Why I Quit Playing Professional Baseball
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The fact that you made the majors means that you're the 1% of 1% of baseball players. It's amazing that you make these videos and are so frank about your experiences. That decision to leave the game and go into coaching had to have been incredibly hard. But I know that you get so much fulfillment in coaching.
Thank you!
An excellent lesson for everybody, no matter their interests, goals, desires, etc.! Embrace the process, enjoy the journey, and all "success" is just icing on the cake.
Absolutely!!!
Let’s be real; no one understands the sport of baseball and the struggle it takers to get to the MLB. They don’t know it’s a game of failure!! They see the NBA, NFL and don’t know the most technical is baseball. I played high school and college and I was never more frustrated or beaten up in life than after a baseball game. It is a humbling sport and will strip every ounce of ego or self confidence you have. You made it and that’s an achievement. I played with Randy Wolf in HS and he was a beast
Hockey is the most technically challenging sport, not baseball.
Not just baseball, but in everything in LIFE, it's the journey, the places we see, the people we meet, the hands we can extend, that's what counts.
Truth
Matt, I run a 35+ team and co captain a 50+ team in the Dallas area.
There's a roster spot for you when (not if) you decide you want to play again.
Who’s Anthony?
@@mikerood7193 what
This might be your best video ever, I had a lot of Matt Antonelli in me when I was in high school, just wanting to succeed individually.
Thank you!!
I played in a beer league near south San Antonio filled with 9-5 blue collar workers, college players, former college players, and ex minor leaguers, and a couple of ex major leaguers. The most notable was Randal Simon. Guy was in his mi'd or late 40s and would hit the ball so hard the right side of the infield would play shallow outfield. We would sit with him after the game and barbecue and he would tell us great stories. He said he was going to play until his kneels fell off. He played with us for 4 months then went to go play in Mexico. You don't appreciate major league skill until it's right in front of your face.
I remember him. He pretty well almost got that shift in the majors
Yea he was fun! Other than that time he clubbed a sausage in Milwaulee.....
This might be your best non-instructional video. I particularly like how you were able to compare it to your football experience.
I have an elite 13 year old swimmer on the baseball team that I coach. He’ll be a Division 1 college swimmer at a major program. But, man, he loves to play baseball! He’s really good, too.
Thanks!!!
I played high school ball with a guy who had scouts watching him. Think of a guy like Joe Kelly, tall, lanky, nasty attitude. He was our #1 pitcher, could touch 90 on the gun (this was in 1993), had a wicked change up and could bomb the ball all over the field when he was playing position. Got a scholarship to play in college and never saw the field. He fell to the pressure and had a major alcohol problem and last I knew he worked at our hometown post office.
So much truth in what you said. I think darn near all of us that have any flicker of talent get that end result of making it to the big leagues in our head. When we are young, we think that if we work hard enough, it will be a straight path. It seldom works that way. The longer you play and the more you advance, the more curves in the road that you have to deal with. Injuries, depth of players you are competing with within the organization, trades, new talent in the draft, the travel, the financial strain, comments from well-meaning people about "when are you going to get a real job", all become obstacles that you are constantly dealing with mentally. It saps the fun out of the game. The tipping point for me came when they switched me from a second baseman to catcher. The reason given was that my skill set might make that the best path to advancing in the organization. I actually bought into it for a little while. Then I could see that my body was taking a daily beating as the organization was trying to find out which of wild-ass hard throwers might become pitchers. I wasn't going to make it to the next level let alone the show as a catcher. I learned some things about life and the game that helped me become a better coach later, but it stung at the time. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest and thanks for sharing your story.
No problem and thanks for your thoughts!!!
I think that without realizing, you answered a big what and why many young athletes struggle with what you just described about focusing so much on the end result and really not enjoy every step of the journey. Even as parents, we can some times unconsciously fall into that type of behavior, which then translates into unnecessary pressure that kids put on themselves. So in that sense, we are guilty of taking the fun away when we should just as well enjoy and encourage enjoyment and love for the game. Great eye opener, thanks!
Absolutely!!
I needed this i am this exact player u talk about. I need to just enjoy the moment more and the game when i play and think about that game and hopefully in the future things play out well
Good luck to you!!!
Great video Matt. Thank you for this. Some of us have really been outstanding in our respective fields and made it to the highest level only to come to realization that it’s more special and than we ever appreciated and it’s usually a very short-lived peak. Being able to move on in an honest and humble way is difficult but essential, and to keep the dream and experience alive in the next generation is the most important thing we can do.
Thanks!!!
You did it man... you did what practically every little boy dreams about doing. One day suiting up in a major league uniform. I envy you for that so much. You got to have your dream come true, whether it was 1 game , 20 games, or a 20 year career... You did that shit!
Thanks!!!
AWESOME video. I’m showing this to my son when he gets home from school.
Awesome! Thank you!
Dude, you are so down to earth. Another quality share.
Thank you!!
Just watched this (1 year after you posted). ... I really loved this heart filled video, as well as all of your videos (especially the play-of-day explanation vids)! You're a treat to listen to! Thanks for giving us an inside look of the MLB.
Thanks so much!
You had offers to play independent league but you said in other videos you were all banged up ...It's good that you make videos like this an talk so you can reach closure on it ...
This channel has the most honest talk about baseball and pro sports life one can find in anywhere in the internet and I am very thankfull that Matt shares it with the world.
Thanks so much!!
I've watched a lot of your videos and am always impressed by your attitude and humility. You have hall of fame parents and you've made them proud. No amount of money, fame, all-star games or WS rings can touch that. You are making a difference as a coach. I have no doubt about that. Stay cool Matt.
Thank you!
Matt, you are the best because your honesty seems to come easy and that may be the main reason I keep coming back to consult you and your comprehensive program. My coaching journey and my 7 year old's approach to the game are both better because of your efforts. Please don't ever quit coaching, Thanks!
Thank you so much!
That was a glorious confession which is a rare thing to hear ….ever, much less from from someone who has achieved some of their goals (but not all of them). It was insightful and honest.
Because you are now having fun in a sport that you are truly passionate about, you will be a much better coach. The journey should never be sacrificed…especially when, in the big picture of life, it goes by so fast.
Thanks I appreciate that!
Interesting perspective. Obviously I had nowhere near the talent, but I just remember baseball when I was high school age putting so much pressure on myself to do well. I didn't enjoy the journey, and i didn't enjoy any moments. If I did well, it was a relief more than anything. Like, well that was supposed to happen.
I hear you!!
Can you do a video on agents? When did you first hire/interact with an agent? What role did they play at various stages of your career?
i played semi pro in the 50's and it was because i loved playing the game and when i injured my arm where i could no longer throw i realized it was over for me. I did not think about anything beyond the game, glory was for others i was just glad to be able to play.
This was so open, honest and inspiration for up and comers.
Thanks so much!
I kinda went to the same things about 10 years ago with my art. I was trying to pursue something that I thought I wanted to do but I was doing it for everyone else, it made me not enjoy it. When I transitioned to a new path it made me love what I do and probably even more after that.
I hear you!
Good for you man to be able to come to that, I’m sure there’s many former pros or almost pros that can’t get over how their career might’ve been different
Thanks!!
That was so honest and exactly what athletes need to hear! Can’t wait for the next session!
Thank you!
Matt, you became with time more famous as a coach/baseball school owner/TH-camr/dad/Laura's husband than someone who played a bit for a Padres and who had a decent career in the minors mostly as a lead-up batter before injuries slowed you down.
186K subscribers on TH-cam that's like 186 career RBI in the MLB, no?
To be fair, not all MLB first-round draft picks do the MLB. It's not like the NHL, the NBA or the NFL where being a first-round pick probably means you will do the pro team relatively soon. You did the MLB really quickly at a young age - and frankly, if you look at the whole picture you succeed in a lot of stuff you do. I hope one day an MLB team will hire you as a coach/scout because you got more skills in that field than the vast majority of those who do that job right now. Sometimes the best managers in the MLB have very short MLB careers but they became legendary managers or coaches.
In retrospect, we cannot change the past, but I am among those who think you should have played in Japan/Korea instead of playing AAA after the Padres released you considering you were probably labelled a yo-yo player between Triple-A and the MLB. Your friend Wade LeBlanc did that for a year. It's a culture shock to play in Asia (I went to see games both in Japan and Korea) it's not for everyone - but at least you play in a real pro league (the Japanese pro league is probably between AAA and the MLB) and the pay is ok and the travel is much less brutal than in the AAA or even the MLB.
Thanks!!!!
Thank you Matt, for taking us through your journey.
Be proud of yourself while others could not even accomplish
Thanks!!
Matt you are a genuine honest and good person.Learn a lot from all your videos.Thanks
I appreciate that!
I am not even a big baseball fan. I am a hockey guy. But this is seriously a great channel created by a great man. Keep it up Matt.
Thanks so much!
Very honest therapy session, unfortunately I think that happens to a lot of young players. To focused on what might come and not enjoying the journey.
Thanks and very true!!
Cleats? Surely you mean spikes. Maybe that's why? Joking aside, this was a great segment and extremely interesting to understand the thought process behind a decision a pro athlete makes. Thanks man.
That was your best video - fantastic insight, man
Thanks!!
We all have our paths. I chose to continue playing adult baseball instead of coaching. I just have no interest in dealing with parents.
Been watching you for a long time anto, never been able to relate to a video as much as this one. Falling out of love of the game for personal reasons, only to fall back in love for holistic reasons is something that’s hard to describe. It’s like a rebirth lol, for me anyways.
Crazy thing is, as your kids get a little older - I can see you having a career as a hitting coach or whatever with a major league club. Would love to see you go down that avenue one day
Thanks!!!
The fact that people who have zero talent and can't even play minor league baseball tell you "you stink" is beyond me.
You played in the minors, you even made it to the show, you hit a homerun in the show and even though your journey was short, you at least had a journey in the show, and that's more than all of us average joes can say.
And now you are dedicating your life to helping others play baseball, and i think that's great
Thanks!!!
Man I never played at your level but I was decent enough to get three tryouts. Now as the manager of an adult baseball team and as much as I love baseball it’s nice to play a pickup game once in a while for fun. I’m still playing and hitting at 42 brother.
Great stuff!!
Coaching is the best thing I’ve ever done. Seeing when that new skill or technique clicks in a players mind is just awesome
I agree!!!
@@AntonelliBaseball playing Mens league ball in the spring doesn’t suck though. Oldest dude in that league is in his 80s and still playing
Thank you for sharing the part of having fun. love your channel!
Thank you!
You are a great person to do baseball videos because you played at every level from.high school to the Major Leagues.You are just at a different place in life,now jt's easier to see the big picture.Stop playing baseball as a pro because nobody wants you is nothing to be ashamed of because you made it farther than most of us!!!
Thanks!!
Yea I started playing baseball when I was 5 years old and played locally at other parks in my area until I was 12 years old. At 9 years old I started pitching and back then I could throw side arm and I throw left handed by the way. Then somewhere during that time I learned how to throw over handed and so at age 13 I started playing travel baseball and we would go everywhere to play when school was out and I live in Georgia just north of Atlanta. So we would go to places to Columbus Georgia then Florida, Illinois and all these other places and we would have to drive to these places. But I was fortunate to play for coaches that played pro or college and so my knowledge is rich from learning from them. Then I pitched in highschool for three straight years but at the end of my junior year MLB was having tryouts at Emory University. So I went to it and they told us that if they were interested in you that they would call you and so I got the call. The Florida Marlins which now is the Miami Marlins had interest in me and this has been over 20 years ago now but I remember them wanting to see me pitch again but I can't remember now if I did or not. But I was playing fall ball for a team in Atlanta and a scout from the Florida Marlins happened to be at that game. I think I told them my situation and so he wanted to see me pitch a side session and to work on some things with me. But after the session was over he said be careful in what you wish for because you might just get it and so when he said that then my thought was that I might have a shot. So my senior year in highschool I got cut and looking back I don't think I took it seriously but it devastated me because if I played during my senior year then there would be scouts all over the place. So after highschool was over I wanted to play college baseball and so I went to Andrew college which is close to the Florida border and did a tour of the campus. But see I was a Special Ed student in highschool and see college for me is over my head and so that school didn't have the resources that I needed. So basically my dream was over but then I wanted to play after highschool but my velocity started to drop and I couldn't get anybody out anymore. So I knew that it was time to give it up. But now I'm 45 and my eyesight isn't what it once was and when I throw my arm begins to hurt. But like you baseball is still a passion of mine and it's still in my blood and so I'm trying to find a way to share my knowledge to kids but not as a coach but maybe as an instructor
Matt....I prefer to think that you retired, rather then quit. Father time is still undefeated lol
Haha thanks!
Can't put my finger on what it was exactly, but for some reason, these things you said in this video very strongly reminded me of some things I read in the books Mickey Mantle wrote. Now, I'm kinda wanting to go back and re-read those. It's been years since I read them last.
Interesting!!
I had a childhood friend who was the 1st round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 1980. He won 15 games in the big leagues. He lost 25. He played a couple of years in Japan. He wore the uniforms of the Cubs, Indians, Mets, Padres & Yankees. He finally quit after having a solid year out of the pen and not getting a September call up from Baltimore's minor league affiliate. He said he couldn't bring himself to compete at that level anymore, it had just stopped being FUN. He's a minor league pitching coach with the Oakland Athletics system today.
Thank you for sharing so much true about this crazy and fun game…no one say that you can’t be happy while you’re in the pursuit of greatness
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video, Matt! Goes to show that someone can be successful in baseball without having to look at a stats sheet or video highlights. One door closed so another can open.
If I could like this video twice I would lol. Appreciate the honesty & words of wisdom!
Thank you very much!!
Best part of coaching is seeing that kid that no one thinks has a chance wins the big game for the team
Absolutely!
You should do a discussion on how PELVIC TILT affects the swing, since i cant find any information on it.
Good therapy session, Matt. The wisdom of age and experience!
Absolutely!
Thanks for your honesty Matt! After hearing this I can definitely relate & appreciate this content.
Thanks!!
Looking back, what would you do different? Different exercises to recover from your injury? Work more on fielding and just getting by on batting like Simmons? Bulk up and play 3B?
Work more on fielding is probably the biggest one. And if I bulked up anymore I would
Have been in the WWE lol
Holy cow, Matt. Stumbled across this video today. Almost word for word as if I looked into a mirror and explained why I stopped playing pro ball. I may shoot you an email. Would love to talk some time. Take care
Thanks for watching and that sounds good!! Talk soon!
Thanks Matt. That was a great share.
Thanks!
I always enjoy watching your videos. This one was you’d best, by far. Well done, sir!
Thank you!
Even playing 1 game in the MLB is very special. There are few people who can say they did that.
Thanks!!!
Ha, this was awesome! Gives me some great motivation speech ideas for my teams ! Thank you!
Thanks!!!
My nephew was a very good D-1 left handed hitting catcher. Played a few years of minor league ball but decided to be a coach. So he got a graduate assistant job at the school where he graduated. He did not get paid much but he did get a free MBA out of it. Now he manages an engineering firm that makes fuel cells and is one of the most sought after coaches for youth baseball in his area. Now he is married with a kid and has a nice life. He said he did not want to be 35 and in the minors chasing a dream that might not come true. He said, what ever they were looking for I did not have.
Thanks for sharing!!
You are in a good place now. Good for you!
Thanks!!
Mariners fan checking in…somebody show this to Kelenic. Matt is describing him to a T. You can tell he’s impatient to be an all-star and lead the M’s to the playoffs, so every time he strikes out his body language and reactions are terrible. Matt, please fly to Seattle and chill the kid out for us
I’m on it!
@@AntonelliBaseball Haha thanks man 🙏🏼
I played baseball, football and golf in high school. I wanted to become a pro baseball player so bad. I was always riding myself so hard, I never had any fun in baseball. I was on a travel team sponsored by the angels in Arizona, made up of high school prospects from around the state. I wasn't good enough to go d1, i was getting looked at by small universities and JuCo. My dad worked at a d1 university so school was gonna be free if I went to ASU. He told me if I went somewhere else, I was on my own for tuition. So my dream was essentially over. When I was in my 20s, even thinking about baseball put me in an off mood. Its funny how things happen... I'm 32 now..All the guys that I knew didn't really get past triple A, except for 1. he makes the league minimum. I wish I was joking but even the #1 guy at my high school that had the state homerun record .. he didn't make it either. I ran into him while he was working behind the counter at autozone. I'm having a son now, I'm going to let him play sports and I'm going to teach him to enjoy it for what it is, a game.
Hearing this makes me wonder if a guy just plays for fun would he ever make it? When I coached I was unlike the other coaches my focus was maximizing fun and working on aspects of fielding and batting. The kids liked me the most but this makes me wonder if a focus on enjoyment instead of winning was the right thing.
Great perspective as always, Matt! It’s funny that you said you enjoy coaching baseball more than playing. Do you find yourself getting more nervous about Matty’s games because you want him to do well? I get WAY more tense about my 11-year-old’s pitching appearances than I ever did about my own.
Thanks! I honestly don't get nervous at all. I just like watching him play. Failing is part of it. I get that now. Just want him to have fun.
@@AntonelliBaseball that’s what I’m aiming for … I hope to get to that level of pure enjoyment!
DYNAMIC, from the heart Video! Wish we lived closer to your program. Would love for my son to have played/learned from you 🤩
Thanks so much!
Matt what happened to the series of you throwing and batting for speed and exit velocity records? Did you get injured?
Got hurt and old and not enough time lol
Now you can just “Be”. And you’ll prob wind up in the hall! Lol. Enjoy the journey. Glad I stumbled upon this video.
Great insight Matt
Thanks!!
I had the same journey but never made it to the Show. Appreciate your story.
Matt, looking at your minor league stats they are very good. Your walk to k is really good. You had good power too. Your 2007 and 2011 minor league seasons were fantastic. If I was in charge you would have been playing in alot more Major League games. So many players in the Minor leagues now days match your hitting stats, they are good hitters, but MLB teams keep pulling up the hitters that are strikeout kings with more power. Garbage! You are a more polished hitter. Im guessing injuries must have hurt you since I see low at bat totals in your minor league career. You seem like a player that would have kept trying to get better, and thats what MLB teams want. You would have learned to play for the love of the game as time went on but I blame these MLB teams that cant see talented hitting and want more show. God has called you here now as a hitting coach for a reason and may he continue to bless you as you are gifted in helping others. Thank You!
Would you ever want to be an MLB coach/manager if you got the opportunity? Like if you got offered a job as a hitting coach for a minor league team would you take it?
I was wondering same thing
I’ve been offered multiple but have not accepted any to this point
I'm 82. I needed this at 22!
I hear ya!
Always good content. Off topic question when you were developing your current philosophy regarding swing mechanics or I guess the way you go about developing young players swings did you have any influence from Richard Schenck. You two seem to have similar views not exactly aligned but similar and use some of the same drills. When I am working with my son I try to think WWMD (what would Matt do). Recently I have been thinking of incorporating some of the things that Richard does but wanted to know if you had ever heard of him and more importantly if you think what he teaches is good. Just wanted to get your opinion as I think you are an amazing baseball teacher and student of the swing. Thanks sorry about the long letter.
Thanks!! I learned mostly from Shawn Wooten. Not sure who he learned from though.
9:18 high note
Always good stuff. Thx 4 spilling ur guts lol
Thanks!!!
Whats the song you use in the intro of all your videos? It's always stuck in my brain. Is it just some stock-music?
Yeah I believe just stock
can you please do a tour of your memorabilia. Your bats, Gloves Cleats Etc.
Sure!!
you could still play pro in korea australia or other.much respect
I was thinking the California Penal League
@@AntonelliBaseball lol coach you are the most humorous of them all. much respect
You see a lot of guys in the pro's,all sports that their team could be up 50-0 but they're having a bad game and sulking.Cam Newton in football prime example.
Football player Matt probably would have won a Super Bowl on the Pats.
He still might!!
Would you have done it differently if you had to do it all over again?
For sure
@@AntonelliBaseball I respect the honesty in that answer. Lots of people when asked that just say “no” bc it sounds profound
Interesting video sir. Quick question - what could you possibly have done differently though? I think you retired guilt free because of the goal driven attitude. YT comments not the place for long stories - but I always teach my 2 kids, whether you get cut from the JV team or set pro records - just make sure you did everything you could to be the best version of you [so you can sleep well at night, knowing you gave it everything you could]. Which as you know is loaded with drills, tee time - all version of BP, workouts, studying...videos....long list. Would you maintain that work ethic and try to adapt your personality to being a better team mate...or if you had to do all over again, would you not change a thing?
Well I think most people would say I was a good teammate, just inside I was always more interested in my personal success. I also think a lot of players are like this that want to play at a really high level. It’s tough to say if I would have been able to change anything.
what if they fused your wrist like they do to people necks. then would you be able to hit?
Would've been cool to see you still on a field
For sure!
@@AntonelliBaseball I have a question for you was wondering if there was a way to reach out to you about getting something signed by you?
So humble, to be the best in any sport you have to be selfish. That's what separates the great from the elite and lets face it you played in the Majors.
Very good point
Can you PLEASE come coach in the padres org????
Sure!!
As talented a player as he was, Matt is a much better coach. He has landed in the right place.
Thanks!!
1st Round pick? Incredibly bad 1st Round pick but good for Mike A.!
How did you get scouted pleasee I need to know
So that’s where Video Game Matt came from. It all makes sense now
Haha!
Do you think that if you took your football attitude to baseball you would have spent more years in the majors? When I see your face in your major league at bats, sometimes it looks like you have the attitude "If I don't hit a home run right now, I'm a failure or I'm going back to AA".
Happy to be your therapist!
Thanks Dr Jim!
10 minute session costs 19.95 Matt my prices are decent. Tax deductible you may have to fight for that....lol
You are cheap as hell! I would have paid you at least $100
I think your too harsh on yourself sometimes by how you express some things. #GreatCareer not everyone get the chance you had. You had an amazing career. Did you ever thought playing in the dominican winter league? This year we have a lot of mayor league players playing this season. (pujols, hnley ramirez aaron hicks delino deshields) .. (greatings from the DR)
You could have played for the Long Island Ducks.
I was asked to!
Hey whats up Matt Antonelli , fellas here
Close enough!!
How does it feel to hand 168000 therapists?
Pretty calming actually