Outline & Summary of Week 7 Hitting Program

1. Key Focus: Mental Approach and Off-Speed Hitting

Mental Approach:

• Move beyond the “little league” mindset of just trying to get a hit.

• The best hitters have a plan of attack based on the pitcher, personal ability, and hitter splits.

• Core approach: Think middle-away, react inside. Let the ball travel and stay inside.

• Hitters should lean toward aggressiveness—attack early fastballs rather than waiting for breaking balls late.

• Role expectations:

  • 1, 2, 7–9 hitters: Work counts, make pitcher throw more pitches.

  • 3, 4, 5 hitters: Be ready to attack early fastballs and create pressure.

Supporting Data – Batting Average by Count (Fastball tendencies):

• After 1–0: .271

• After 2–0: .291

• After 3–0: .297

• After 0–2: .175

• After 1–2: .180

• After 2–2: .192

Off-Speed Hitting:

• Let the ball get deep.

• Stay inside the ball—don’t leak out or hook pitches away.

• Think opposite field to reinforce staying back and inside path.

• Actual hit location depends on pitch location, but the mindset is to wait and stay balanced.

Supporting Data – Batting Average by Count (All pitches):

• 0–0: .345

• 1–0: .344

• 2–0: .350

• 3–0: .407

• 0–2: .157

• 1–2: .166

• 2–2: .183

• 3–2: .211

Instructional Video: Week 7 Mental Approach & Off-Speed

2. Weekly Preparation

• Players must watch video on mental approach and off-speed hitting before practice.

3. Week 7 Practice Itinerary

• Format: 4 stations, 12 minutes each + 1 final group session (10 minutes).

Stations:

• Group A – Big Cage: BP rounds with game simulation; coach throws BP with situational adjustments.

• Group B – Cage 4 Drill Work: Front toss with colored baseballs (visual recognition + timing).

• Group C – Cage 3 Power Development: Tire and sledgehammer (3 x 10) plus heavy ball work.

• Group D – Cage 2 Velo Station: Away tee work, curveballs from machine, combo with front toss/overhand.

• Group E – Cage 1 Core Strength: One-knee shot-put throws with medicine ball (4 x 8).

4. Equipment / Setup Notes

• Hack Attack machine, L-screens, multiple buckets of baseballs.

• Colored baseballs for visual drills.

• Sledgehammer, tire, heavy balls, heavy bat.

• Tees for away pitch training.

• Medicine balls for one-knee rotational throws.

Overall Focus of Week 7

• Train hitters to develop a game plan at the plate instead of just reacting.

• Reinforce aggressive early-count hitting and situational awareness by role in the lineup.

• Build confidence in off-speed pitch recognition and execution.

• Combine mental approach, live simulation, timing, and power development in one integrated week.