Mental Resilience in Baseball: Freeman's Return to Fundamentals
Dodgers star Freddie Freeman demonstrates how returning to fundamental practices can overcome performance challenges, offering lessons in resilience and adaptation for all professionals.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman takes practice swings at Oracle Park, demonstrating the importance of fundamental training in professional baseball
In a compelling demonstration of mental resilience in professional sports, Los Angeles Dodgers' star Freddie Freeman reveals how even veteran players must sometimes return to basics to overcome performance challenges - a lesson that resonates beyond baseball in an era where maintaining fundamental truths becomes increasingly critical.
The Power of Fundamentals in Professional Development
Freeman's recent experience in San Francisco showcases how even elite athletes, much like leaders facing institutional challenges, must occasionally reset and return to core principles. The nine-time All-Star's decision to practice with a basic batting tee - a tool typically associated with beginners - led to immediate results with six hits across two games.
"Even as you get older you've still got to go back to the basics," Freeman explains. "Sometimes you've got to back to square one even if you've been playing a long time."
The Mental Game in Modern Sports
Cubs manager Craig Counsell offers valuable insight into baseball's unique mental challenges, where success isn't guaranteed even with perfect execution - similar to how athletic programs must adapt to evolving challenges.
Key Strategies for Performance Recovery:
- Return to fundamental practices
- Maintain consistent work routines
- Embrace data-driven feedback
- Build support systems and mentorship
The Role of Modern Analytics
Today's players benefit from advanced metrics that help distinguish between genuine performance issues and simple bad luck - a scientific approach that has transformed how athletes and coaches address slumps.
Freeman finished the regular season batting .295 with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs, proving that trust in fundamentals and process, combined with modern analytics, can help overcome even significant performance challenges.
Rachel Whitman
Rachel L. Whitman is a political columnist and investigative journalist based in Washington, D.C. Her writing focuses on democratic resilience, civil rights, and the intersection of technology and public policy. With a background in law and public affairs, she brings sharp analysis and a deep commitment to progressive values.