Exit velocity, bat speed, and all the data matter. At some point, you do need to hit certain physical thresholds to compete at the highest levels of baseball.
But once you get around players who are all talented, the separator usually isn’t another 2 mph of bat speed.
It’s mental toughness. Resilience. Confidence. The ability to handle failure. Having a consistent approach. Showing up every day. Competing when things aren’t going your way.
The numbers might get you noticed. Your mindset is what determines how far you go.
I’ve seen plenty of players with elite metrics fail, and plenty of players with average metrics maximize every ounce of their ability because of who they were between the ears.
Train the body. Don’t neglect the mind.