inevitable, and the competition only gets tougher as players move up.

What Carter emphasizes is that success doesn’t just come from mechanics, workouts, or talent. It comes from mental toughness in baseball, an athlete mindset that embraces resilience, confidence, and the ability to reset after setbacks. His stories reveal how affirmations, routines, visualization, and intentional practice transformed his approach to the game.

Now let’s identify how you can begin developing the mindset and skills of a professional baseball athlete…

1. The Power of Self-Belief (00:00–02:17)

In-Depth Analysis:

On The Grind Podcast with Zak Krysak, Carter opens with one of the most universal truths: success starts with belief in yourself. Baseball players can train their bodies endlessly, but if their minds are filled with doubt, performance will suffer. Carter describes using personal affirmations — even ones that felt exaggerated to build unshakable athlete confidence. He stresses that this isn’t about arrogance, but about developing the mental toughness needed to face constant challenges.

His story shows how perseverance and competition fueled his journey from small-town beginnings to Division I baseball. For many athletes from smaller programs, the battle isn’t just against other players, it’s against the inner voice that says they don’t belong. Belief silences that voice.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Athlete confidence is the foundation for peak performance in baseball.

2. 🧠 Affirmations help rewire negative thoughts and build long-term mental toughness in baseball.

2. Overcoming Injuries with Belief and Support (05:44–07:29)

In-Depth Analysis:

injuries test an athlete’s identity. Carter explains that after setbacks, the key to recovery is maintaining belief in your comeback while surrounding yourself with an athlete support system. He stayed engaged by attending practices, visualizing his return, and leaning on family and teammates.

This illustrates a critical aspect of sports psychology for athletes: physical healing can’t be separated from mental resilience. When athletes feel isolated or doubt their ability to return, recovery slows. But when they stay connected to the team and remind themselves of their purpose, healing becomes faster and more meaningful.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Visualization and confidence in recovery build mental resilience during injury.

2. 🧠 A strong support system (family, teammates, coaches) provides motivation and accountability.

3. Breaking Out of Slumps (11:03–12:39)

In-Depth Analysis:

Slumps are inevitable in baseball — what defines a player is how they respond. Carter shares that he used visualization techniques in sports to imagine successful at-bats, reconnecting with the feeling of making solid contact. Instead of spiraling into frustration, he kept telling himself he was always “one swing away” from breaking out.

This mental reset prevents slumps from becoming identity crises. By focusing on athlete mindset training, players avoid labeling themselves as “bad hitters” and instead see struggles as temporary. The ability to frame failure as part of the process is a hallmark of mental toughness.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Baseball slumps are won in the mind before they’re won at the plate.

2. 🧠 Visualization and focusing on small wins keep confidence alive.

4. Pregame Routines and Approach to Hitting (12:39–17:34)

In-Depth Analysis:

Confidence doesn’t appear out of nowhere — it’s built through preparation. Carter emphasizes the importance of a consistent pre-game routine in baseball. From targeted batting practice to mental imagery, routines give athletes a sense of control and readiness before the first pitch.

He also dives into hitting strategy. Great hitters don’t just rely on raw skill; they step into the box with a plan. Whether it’s focusing on fastballs in a specific zone or adjusting to curveballs, Carter shows how a hitting strategy combined with mental readiness creates confidence against any pitcher.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 A structured pre-game routine reduces nerves and sharpens focus.

2. 🧠 Developing a personal hitting approach is essential to long-term success.

5. Breathing & Self-Talk Under Pressure (20:35–25:01)

In-Depth Analysis:

Pressure moments can break even talented players. Carter uses breathing techniques in baseball to reset after each pitch, calming nerves and regaining focus. Pairing this with positive self-talk techniques, he reframes pressure as opportunity.

This isn’t just a trick for the field — it’s a transferable life skill. Whether at the plate, on the mound, or in daily challenges, focus under pressure comes from being able to slow things down, breathe, and remind yourself that nerves are normal.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Breathing techniques provide control and reset focus between pitches.

2. 🧠 Positive self-talk sustains confidence and keeps athletes mentally strong in high-pressure situations.

6. Building Mental Resilience and Avoiding Self-Sabotage (25:01–31:27)

In-Depth Analysis:

Baseball teaches resilience better than almost any sport. Carter points out that even Hall of Famers succeed less than one-third of the time, so failure is baked into the game. Through mental resilience practice, players learn to minimize bad days, avoid negative self-talk, and trust the process.

He also warns against self-sabotage — when players convince themselves they’re in a slump, performance often worsens. The key is reframing: see struggles as data, not destiny. This mindset shift prevents athletes from getting stuck in cycles of doubt.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Overcoming slumps requires patience, resilience, and perspective.

2. 🧠 Avoid self-sabotage by focusing on small daily improvements instead of outcomes.

7. Intentional Practice and Focus (34:59–36:32)

In-Depth Analysis:

Not all reps make you better. Carter highlights the importance of intentional practice in baseball. This means focusing on quality over quantity: sharpening first-step speed, hitting specific targets, or making adjustments after each rep.

Athletes often go through the motions at practice, but intentionality builds a true peak performance mindset. When practice mirrors the intensity of competition, confidence carries over into games.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Intentional practice makes training more efficient and impactful.

2. 🧠 Clear goals create better in-game adjustments and confidence.

8. Managing Emotions and Team Dynamics (39:49–46:08)

In-Depth Analysis:

Carter explains that frustration from bad calls, errors, or losses is natural, but managing emotions in baseball is critical to long-term success. Dwelling on uncontrollable factors only hurts performance. Instead, focusing on controllables in sports (effort, attitude, preparation) keeps players grounded.

He also emphasizes team communication: encouraging teammates instead of blaming them, and fostering accountability. This ensures one player’s emotions don’t derail the entire team.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Emotional control is a cornerstone of mental resilience and leadership.

2. 🧠 Team communication builds trust, unity, and collective confidence.

9. Balancing Strength, Recovery, and Mental Passion (49:29–54:26)

In-Depth Analysis:

Carter reminds athletes that passion for the game must be protected. He discusses how consistent grip strength training prevented his own hand issues, but also how important it is to step away and recharge. Prioritizing athlete recovery and mental health in sports is key to avoiding burnout.

When players only define themselves through baseball, pressure builds to unhealthy levels. Pursuing balance — spending time with family, exploring hobbies, resting the body — strengthens mental clarity and keeps the love for the game alive.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Physical strength training and recovery routines sustain peak performance.

2. 🧠 Protecting mental health prevents burnout and preserves long-term passion for baseball.

10. Transitioning to Higher Levels of Competition (54:26–59:09)

In-Depth Analysis:

The leap from high school to college baseball brings a new level of pressure. Carter shares that self-doubt creeps in for almost everyone, but success comes from athlete confidence, quiet resilience, and work ethic. He calls it a kind of “optimistic delusion” — the belief that you will succeed, even when the odds are stacked against you.

This never settle for average mentality differentiates the great from the good. Talent gets you in the door, but belief and persistence keep you moving forward when competition intensifies.

Key Takeaways:

1. 🧠 Transitioning to college sports requires resilience, adaptability, and confidence.

2. 🧠 The best athletes embrace a peak performance mindset and never settle for average.

Conclusion: The Mental Game is the Foundation for Long-Term Success as an Athlete

Carter Beck’s journey is proof that mental strategies in baseball are just as important as swings, throws, and lifts. From affirmations and visualization in sports, to breathing techniques, intentional practice, emotional control, and resilience, this episode shows how the mental side of the game fuels long-term success.

👉 For athletes, parents, and coaches, the message is simple: focus on building mental toughness in baseball and commit to the daily process of improvement.

As always, never settle for average.

• - Coach Zak

P.S. If you want to help your athlete(s) take their mental game to the next level and have direct 1-on-1 support helping them perform with sheer confidence, resilience and focus then book a FREE Discovery Call today. Let’s work together in developing a weekly support plan specific to your athlete(s) specific needs, goals, strengths and weaknesses.

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