Working Hard Is What You Do When It's Not Mandatory

by Beach City Baseball Academy

In baseball, everyone shows up when they have to.

Practice at 5? You’re there.

Game on Saturday? Cleats are laced up.

Team meeting? You sit in, nod, take it in.

But what separates the good from the great, what truly defines the most dedicated players, is what they do when no one’s watching. When it’s not required. When the coach didn’t call it. When attendance isn’t taken. That’s when it counts the most.

Baseball, like life, rewards consistency and self-motivation. The players who come in early just to get a few extra reps. The ones who ask questions. Who take the tee out in their backyard. Who bring a glove to the beach or to a sibling’s game just in case someone wants to play catch. That’s work ethic. That’s ownership.

Because deciding to get better on your own time is the foundation of growth. It’s the moment you stop waiting to be told what to do and start doing what needs to be done.

At BCBA, we don’t measure a player by their stats alone. We look at how they show up for themselves. Not just when it’s scheduled, but when it’s silent. We value players who choose to grow even when they could take the easy way out.

Because working hard when it’s optional is what builds habits that last. It’s what turns raw talent into real results. It’s the reason some players rise—because they don’t wait for permission to get better.

So here’s to the ones who grind when it’s quiet. Who lead by example. Who believe in the long game.

Baseball isn’t about the moments you’re told to perform. It’s about the ones you choose to.

BCBA is built for those players. Let’s get to work