Mark Teixeira’s Off-Season Baseball Tips for Kids

By Patch Staff

Whether you're a Carmichael Little Leaguer, local high school player or just a loyal fan, it’s always a good time to sharpen your baseball skills. Patch asked New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira to give us his best advice on honing baseball skills in the off-season. With the Little League World Series under way, now is a good time.

What are three things I can do to become a better fielder?

1. Make sure you know what to do if the ball is hit to you. Are there runners on base? How many outs are there? What is the score of the game? All of these factors decide where you will throw the ball when it is hit to you.
2. Your feet and legs are very important: Make sure you are doing plenty of footwork, speed and agility drills. This will put you in the best possible position to catch and throw the ball.
3. Practice every possible situation: Don't just field ground balls or fly balls. Turn double plays, field slow rollers, barehanded plays, balls near the fence and any other play that could occur during a game.

What are three things I can do to become a better hitter?
1. The tee is not just for little kids: Hitting off of a tee is the drill that I do the most. It keeps the ball still and allows you to concentrate on the correct mechanics over and over again. Muscle memory is best built using the tee.
2. Be patient: It is very important to swing at good pitches. It doesn't matter how talented you are; you must swing at strikes to be successful.
3. Take your "best" swing every time: Make sure to swing hard and follow through. Many players are not successful hitters because they cut their swing short and do not get the most speed and power out of their swing.

How can I stay in shape during the off-season?
Play, play, play: When I was a kid, I swam, played tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer, and was basically outside all day long. Strength and athletic ability are developed at a young age by playing many different sports and being active all year long. When the sun is out, turn off the television, computer and video games!

What are your best tips for young ballplayers? Tell us in the comments.

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