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  • Understanding the Showcase Game: It’s About More Than Results

    Understanding the Showcase Game: It’s About More Than Results

    · Trosky Tuesday

    In today’s era, the showcase culture is booming. Athletes from all over are focused on getting their names on the radar of college coaches and professional scouts. However, as Coach Greg Moore and Nate Trosky have learned through years of experience, this approach often emphasizes the wrong things. The mental makeup of a player—the focus, attitude, body language, and response to failure—matters just as much, if not more, than your exit velocity or 60-yard dash time.

    Coach Greg Moore, who has scouted and recruited at every level from mid-major to Power 5 schools, brought up a powerful point during our discussion. He spoke about how the modern showcase has evolved into an environment where athletes and parents often misunderstand the objective. It’s not just about showing off your tools; it’s about who you are as a player and a person, and how you carry yourself under pressure.

    In our discussion, Greg shared a story about attending showcases where parents are hyper-focused on their child’s immediate performance—what he calls “the TikTokification” of baseball, where clips and snapshots become the main priority. Parents and players are constantly worrying about the momentary result—did my son throw 90? Did he hit a home run? But in reality, coaches are evaluating so much more.

    Greg underscored the need for families to understand the art of showcasing at its core. It’s about preparation, resilience, and building relationships over time. The truth is, it’s not about having a career day every day, and that’s okay. In fact, focusing on outcomes will often hold a player back, creating tension and inhibiting their ability to play freely and naturally.

    The Best Looking Strikeout: Focus on What Matters

    One story I shared during our session involved a big, strong player at a showcase at Stanford, who stepped up to the plate, took three great swings, and struck out. But instead of hanging his head, his mindset and body language were calm, composed, and confident. When he walked past Stanford’s Associate Head Coach Dean Stotts, Coach Stotts said, "That was the best-looking strikeout I’ve ever seen." The player’s reaction was priceless. It was a powerful lesson for all of us—sometimes, it’s not the result that matters, but how you handle yourself in the process.

    This story illustrates an essential point that Greg emphasized as well—coaches are always watching, always listening, and always evaluating far more than what shows up in the box score.

    Mental Makeup: The Secret Weapon in Showcasing

    In baseball, you’ll often hear about the “five tools” of a player: run, hit, field, throw, and hit for power. But at Trosky Baseball, we talk about a critical sixth tool: mental makeup. This is the differentiator that sets successful athletes apart. When Greg and I evaluate players at showcases, we assess them based on their focus, energy, confidence, ability to bounce back (resilience), and their preparation. These are the intangible skills that lead to long-term success. Let’s break them down:

    Focus – Are you present in each moment? Are you mentally locked in, pitch to pitch, or are you getting distracted by external factors like the crowd or the scouts behind the fence?

    Energy – Do you bring enthusiasm and effort regardless of the situation? Are you the player picking up your teammates and showing consistent hustle, or are you only energized when you’re performing well?

    Confidence – Are you a bulldog on the field? Even when things don’t go your way, do you keep attacking with belief in your abilities?

    Bounce Back – We call this “the rock.” How do you respond to failure? If you strike out or make an error, are you the first guy back in the dugout, ready to go again? Or does your body language tell the coach you’re mentally defeated?

    Preparation – This is the unseen work. How do you prepare for the showcase? Are you making calls to coaches, doing your research, and ensuring you’re physically and mentally ready to perform?

    Trust the Process, Build Relationships, and Focus on Growth

    During our discussion, Greg Moore shared a story about recruiting a pitcher who had a rough outing, giving up several runs early. Despite the poor stat line, Greg was impressed with how the player carried himself. He stayed locked in, showed resilience, and maintained great body language. The next day, Greg made the call to offer him a spot. Why? Because it wasn’t the numbers that mattered—it was how he responded to adversity.

    Young players and their families often ask us how they should navigate the recruiting process. My advice is to start early and focus on building relationships with coaches. Just like the example I gave of a player who committed to Stanford after five years of attending their camps, the relationships you build with coaches over time can be a game-changer. Attend their prospect camps, ask good questions, and show them not just your talent but your character.

    Final Thought

    As you step into the world of showcasing, remember this: Results are only a part of the equation. What will truly set you apart is your mental makeup, your ability to focus on the process, and your commitment to improving every day. Take these lessons from Coach Greg Moore, Tyson Lewis, and other players who have walked this path within our Gold Glove Membership visiting https://goldglove.troskybaseball.com/

    Ultimately, showcasing is about more than what happens in the box score. It’s about who you are as a player, a person, and how you respond to the challenges along the way. Stick to the process, build relationships, and let your mental toughness carry you forward.

    This is just the beginning of The Art of Showcasing. Until next time, stay focused, stay resilient, and keep getting better.

    With Coach Nate Trosky & Coach Greg Moore

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