What is the difference between baseball players who reach the big leagues and those who don’t?

In case you’re tempted to say talent, forget it. Every year, players picked late in the draft (those considered to have less talent) overtake glamorous first-round prospects. Sometimes, non-drafted players (those not even considered worth giving a shot) zoom past all the competition.

But if it’s not talent, then what is it?

Former big-league player Tony Clark offered clues on a broadcast of the Arizona Fall League, where big-league league clubs send their top prospects after the regular season.

Clark talked about the ability to make adjustments. For instance, if you’re a batter, and the pitcher just got you out, you can either go back to the dugout and mope, or you can go through a thought process: What sequence of pitches did he use? What should I do about it the next time?

A future big-leaguer will recognize the sequence, remember it, and plan adjustments.

It sounds very much like the process of deliberate practice, which involves many measured repetitions, with feedback. As coaches, we must teach our athletes about this cycle of repetitions and feedback.

Few things will serve them better, either in the game or later in life.