The leaves are changing, and the air is brisk, but that doesn’t mean you have to put away your bat and ball. Weighing the pros and cons of playing fall baseball will answer whether you should continue playing or take a break.
Pros
Stay in Shape
Doing any physical activity benefits your body, particularly if you want to focus strictly on baseball. An off-season may cause you to develop bad lifestyle habits that make it difficult to get back in the swing of things when spring rolls around.
Try New Equipment
Fall ball is the ideal time to experiment with a new bat and fine-tune your swing. It isn’t easy to tinker with a new bat in the middle of the summer because your team depends on your hitting prowess. While fall baseball is competitive, you can take it as a learning opportunity rather than a win-or-die trying season.
Best of the Best
Although you may use this time for attempting new things, you know the best players want to extend their season and play fall baseball. Playing the best of the best gives you a measuring stick of where your game is at and what you can improve upon. If you only play during the summer, the competition can be lacking, as it’s full of peers who might only be there for something to do. Fall ball won’t have those lollygagging opponents since the best players will be the only ones wanting to extend their season.
Cons
Health Concerns
Being full of youth and vigor may make you feel invincible, but your body needs to recover like everyone else. Additional practices and games could push you too far, causing your body to break down. A pitcher is extremely susceptible to a debilitating injury if they’ve thrown well over their inning limits.
Balancing Life and Sports
Adding more extracurricular activities to an already packed schedule can negatively impact many individuals. For children, school is starting up, requiring their effort and attention. Adults may be trying to play catch-up after a summer full of relaxation and vacation. Thus, adding fall baseball to the mix can throw a wrench into things.
Potential Burnout
Too much of a good thing may make you resent what you previously loved. Burnout is real, but it is easily avoidable if you recognize it early on. If you need a break from the diamond, be honest, so you don’t dread this experience.
In-Between
The pros and cons of playing fall baseball have one gray area: the concept of specializing in one activity to master it. Balancing too many things might hinder your full potential, but only concentrating on baseball closes the door to other opportunities that bring you joy. Specialization is a gift and a curse, so it’s up to you on which side you value more.
