When any athlete gets injured, the first thing we wonder is how long it will physically take for them to heal and recover.
That’s a normal thought process for them as well. The focus on recovery is oftentimes 100% about the physical side of the injury.
But what about the mental side? How does a player mentally recover and prepare to return?
Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen missed almost 30 days this season with a hamstring injury.
He returned to the squad on Saturday June 29, dominating the Oakland A’s in six shutout innings.
After the game, he was candid about what he did to mentally prepare to get back and perform at his best.
“I didn’t want to come back here and be caught off guard,” Gallen said. “I didn’t try and fall into the routine of being in rehab. I tried to lock it in from one of the first few days I was really there. I was mentally preparing to pitch. I was treating it like Spring Training where I was getting ready to pitch on Opening Day, not just coming back from an injury.”
In 2021 he suffered an elbow injury. He said he fell into a trap back then, spending all his energy on physically feeling better. When he returned from that injury, he wasn’t the same pitcher.
He wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
Gallen credits his ability to understand that through his experience, and the many trainers who came through at Salt River Fields to help him physically and mentally.
What to take from this
Gallen is one of the best pitchers in baseball for a reason. But, any athlete can take this same approach from high school and beyond, as long as they become aware of it.
Physical set backs are going to happen, through major and minor injuries. Mental blocks will happen during recovery processes too. That’s why it’s vital to spend time working on being in a good place mentally as much as possible.
Don’t ignore your mental health and mental preparation when injuries or illnesses happen. Use those times to double down, and spend even more time crafting strong patterns in your mind. It will pay dividends.
