What You Work on Now Shapes the 2026 Season

A simple development plan that fits under the bill of any hat

Jan 06, 2026

More than 9,000 members of the Class of 2026 and their families read this GYMR development letter. This one’s for you.

The senior season is not the time to complicate things. It’s the time to simplify.

One Word. One Season.

The LA Rams, Boston Celtics, and Clemson Football, among others, lean on Jon Gordon for performance and life skills. His book One Word introduces a powerful, simple concept: choose one word to guide a year or season.

That single word shapes decisions, habits, and goals.
Instead of overthinking and clutter, focus creates momentum.

The impact spills everywhere—mind, body, relationships, faith, academics.
The right word drives better choices.

Now take it one step further.

From Word → Skill

Spring is the most exciting time of year—for both the 5-year-old and the 2026 grad.

But January is where things often fall apart.

Too many goals. Too much noise.
By mid-month, as Alan Jaeger puts it, we’re “trying to tame chaos.”

This is your reminder to turn anticipation into commitment.

Choose one pillar skill to work on from now until the final pitch.

Surprisingly, everything else improves too:

Written goals sharpen adjustments
A mantra becomes a reset when the game speeds up
Visualization improves on-deck prep
Small habits compound into confidence

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
—Bruce Lee

14 Choices — Own One

“Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert in anything.”
—Daniel Levitin, Neurologist

Exercises for each of the skills below live inside the Trosky 365 Training App.
These are just the tip of the developmental iceberg.

Pick one.
Commit for 90 days.
Go one rep at a time.

1) Memorize a Mantra

Say it out loud. Lock it in.
A simple phrase clears the mind in moments of pressure.
Benefit: Consistency of thought
📍365 App Location: Programs

2) Set Written Goals

Write weekly goals for body, tools, and makeup.
Benefit: Mental clarity
📍365 App Location: Daily Reps

(Yes—these are the now-famous Ohtani goal scribbles.)

3) Devour Productive Reels

Replace scrolling with learning.
Each reel is a rep toward growth.
Benefit: Time well spent
📍365 App Location: Programs

4) Extra Strength Before Bed

Short nightly work adds up fast.
Example: 3 sets of 12 bodyweight squats, every night = 13,140 reps per year
Benefit: Power through consistency
📍365 App Location: Daily Reps

5) Practice Breathing

Two-minute centering techniques you can use on and off the field.
Benefit: Calm in high-pressure moments
📍365 App Location: Mind Gym

6) Use “The Script”

Play the game in your mind before you play it on the field.
Mental rehearsal sharpens communication, anticipation, and awareness.
Benefit: Preparation
📍365 App Location: Programs

7) Set a Pre-Throw Program

Seven extra intentional minutes per day = healthier arms months later.
Works on throw days and rest days.
Benefit: Arm maintenance
📍365 App Location: Programs

8) Develop Speed & Quickness

Add 10 focused minutes after practice or at home.
Benefit: Explosiveness
📍365 App Location: Programs

9) Post-Practice or Post-Game Journaling

Process beats results.
Mission beats mood.
Benefit: Growth planning
📍365 App Location: Mind Gym → Performance Journal

10) Have Real Conversations

At dinner, have better conversations, like:
What did you learn today?
Growth happens beyond the box score.
Benefit: Maturity
📍Location: The Dinner Table

11) Hit Different

Train eye-hand coordination like Dominican street players.
Bottle caps. Sticks. Freedom. Fun.
Benefit: Creativity + coordination
📍365 App Location: Programs → Vitilla Throw Routine

12) Write Nightly Reflections

Grade yourself in five scout-based areas.
You’re the player and the evaluator.
Benefit: Self-awareness
📍365 App Location: Daily Reps → Nightly Reflection

13) Build-Ons & Work-Ons

After practice, workouts, or school, ask yourself:

What went well?
What challenged me?
What’s tomorrow’s plan for improvement?

Benefit: Directing your own development
📍365 App Location: Mind Gym → Performance Journal

14) Nighttime Visualization

Watch elite examples. Close your eyes.
See yourself making the play on the biggest stage.
Benefit: Confidence through clarity
📍365 App Location: Programs → Major League Footwork Mastery

Your Pillar

Ten focused minutes a day builds a pillar that carries into Spring.
Body. Mind. Makeup.

No tricks in 2026.
Just honest work on the one that matters most to you.

Coach Trosky’s Message

“This winter, remember to work on your athletic throws. Be creative—use a baseball, tennis ball, and Vitilla. It will pay off in the spring.”
— Coach Nate Trosky

#BetterEveryday
6TN🌎GYMR

From the Field

365 Live Recording

With infectious energy, Luke Cherry and Bob Saunders broke down how to train young infielders to play beyond their years—guided by Coach Hammer in a lively one-hour discussion.