The bodily instruments have all the time been there for Josh Adamczewski.
Since he graduated from Lake Central and turned professional in 2023, nonetheless, Adamczewski believes he has developed a greater grasp of the psychological aspect of baseball.
“It’s simply having a free head once I go up there and never fascinated with an excessive amount of, not beating myself up if I’ve a nasty at-bat or a nasty recreation,” he mentioned. “You all the time have tomorrow to look ahead to. Regardless of the way you performed, there’s all the time extra to come back. It’s wanting ahead as a substitute of wanting again.”
That forward-thinking method has helped Adamczewski flourish within the Milwaukee Brewers’ system regardless of accidents. The second baseman is likely one of the high hitters for the Single-A Carolina Mudcats this season and is rated the Brewers’ No. 14 prospect by MLB.
By way of 35 video games, Adamczewski was hitting .352 with a 1.004 OPS, 10 doubles, two triples, 4 residence runs, 29 runs scored and 29 RBIs.
Adamczewski, who was picked by the Brewers within the fifteenth spherical of the 2023 MLB draft, mentioned there was no main bodily leap that helped him enhance on the .273 batting common he posted throughout a nine-game stint with Carolina on the finish of final season. It was all about his psychological method.
“What are you going to do concerning the previous?” he mentioned. “You may’t return and alter something. You simply must take these alternatives that you simply failed on, discover ways to make changes on the fly and do every part you may to succeed as a lot as attainable.”
Mudcats supervisor Nick Stanley credited Adamczewski’s capability to give attention to the duty at hand for his success this season.
“You must be a very good competitor, and he’s that,” Stanley mentioned. “His capability to essentially lock in for every pitch is a separating issue, whether or not one thing good, unhealthy or in any other case simply occurred.”
Adamczewski’s mindset was examined in early Could, when the 20-year-old discovered he had arthritis within the sacroiliac joint that induced ache in his decrease again. He was sidelined for 2 months.
“It simply made me notice that I’ve to begin caring for myself,” he mentioned. “Regardless that I feel that I’m unbreakable proper now as a result of I’m so younger, enjoying any sport day by day goes to be rather a lot on somebody’s physique. You simply must discover ways to put your self within the place to go on the market and play day by day.”
Adamczewski, who additionally missed time with accidents in 2023 and 2024, returned to motion on a rehab task within the Arizona Complicated League on July 1 and hit .333 in 9 video games. He rejoined the Mudcats on July 18 and seemed like he hadn’t missed a beat.
“He’s actually, actually proficient as a hitter,” Stanley mentioned. “It’s unlucky he missed time with an harm, however as soon as he was absolutely wholesome, I anticipated him to come back again and decide up the place he left off. He’s bought a proficient baseline of hitting abilities, and in case you pair that with a aggressive method, you may see outcomes like he’s had this yr.”
Lake Central coach Mike Swartzentruber recollects that about Adamczewski.
“He was a type of guys who thought he may get on base each time he was up, and he took it private if he didn’t as a result of he all the time felt like he was higher than the man on the mound,” Swartzentruber mentioned.
One of many acquainted faces awaiting Adamczewski when he returned to the Mudcats was 2024 Lake Central graduate Griffin Tobias. A ninth-round decide of the Brewers in 2024, Tobias was promoted to Carolina through the first week of July.
“It’s fairly superior,” Adamczewski mentioned. “It nonetheless doesn’t really feel actual, having somebody that I grew up enjoying baseball with being on the identical staff as me now. I’m grateful for that.”
Adamczewski can also be grateful to be again within the lineup.
“It’s extra of a psychological factor than a bodily factor,” he mentioned. “It’s simply ensuring your physique is ready and prepared. I really feel like that’s tougher than enjoying. Enjoying is straightforward. You simply go on the market and do what you recognize you may.”
Dave Melton is a contract reporter.
Initially Printed:
