"10 percent of baseball prospects have the physical skills to separate themselves from the pack, but the other 90 percent need to master the mental side of the game"
Sports psychologist melding analytics, mental approach to help players reach new heights
By Greg Johns MLB.com
Nov. 16th, 2015
SEATTLE -- Jerry Dipoto has a reputation as one of the new-wave "analytics" guys, but the Mariners' general manager doesn't consider sabermetrics being all that cutting edge anymore. For Dipoto, there is another wave coming in baseball -- better mental training for players -- and he intends to get in front of it.
Andy McKay, a sports psychologist from the Rockies , who will be Seattle's new director of player development. Dipoto notes McKay is "one of the more well-respected sports psychologists in the country" as well as a highly successful former coach at Sacramento City College and with Team USA. McKay also coached a summer league program for college players in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
"Of all the hires we've made, I'm so excited about seeing what Andy can bring to the table and how he connects an organization from top to bottom," Dipoto said. "That's the next great frontier, understanding how to conquer the mind. Finding out how players are wired, how they tick and then giving them the best opportunity to not get in their own way."
McKay believes that 10 percent of baseball prospects have the physical skills to separate themselves from the pack, but the other 90 percent need to master the mental side of the game in order to give themselves the best chance to succeed. And Dipoto envisions a Mariners system that incorporates that line of thinking from top to bottom.
"I think what Andy brings to us is the next great frontier. Andy understands how to dial a player in. He understands how to get them over their own fears, how to tackle the nuances of playing every day."
"Mental training, physical training, everything is constantly evolving," McKay said. "Whether it's analytics or how we're lifting weights, processing information, how we motivate or connect with athletes, the landscape of baseball is always changing."