★[Batting] Preparation for the First Pitch & First-Pitch Hitting

The first pitch often tends to be a strike that the pitcher wants to throw, and it may end up being an easy pitch to hit, so swinging aggressively can open up opportunities for extra-base hits and scoring runs.
However, 'preparation' and 'judgment' are essential for hitting the first pitch. You need the preparation of deciding to 'hit the first pitch' before entering the batter's box, and the preparation of a swing suitable for that. A stance of swinging from the first pitch also puts pressure on the opposing pitcher and has the effect of disrupting their pitch sequencing.

* If the first pitch is not the pitch you are looking for, you also need the composure to refrain from swinging and let it go.

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Since many players' minds go blank before entering the batter's box in an actual game, I use opportunities for classroom lectures such as meetings to repeatedly lecture them so that they can memorize the items they should do in preparation for the first pitch by clearly limiting them to 'these, these, and these!'

🥎 Organize your thoughts and aim from the first pitch

By 'organizing your thoughts' before entering the batter's box, such as considering the 'current situation,' 'the batting required by the team,' and 'your own aim and target pitch,' you can clarify what you need to do.

You then face the first pitch in the at-bat you entered in that state, but if this organization of thoughts is not done well,
● You will easily let a first-pitch strike go by
● You will fear swinging and missing from the first pitch, causing your swing to become compact
This tends to happen. This has many negatives for subsequent confrontations with the pitcher.

🥎 If you haven't organized your thoughts...

◉ You will easily let a first-pitch strike go by

Not being able to swing at a strike is partly a timing issue, but because you were not prepared to enter the batter's box,'Wait and see on the first pitch'becomes your mindset, and you often end up easily letting a strike go by. Since it is rare to get an easy-to-hit pitch in a single at-bat, this loss is significant.

◉ You fear swinging and missing, causing your swing to become compact

If you are taking a compact swing from the first pitch because you 'don't want to swing and miss...',the opposing pitcher can pitch without feeling much fear.
Even if you swing and miss on a full swing at the first pitch, you won't be out;it just adds one strike.Baseball is inherently structured to favor the pitcher (it's so difficult to get a hit that a .300 batting average is considered good), so there is no need to fear swinging and missing on the first pitch.

🥎 Aim to be able to take a full swing from the first pitch

If you prepare thoroughly before entering the batter's box and take a full swing from the first pitch, the opposing pitcher will'This batter (this team) might have extra-base power (a home run)...'and will pitch the first pitch while being cautious, which puts pressure on them.
However, since it is unlikely that you will hit the ball if you take a full swing at everything in one at-bat, for example,
● Take a full swing until you are behind in the count (to 2 strikes)
● Take a compact swing after you are behind in the count (to 2 strikes)
If you change your swing according to the situation like this, the opposing battery will find it very difficult to attack, you will not be easily put out, and your batting ability will improve further.

🥎 Benefits of first-pitch hitting (full swinging from the first pitch)

◉ Benefit 1: Your body loosens up from the tense state and becomes easier to move

Especially in the first inning or the first at-bat, the tension of entering the batter's box is high, and some players' legs may even shake.
In such a state,by timing the first pitch to some extent (it doesn't need to be perfect, just to some extent) and taking a full swing with all your might, your body loosens up from the tense state, the commands from your brain travel through your nerves, and the series of flows to 'move your body' becomes smooth, making it easier to move.(Your field of vision widens, your leg shaking stops, you can suppress your excited feelings, and your brain learns the timing, improving your reaction when the same pitch comes again.)

In high school baseball, you often face pitchers you are 'facing for the first time' or 'have faced little,' so it is extremely rare to match the timing from the first pitch.
If you take a full swing in that state, it will often be a swing and miss or a foul ball (if the timing happens to match, there is a possibility of a hit), but since it is still only 1 strike, there is no need to worry about the result, and it is fine if you can face the remaining 2 strikes with a body that has become easier to move.
<<Caution: Do not try to just make contact>>
If you try to just make contact, the batted ball may enter fair territory and result in an out, which is a case of 'one pitch, one out.'
One pitch, one out leads to giving the nervous opposing pitcher a sense of relief.

◉ Benefit 2: You can adjust for any discrepancy in sensation

A discrepancy in feel refers to the difference between your initial expectations and the reality of elements you cannot prepare for (which can only be known on the day of the game), such as:
● Your physical condition that day
　　　⇒　Differences between warm-ups/practice and the game (e.g., unconscious tension)
● The condition of the dirt in the batter's box
　　　⇒　The hardness of the dirt and how much it has been dug up under your feet
● The sense of distance and height to the mound
　　　⇒　Does it feel close or far? Does it feel high or not?
● The speed of the opposing pitcher's pitches and how they appear
　　　⇒　The difference between the impression you had while watching from the bench or the on-deck circle, and the impression you get when facing them in the batter's box.

Even in a stadium you are used to, your feel can be completely different depending on the day. By going to hit from the first pitch and gaining actual feel (information), you can correct the discrepancy from your initial expectations and apply it to the second pitch and beyond.
In particular, the "speed of the opposing pitcher's pitches and how they appear" is important information that can only be obtained by swinging the bat.

◉ Benefit 3: You can read the opposing battery's pitch calling thereafter

If you take a full swing at the first pitch, the opposing battery will observe that and take countermeasures for the second pitch and beyond. You can read their intentions from the result of the first pitch and respond accordingly.
(Example)
　Your swing at the first pitch was slightly late　⇒　
　　The opposing battery is highly likely to choose fastballs for the second pitch and beyond
　　　　　　　　　(It is difficult to use slow breaking balls against a batter who was late on their timing)

🥎 Disadvantages of swinging at the first pitch (full swinging from the first pitch)

◉ Disadvantage 1: Swinging when there is no need to swing from the first pitch

For example, if the opposing pitcher has poor control and is struggling to throw strikes, they dislike it when you carefully watch their pitches (and don't easily go to hit).
If you swing at the first pitch against such a pitcher, you might make things easier for a pitcher who is struggling, so it is also important to judge not to go for the first pitch based on the pitcher's control (it's not always about the first pitch no matter what).

◉ Disadvantage 2: The opposing pitcher's pitch count decreases

If the batting lineup is generally aggressive and swings at the first pitch, it tends to become a "simple-minded batting lineup," which leads to fewer pitches for the opposing pitcher (their stamina doesn't decrease).
In this case, it is important for each batter to grasp the situation of their own team's batting lineup, including those before and after them, and use "ingenuity" in their at-bat, such as "since there are many first-pitch swings, I will try to make them throw a few more pitches..." Also, there is a method where the manager gives instructions to "wait for pitches" as a team during the game.

◉ Disadvantage 3: The at-bat ends without understanding the opponent

For example, when facing a pitcher for the first time, if you hit the first pitch into fair territory, you only have "one pitch" worth of information about the opposing pitcher, and the information you can use for subsequent at-bats becomes very limited.
However, since you can obtain information not only from your own at-bat but also from the at-bats of the other eight players, you need to collect information thoroughly from the time you are on the bench.

The better the batter, the more actively they swing from early counts and hit before they get behind in the count. Even when they take a pitch, they often "go to hit and then take it," and they use that to react to subsequent pitches.
That is how important the mindset of "from the first pitch..." is.

In high school baseball, there are many cases in batting practice where "the first pitch is just a bunt (to see the pitch trajectory/observe)," but a "wait-and-see first pitch" in a game is a huge waste. It is important to value the "first pitch" by assuming a game situation from your regular batting practice and "full swinging from the first pitch."

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