***Sports Psychology, Peak Performance And Baseball Derek Jeter: What Makes Him So Special?

Derek Jeter recently got his 3,000 hit and he accomplished this milestone in very dramatic fashion.

There are a lot of things for baseball fans to love about the shortstop for The New York Yankees-Derek Jeter. But what really makes him so special?

He is a clutch hitter and a steady fielder. He has accumulated some fantastic statistics and he has been a remarkable performer in post-season play. He has delivered tons of key hits in some very big games.

The Yankee captain will undoubtedly make it to The Baseball Hall Of Fame on his first opportunity.

Derek Jeter also handles the media quite well and he has been a fine role model for youngsters who love baseball. He has maintained a fine image during the steroid era.
And for the most part, he has been a great ambassador for baseball and for sports .

Now I do not claim to be a baseball expert, but I think that there is one thing that Derek Jeter does better than any right handed hitter who I have ever watched play the game.

In my view, Jeter’s ability to hit to the opposite field is unmatched. And he is particularly adept at hitting behind runners who are positioned on first or second base.

Jeter has perfected that inside out swing and he can be incredibly patient in waiting for a pitch that he can stroke to the opposite field. He seems to be able to hit almost any kind of pitch to the opposite field. And he has developed the physical and mental skills to do this on a consistent basis.

I have counseled many baseball players who are stuck in hitting slumps. Some of them can break out of slumps and shorten the length of their slumps if they can hit to theopposite field as well as up the middle and down the line. A versatile swing, like Jeter’s can allow them to adjust to different pitches and it gives hitters a lot more flexibility and leeway with their timing.

Young hitters, other major leaguers and hitting coaches at every level would be wise to study Derek Jeter’s mental and physical approach to hitting and imitate his method forgetting the ball to the right side of the field.