Baseball is a game of failure. Even the best hitters make outs more often than not. As a young hitter, striking out is inevitable. But with the right approach and mindset, you can learn to have productive at-bats even with two strikes. The key is staying selectively aggressive – look for a specific zone to hit your pitch, and be ready to battle the pitcher.
Maintain Your Routine and Stance
When you have two strikes, it’s tempting to make changes like widening your stance or choking up on the bat. But more often than not, this throws off your timing. Stick with your normal stance, hand positioning, and movements during your load and stride. Changing things up out of nerves leads to less consistency in your swing.
Trust the mechanics that got you this far. Remind yourself that you’ve put in the work and preparation for this moment. Have confidence in your abilities.
Adjust Your Zone, Not Your Swing
With two strikes, expand your zone vertically to protect against the high fastball and low off-speed pitch. But don’t expand horizontally – continue looking for a pitch on the inner half that you can drive.
Too often, young hitters get into protect mode with two strikes and start swinging at pitcher’s pitches a foot outside. This leads to weak contact or whiffs on pitches you can’t do much with.
Be selectively aggressive within your zone. If it’s not a strike over the heart of the plate, have the discipline to lay off. Easier said than done of course, but keeping your zone tight and swing the same gives you the best chance of making solid contact.
Fight Off Tough Pitches
You have to cover the entire strike zone with two strikes. That means battling pitches on the corners or at the knees. Even if they’re not in your ideal zone, with two strikes you have to find a way to put the ball in play.
On inside pitches, stay inside the ball and flick it over the infield. Think line drives rather than a long swing trying to pull it. On low pitches, you almost want to swing down through the bottom of the ball and chop it into play.
Fighting off pitches like this keeps you alive. You’ll have a lot of foul balls, but it gives you a chance to see more pitches and wait for one to drive.
Expect Off-Speed Pitches
When a pitcher gets ahead 0-2 or 1-2, be geared up for some version of an off-speed pitch. Curveballs, sliders, changeups and splitters are common strikeout pitches on the corner.
As a young hitter, anticipating off-speed stuff with two strikes takes discipline. Be patient and wait an extra split second so your hands don’t drift out in front. Keep your weight balanced rather than committing too early.
Taking a defensive swing and putting off-speed pitches in play gives you a chance. You don’t have to drive it, just make contact and keep the at-bat going.
Choke Up in Specific Counts
Choking up can help you get on top of the ball better and protect the plate with two strikes. But you have to pick your spots.
Choking up makes the most sense on a 1-2 or 0-2 count where an off-speed pitch is likely coming. It helps you avoid being too out in front and rolling over it.
On 2-2 or a full count, consider keeping your normal grip since the pitcher may come with a fastball you want to drive.
There’s no 100% correct formula – do what gives you the best bat control and maximizes your contact skills.
Stick to Your Strengths
Just because you have two strikes doesn’t mean you change your overall approach. Stay true to the hitter you are.
If you’re a contact hitter, keep using the whole field and prioritize putting the ball in play. If you’re a power hitter, you can still look to drive something, just be a bit more selective within the zone.
Don’t get away from your strengths just because the count isn’t favorable. Have confidence in your abilities and stick with the approach that got you here.
Battle With Two Strikes
Even the best hitters only get a hit around 25% of the time. That means at least 75% of the time, you’re going to make an out.
With two strikes, the odds are even tougher. But that doesn’t mean giving in to the pitcher.
Fight for every pitch with two strikes. Foul tough pitches off. Look to work the count back even. Don’t get discouraged if you fall behind – just focus on winning the battle against the man on the mound.
Keep grinding. Understand that striking out is part of the game, but never stop competing no matter the count. Your at-bat isn’t over until the umpire rings you up or the ball hits the glove.
Maintain Your Confidence
With two strikes, it’s easy to get down on yourself and lose confidence. But you must remember all the hard work you’ve put in to get here.
When you step into the box with two strikes, remind yourself:
- I have talent. I deserve to be in this moment.
- I am prepared for this situation. I’ve visualized it countless times.
- I trust my abilities. I’m going to battle and compete.
- My next swing could change the game. I’m one pitch away.
Tune out any negativity or fear. Have an intense focus on the task at hand: the immediate at-bat. Believe you are going to succeed until the last strike.
Your mentality with two strikes sets the tone for your performance. Stay positive and block out any doubt. You’ve worked too hard not to believe in yourself.
Adjusting Your Stride
One subtle thing I recommend with two strikes is shortening your stride slightly. Not drastically, but shaving just a few inches off your normal stride length.
Why? With two strikes, you have to be geared up for the pitcher’s best off-speed pitch. A shorter stride helps you stay back just a bit more rather than getting too far out in front.
I remember facing a tough lefty my sophomore year. He had struck me out twice already with a nasty changeup, making me look foolish swinging through it.
My third time up, I choked up a bit and shortened my stride just a touch. Sure enough, the changeup came on a 2-2 count. But this time, I hung back just enough to keep my hands and weight back.
I was able to stay inside it and slap a base hit up the middle. All because I made a subtle adjustment to my stride that kept me from committing too early.
So experiment with taking just a few inches off your normal stride when you have two strikes. You still want to get good weight transfer, but it prevents over-striding and getting “roller-coastered” out in front.
Sitting On A Pitch
Usually I preach having a balanced approach and looking for your pitch in your zone. But with two strikes, you can consider sitting on a specific pitch or location that you feel most comfortable driving.
For me, I loved sitting fastball middle-in on a full count. That was my wheelhouse, so I would totally sell out looking for it. If it was anywhere else, I could lay off it.
Obviously you run the risk of the pitcher surprising you with an off-speed pitch there. But having total commitment to one spot stops you from “in-betweening” it.
When I was sitting fastball in with two strikes, everything else slowed down for me. I could time up the fastball perfectly and do damage. And if it wasn’t there, no harm done taking a close pitch.
So think about where you like the ball best with two strikes. Is it inner half? Middle away? Up in the zone? Sit there with complete trust and let it fly if it comes.
Two Strike Drills
There are some great practice drills to improve your two strike approach and build mental toughness. Here are a few of my favorites:
Two Strike Batting Practice: Get a bucket of balls and have your coach or pitcher throw you random pitches with two strikes. Really simulate coming up with a 1-2 or 0-2 count and having to battle.
Two Strike Soft Toss: Work off a tee or do soft toss drills starting with two strikes. Get used to making contact and fouling tough pitches off from a disadvantaged count.
Two Strike Simulated Games: Play out full scrimmage games but start every at-bat with two strikes. Work on your mental stamina and resilience coming up in constant high leverage situations.
Two Strike Challenges: Set individual two strike goals like “foul off 5 pitches in a row” or “get 5 two strike base hits”. Compete against teammates trying to beat personal bests.
Repetition builds confidence. Put yourself in constant two strike counts and learn to perform under pressure. And track your progress – as your skills improve with these drills, your two strike hitting will reach new levels.
Using Two Strikes as an Advantage
Here’s an interesting way to view having two strikes – see it as an advantage, not purely negative. Sound crazy? Let me explain.
When the count is 2-2 or full, the pressure is completely on the pitcher. All you have to do is battle and wait for your pitch. But he has to throw strikes and can’t risk walking you.
So use two strike counts to your favor. Take very close pitches just off the black knowing the ump may call them balls because the pitcher “has to earn it”. Or sit in one zone knowing the pitcher doesn’t want to walk you.
I loved when the count got to 3-2. I would never chase, instead waiting the pitcher out because I knew he HAD to come to me in the zone with a grooved pitch. Sure enough, they’d eventually have to “give in” with a fastball down the pipe.
So stare down your pitcher when you have two strikes. Let him know YOU are in control now because the pressure is on him. Have a burning desire to come through in the clutch. Use the count to your advantage instead of letting it intimidate you.
Conclusion
Hitting with two strikes requires preparation, discipline, and mental toughness. By maintaining your same balanced approach, staying selectively aggressive, and battling with confidence, you give yourself the best chance of succeeding in those situations.
Trust in the work you’ve put in. Keep it simple and focus on having quality at-bats, not just the outcome. Use two strike counts as opportunities to grow and get mentally stronger.
With the right mindset and skills, you can become dangerous even with two strikes. See it as a chance to come through in the clutch, not something to fear. Expect to thrive, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best mindset with two strikes?
Stay confident and optimistic in your abilities, focus only on the current at-bat, and battle the pitcher. Don’t give in or get down.
Should I widen my stance or adjust my swing with two strikes?
No, stick with your normal balanced stance and swing. Changing things up usually does more harm than good.
What’s the main adjustment to make with two strikes?
Be selectively aggressive – look for pitches in your zone to drive but lay off borderline pitches just off the plate. Expand your zone vertically but not horizontally.
Should I still look to drive the ball with power?
It depends on the count and pitch being thrown. On 2-2, for example, you can still look to drive a fastball. But with 0-2 be geared up for offspeed and just focus on contact.
How do I fight off tough pitches on the corners?
On inside pitches flick the bat head through the zone to serve it over the infield. On low pitches swing down through the bottom of the ball to chop it.
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