Was I a Great Little League Player?
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- Today we talk about my Little League career and if I always knew I would be drafted and play in the MLB. Antonelli Baseball is the #1 online resource for baseball instruction. We breakdown the mechanical aspects of hitting, fielding, throwing, and base running to make them easy to understand and actionable. We also cover the mental side of baseball and offer college baseball recruiting advice. We delve into the details that you will not find anywhere else.
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Did you ever have coaches or managers that you didn't like/didn't like you?
Yeah the Syracuse Chiefs the old triple a team with the Washington Nationals didn’t like him.
Matt, love watching your content. Interesting story...I played against you and Jeff Allison in the New England Regional tourney way back in the 90’s. It was in Lydonville, VT and the same year you guys won the Babe Ruth World Series. If my memory serves me we gave you one of your only losses that year but couldn’t pull it out in take all regional final. That Peabody team was loaded. Glad to see you had a great baseball career and really enjoy the videos.
When you realized that your professional baseball career was likely over, what type of thoughts went through your mind? Were you scared or nervous that you had to find another job? Did you immediately think of creating Antonelli Baseball?
BryGuySH i think he's said he had coaching offers from a few teams he played with.
There’s a video on that
He said he was fully prepared
man these videos are so awesome
if you could give one tip to a hitter, one tip to a fielder and one tip to a pitcher... what would those tips be?
Hearing your progress throughout your career honestly gives me a lot of hope to make it to the league.
When did you get your first scholarship offer and who did you have offers from
Question when did you start varsity baseball and when did you get your first scholarship
I just found you today and your videos are amazing! In this one, you pretty much described yourself as a typical middle infielder - but we know there's no such thing as "typical. "
You come across as straightforward, modest, low-key, but focused. Appreciate that.
I'm a 3-year (former) Little League 2nd baseman who never turned a 6-4-3 double-play. So, I wasn't good. But you were. Even though you said you didn't have a shortstop's arm, you played short. I know you had that God-given zip on your throws that I noticed I didn't have by the time I tried out in high school.
I just wanted to share that because watching your videos invites us to comment because you are so honest and accessible and 99.99% of us wish we could have had your career, injury-plagued as it was.
You made it, and now you're telling us what it was like, and helping steer young players in the right direction. Great work!
Thank you
I was on an undefeated State Champion Little League team in the late '60s, and was really a good second baseman but very small. There was really only one guy on our team who had true natural talent, our shortstop. Man he could play. But he never pursued baseball as a career. He could have made it. Very important point however, is that, at the age of 12, we were all playing pure physical ball. Almost no one in our league knew the mental aspects, the tricks and rules, and it may be more the learning of that aspect of the game which pulls up the hard working journeymen players to the next level. I certainly wish I knew the game better then, but alas.
Michael J - congratulations on your success! I played 2b in that era also - and I never turned a double-play. We didn't win much either. But after 3 years, I was hooked on the game.
I responded because you talked about not knowing the mental aspect at that age. I can relate because I tried out for my high school team 4 years, never making it, but I learned so much from our coach who also taught history and economics. He also talked about meeting Ted Williams at a coaching clinic and the "compared to who?" logic Williams used to get a read on a player he hadn't seen.
Thanks for triggering those memories, and really, congratulations on the remarkable success you and your teammates experienced early on.
Mark buehrle got cut I think 2 or 3 years in high and didn't have really any scholarships and he played awhile in the MLB (probably heard of him) and saying about that draft in the majors in little league, I was drafted 8th overall in the draft and I was like the biggest bust ever haha. Don't feel sorry for me I'm mainly a basketball player and golfer. Great video like always
Superxslugger what's your real name I doubt you got drafted 8th overall
Aaron Young he was drafted 8th in little league
Ethan Mixes ohhh I see now
+Aaron Young lol yeah I was a 12 year old with heck of a tryout and our town took little league VERY SERIOUSLY like its MLB. We had 3 years in the majors of little league and if u got drafted to 1 team. You would stay on that team for all 3 years. It was the ages of 10-12 (4th-6th grade) and instead of trying out as a 10 year old I went to the "minors of little league" and only struck out 2 times that season and averaged about .700 BA (not kidding) I was know as a top player in the minors and then sucked those 2 years in the majors haha being the 8th pick out of 30 selected and yes there were kids NOT PICKED that tried out, they were automatically brought to the minors. Thanks for reading
11 year old*
what was your average in high school
.420
Like .700
Same story as me lol. Never hit a homer through high school or bp, but summer ball when I was 17 I hit one to left like you
Howdy Matt - As a former "baseball dad" here, I just wanted to say that I've enjoyed watching a number of your videos and appreciate both your candor and humility. My youngest son had both the skills (catcher) and desire as he began to excel throughout his youth playing days in a very similar fashion as you outlined in this video. Played on a AABC "Connie Mack" WS team back in 2003. He too benefitted from having an great professional coach/mentor in the pre/off season very much like yourself. Regretfully, he quit baseball shortly after he got to college. Seems like D1 coaches aren't particularly enthralled when they hear that their prospective players are science majors. Today, he's an attorney living in Chicago and a season ticket holder with the Cubbies. But he still is ever loyal to his NY Yankees...
Thanks so much and thanks for sharing!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!!
“Only” 21 starts in MLB...
That’s actually kinda awesome. How many guys can say they played in even one game?
According to the most recent data given by the MLB 19,183 people could say that they have been apart of a Major League roster dating back to 1871. So its quite impressive to just make it onto a team.
folks, when you listen to this, there is a theme, he was good enough to play with kids 3 to 4 years older and still be one of the better players. he was also pretty humble about it. If your kid isn't able to play "up" when they hit puberty, chances are they just aren't good enough. Just let them play, have fun and enjoy themselves.
Did you have any superstitions or routines
I do. October at 7pm at griffith stadium. mlb 17 lol
I love all your videos. The best part of your videos is how thoughtful and self aware you are. For example, you aren't afraid to admit someone else was better than you, or that you have weaknesses. That's kind of rare in any kind of sports media.
Thanks!!! I appreciate that!
@@AntonelliBaseball The pleasure is all mine. Most sports stories are either amazing tales of greatness or tales of sadness or failure. It's incredibly interesting to see what your average ballplayer goes through.
Awesome video Matt, thank you for your honesty and humility. I can just about guarantee the guys who criticize you Major League career, didn’t go nearly as far.
Thanks!!!
Fantastic job with this video Matt. I hope the young people who watch your videos will embrace and emulate your humility.
Thanks!!!
I think you were alot better than you realized as a kid but you were just a truly humble player who didn't see how good your game was but only saw the flaws which caused you to never stop busting your ass and is the reason you made it to the bigs! If more kids had your attitude alot more kids would make it.
You've built a reputation over the last 3 weeks that as a subscriber I hit the thumbs up before I even watch.
I know this is an order video but I wanted to thank you for sharing your past experiences. My 8u son has been one of the top player in his Cal Ripken league and is looking to get into travel ball this next year. His buddys made the 8u team and he was placed on the 9u team. Looking at his progress since he started he has progressed quicker than most kids in his league and playing with better kids for usre pushes him to be better as well. Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
Very inspirational for a lot young guys out there.
I like listening to you because you love the game. One of the coolest experiences I've had in life is playing three way catch with my dad and my son. It was electric!
Thanks!!! That is very cool!!!
I hit a league best 3 homers and .714 average 23 RBIs and made the all-star team I play year around with personal instructors on my travel teams own facility I play in at least once a week
The best player in the little league organization I grew up playing in made it all the way to AAA in the Braves organization. He was a stud player growing up.
Dude you’re the man.
You made it.
That’s what’s matters most.
Would have been nice had you been able to have stayed in The Majors for 11 years but @ least you got that cup of coffee.
SALUTE
Congratulations.
Your hard work paid off
I think this was a great topic to talk about. I feel to many kids and PARENTS are misled borderline delusional about kids making it to the bigs. Talent without a doubt is going to be required to make it to the top level of any someone wishes to pursue and in feel kids have become dependent on the mind frame of in good now so I’ll be good later, so I don’t need to put in the work. Wondering if maybe you could talk about some situations when kids or young players had all the talent in the world with little work ethic. Who now talk about how good they were back in the food oils days while on lunch break from their job they now hate.
Auto correct really did a number on that, but you get the idea.
Thanks so much!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I really like this guy. Super down to earth
Oh yeah I’ve heard of David Eckstein.. dude was the biggest hussle player in Angels History. He was huge in Anaheim. That 2002 team was all heart
Same here on contact. 200+ at bats last year had no home runs only three k's though. Great trait to have. Force them to make the play. Love the vids bro
Matt, as always your honesty and insight are very much appreciated. Thank you!
Thanks Dana!!! Thanks for watching!
These videos are incredible. Explained so well and very self aware. Great explaining the path to MLB in thoughtful terms. Sucks that your wrist issues kept you from more MLB success. Baseball is a better sports for having you.
"Coaches Kid at SS !" Domingo Ayala Just kidding Matt. Love the videos and the honesty.
I'm 62 and enjoy your content. I am a better fan because of it. Yeah, could never hit a breaking ball, lol. I also think your videos are very valuable for kids, their coaches and parents. Thanks.
Great stories, very informative. Love the insight into the struggles of getting to the majors.
When was it when you realized you were gonna get drafted. And when did you realize you were going to play D1 college baseball
Just GirouxIt I want to know the same thing !!!!!!
Just GirouxIt he already made a video about this
Do u people even look at the videos he’s made. Literally all your questions would be answered if u just look
Great job explaining that, it was really informative!
Thanks man you motivated me for high school ball:)!!
The guy who ended up being the best on our team senior year and going d1 was very average in younger years. He couldn’t carry the bat bags for my travel teams ages 12-15. Never even made rec league all stars. But when all us “cool guys” were chasing girls and sneaking beers he was working. And it paid off
Very insightful Matt. Appreciate your honesty.
Can you do a video about how you were recruited for college baseball?
Marc Chodos I think he did one... or one similar 🤔
Ah why don’t you try finding the video
checked out your Minors stats... incredible BB:K ratio. you must have had an awesome approach and/or quick bat.
Thanks!!
The moral of the story is ... it's hard to hit home runs. Great video Matt!
What's your opinion on weighted ball training?
I was literally thinking about this 💭
Gives me so much motivation to make it to the mlb especially when he said that that one guy (idk his name) was an average player in Little League
Good luck to you!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
My son & I love the videos man- great job!
Thanks so much!!!
has anyone you know tried out for a pro tem and been successful in the mlb
Mental game of baseball
Can you do a video on how it is to go out in public as a major league player??
Love your videos👌
i like this guy. he's so human. "not everyone is an A-Rod"...(with steroids, and natural ability).
love your channel and hearing your answers. really good stuff.
I was top 5 tallest in little league. Thats it! Lol. I was never close to being good. But, once Babe Ruth and Sr. Babe Ruth hit, I got a little bit better. Still, never was great. But, i was okay with that. I still had some personal highlights along w team highlights along the way. (I WON a championship, scored the winning run the game before that and had a bases loaded game-winning hit, after going 0-3 w 3ks in the 3 previous abs in a Sr. BR game; and a mention in the local paper lol)
Good stuff man. Appreciate you making these, really interesting.
I did great in little league with the right coaches. My on base was something crazy like .700 + the year they let me play my natural position on 2nd AND VERY IMPORTANT didn't ban me from using a wood bat. Hit a lot of singles and walked a lot as well. But after that year I went up to the "better" team and they refused to let me use my wood bat and put me in right and I just stunk. Had they let me be me I'd had probably continued that great performance at the plate. Lol oh well. Then they put me in at 3rd base in a game after never practicing there and took a spike on a steal and that was the end of my athletic career for football and baseball compliments of a now mostly titanium ankle
great stories man
Same for me, this year (I was in seventh grade) I was most likely the best on the team (I never hit a homerun becuse the field was like 365") but I was way better then the year before, and I started over 8th graders.
Did you make varsity as a freshman?
How did you take care of your arm when you were throwing so much and how did the mlb pitchers take care of their arms so they wouldnt get sore? What would their icing schedules be
A lot of really great players never make it to MLB, I played softball with a guy who was a catcher in Yankees organization who got his knee torn up in low minors, when he was younger he was great in little leagues thru college. sometimes its just not meant to be
Were you putting in any extra practice at the different age groups, 9-11 yrs, 12-15 yrs, and then older travel ball/high school prior to college?
Also when do you think is a good age to start travel ball? I'd be lying if I didn't say I think the 7u-9u age groups are kind of a waste. I would love to hear your opinion.
I got better over time and I just learned baseball...... I started hitting well when I told my coach I could get a hit batting leadoff and he's like "you sure" and I did and from then on I was knocking shit everywhere (contact hitter, with a HR here and there)...... Funny, because in little league before I got crazy I only had 1 hit........ I got a confidence in me at 9 or whatever it was and it was on... (this is only a guess) but I hit .800 that second little league season - then I learned and I was drafted in the "first round" of my "clinics" draft - after that season everyone wanted me...... Obviously high school is different from little league.......
Like some of your players showing the drills and u giving instructions
My son's a 9 yr old little league player, first year of kid pitch ball in the Dixie League in Alabama. We are really enjoying it, this is the most fun its been since we started in t ball. When is a good time to start conditioning for playing? Such as weight training, more extensive cardio? Jr high? High school? When did you start?
Great!!! I started in high school. Kids are starting early now. I don't know the exact age, but I think you can start to implement some stuff in Jr. high. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
How did you practice or did you practice during your little league career
Every kid should watch this.
Thanks!!!
Can you do the video on what was it like being a video game soon? I'm very interested in that
Hey matt is there anyway you could go over some good workout routines, how to increase bat speed, faster hips etc.
Can you do a video or tell me if you need to go to a big school to get drafted or signed
Jacob Adrian I agree! please do
You should make a vid talking about what it was like getting hit by a 90 mph fastball. Did it hurt or did your adrenaline rush stop the pain
Baseball is a funny sport. In peewee ball I led the league with 4 homers over the fence. In little league and pony I was tied with another guy. In high school I only hit 4. Then in my late teens to early 20's I went crazy hitting a homer almost every 6th at bat. The competition was much better but I was seeing the ball so much better and my swag at the plate grew. I remember jacking a bad pitch into the scoreboard 400ft because I wanted to demoralize the pitcher and had that much confidence. But with age and a working life you do lose your edge. Granted this wasn't the pros but an extremely competitive league that MLB scouts were present at every game. I was in my very early $20's and they offered me a 20k signing bonus. I told them no thanks. I make too much money and do this for fun. Looking back I wonder if I could have made it to high minor ball?
Interesting story thanks for sharing!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Did you always feel like you were behind/under water and had to catch up? Was there ever a time playing baseball where you felt you were at or above the level of those around you? Did you ever have to fight to stay motivated? Does it always feel like competition or does it feel like a game or a puzzle or both when you are competing for so long. How many times did you get the feeling of "I made it." versus times you felt like you failed? I'm watching too many psychology videos on youtube I think.
Dude I'm a contact hitter, but I hit this notorious bomb of a home run and they measured it as seriously 600 feet ..... The wind was blowing hard out that day...... The ball ended up breaking some old Italian womans window while she was making pasta for her husband - and she brought the baseball back.... lol........ The ball apparently landed in her pot of pasta and she returned it........ I still to this day have the baseball......... It was just one of those nights where the wind was right and I connected on the bat and "boom".......... I thought I was going to fly out actually - then I got to home and was like "WTF" ....... Coach is like "you just hit the longest home run in history" ........ I have the ball that's all I care about - they think it was 600+ feet......
I’m only 14 but I am like you were , I am one of the best in my league I am shortstop I never miss on a swing but I don’t got a lot of pop
Nice!! Keep working at it and good luck! Thanks for watching and commenting!
When you're in the majors, do you have access to the field whenever you want?
good question
I work for Angels baseball, I'm there every day. I have never seen a player taken a workout on a non game day. Most of them are either on the road, warming up or playing when they are in season. When they aren't in season, they go home. For example, Mike Trout is in NJ rn, And he won't be back until January.
Plus they also have a ton of workout facilities. Trust me
21 games is still a lot more than almost everyone. There are thousands that would love to have played even 1, or even part of 1, game in the majors. 200 is better than what a lot of people would be able to do even without the injuries you had!
Hey Matt what was fanfest like in the offseason for you did you go or not, 2) did you play in the futures game and what was it like to be minor league all stargame did they fligh you or did you take a bus or what
who impressed you most in terms of talent?
who impressed you the most in terms of professionalism?
who impressed you the most in terms of baseball knowledge?
What where press conferences and the media like?
I miss little league. I played for duxbury mass and hit a homer in the state championship against marblehead. we lost though.
Corey and Kyle Seager played for my little league.
Baseballer_AJ thats lit
What kind of mindset do you have to have if you're in high school and want to play Major League Baseball
Have any of your teammates gotten into fights with each other
My 12-yesr-old son has a fundamentally and mechanically sound swing. In fact, several baseball people I respect have said it's at a professional level, particular his bottom half. However, he struggles to hit in games because he will only swing at strikes. As you know, a strike in little league is not really a strike. As a result, he's striking out looking an awful lot. Aside from telling him to expand the strike zone, is there anything he can do to change his approach at the plate?
I'm a big fan of yours and I ask this in the best way possible but as a first round pick who didn't spend very much time in the MLB, do you consider yourself a bust?
Michael Balko Highlights yes he does
How did you get the attention of MLB/College Scouts?
He sent a friend request on MySpace
How hard is it to move up through the minor leagues?
Not hard at all it’s easy as shit. It’s hard as fuck I’m sure why don’t you actually try and watch the video he made on it donkey
Great vid as always.
I am a junior in high school and i also have no power when im hitting, but im also a good hitter like you were. How did you gain enough power to start hitting homers or even just to get it to the fence?? by the way your videos are really interesting to watch, great job.
Cody Burkhammer Start swing earlier
It’s in your core and wrists for power.
Wow, amazing story that you had no home runs in bp or games through high school yet hit 20 something in the minors. Very neat to hear.
Also live in mass
20 homeruns in little league how long was a season
Did you ever deal with blisters on your hands from hitting or throwing too much? How did you treat/heal them?
Fascinating
Thanks!!!!
A lot of the guys that were studs in little league etc fizzled out fast.
Absolutely I saw the same thing
do you think it is smart to go out of high school or do you think it is better to go through college?
how good do you need to be to become a major league player
GlitchMonster10 very good
I live in Canada, but I'm in house league, although i played for my high school team. Baseball is my dream, how will i get farther into my career?