The Hidden Edge in Baseball: Mental Performance
In a recent interview with Bruce Levine and David Haugh on 670 The Score, former All-Star Justin Turner opened up about one of the most overlooked aspects of baseball—and arguably the biggest separator in the game today: mental performance.
Turner, reflecting on the influence of legendary mental skills coach Ken Ravizza, described mental training as “a game-changer.” He emphasized what many elite athletes know but few youth athletes are ever taught:
“Mental skills are the separator. They separate big leaguers from All-Stars and All-Stars from Hall of Famers.”
From learning how to flush a bad at-bat to staying present for the next pitch, Turner spoke candidly about the tools that helped him thrive under pressure and bounce back from failure—a crucial skill in a sport where failing 70% of the time can still put you in the Hall of Fame.
The Game Within the Game
Turner credits Ravizza for giving him the ability to:
- Control emotions in high-stakes moments
- Process failure constructively rather than react impulsively
- Stay in the moment, instead of dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about future ones
- Be consistent, regardless of outcome
Mental Skills Aren’t Optional—They’re Foundational
As Turner put it, mental training wasn’t a big part of the game when he started—but it is now. And it’s not just for pros. It’s for every athlete who wants to:
- Build confidence under pressure
- Bounce back quickly after mistakes
- Stay focused pitch-to-pitch or play-to-play
- Become a true leader on and off the field
Ready to Level Up?
Our online self-paced Warrior Academy training program is built to deliver the same tools Turner is talking about—adapted for youth, high school, and college athletes. The path to consistent performance isn’t just about talent. It’s about learning how to train your brain like you train your body.
“The better you are at controlling your emotions and dealing with failure, the more success you’re going to have in this game.” —Justin Turner
Start training the skill that separates good from great
#GetBetterEveryDay #ElevateTheGame
