Be a Difference Maker
Dojo Mindset Series
The 2025 World Series was electric. In real time, we saw iconic plays that will be part of baseball history. The biggest stage, and we saw a series that had everything—clutch pitching, clutch hitting, star power, and strategies from front offices and managers.
Yet it was players like rookie Trey Yesavage, veterans Miguel Rojas, Andres Gimenez, and Kike Hernandez, and the new all-time single-playoff hit leader Ernie Clement who made plays throughout the series that made a difference for both clubs.
Of course the superstars made their presence felt throughout, but it’s the depth of the roster that helps teams climb to the pinnacle. From Ohtani, Freeman, and Yamamoto to Guerrero and Bichette—baseball fans got everything they could have ever dreamed of. (Are you kidding me that Ohtani reached base 9 times in a single game???)
Looking Beyond the Tools
Far too often at all levels of baseball, we overlook the glue guys who become difference makers. We all recognize the big tools in players—that doesn’t take a keen evaluating eye—but why is it so difficult to decipher the dude who will make the difference in winning? Because this requires us to look into the gray area, rather than the black and white.
The Questions That Matter:
- What type of aptitude does he have?
- What type of motor does he play with?
- Does he rise when the stakes get higher?
- How does he treat his teammates?
- Does he show versatility to make winning plays?
As a former scout and college coach, I tried to apply this type of questioning when evaluating players. Sometimes I felt that certain players weren’t a fit because of soft factors rather than their pure ability. We would call those “someone else’s type of player.” Others were players who brought an element that was difficult to measure.
The Story of a Sixth-Round Pick
From an “overdraft” to a 10+ year MLB career and 3x World Series Champion—the long journey of believing in the intangibles.
I was mocked by some veteran scouts when we drafted Kike Hernandez in the 6th round of the 2009 MLB amateur draft with the Houston Astros. He was considered an “overdraft” by others. I was told that I “reached a little too high for that one”—which burns a little when it’s the first player you’ve ever drafted in your career.
All those things being said, I understand their perspective. Kike was on a team that was loaded out of Puerto Rico. But what we saw in him (especially our National Crosschecker—David Post) were the things that you see play out on the biggest stage: versatility, energy, and the many other intangibles that make him a key element to winning.
From an “overdraft” to a 10+ year MLB career and 3x World Series Champion is a long journey that I’m sure glad I got to be a part of.
What Can You Control?
Our game has a way of separating those “who can” from those “who can’t.” What can you control to raise your game and help your team win?
Raise the bottom of your roster to help you raise banners.
About Greg Brown
Greg Brown brings extensive experience as a former MLB scout and college coach, where he developed a keen eye for evaluating talent beyond raw tools. During his time with the Houston Astros organization, Greg was instrumental in identifying and drafting players like Kike Hernandez, demonstrating his ability to recognize the intangibles that separate good players from champions. As a key member of the Florida Baseball Ranch coaching staff, Greg helps athletes understand what scouts look for and how to develop the qualities that make difference makers at every level of the game.
Ready to Become a Difference Maker?
The Florida Baseball Ranch offers elite training programs that develop not just physical tools, but the intangibles that make champions. Learn what scouts look for beyond raw ability and discover how to become the player every team wants on their roster.
Train with former MLB players, scouts, and coaches who’ve been where you want to go. Learn the qualities that separate good players from difference makers.
