What does it really take to become the best version of yourself as an athlete?
In this episode of The Coach & Counselor, former MLB outfielder and Colorado Rockies first-round draft pick Choo Freeman shares the lessons that shaped his journey from a multi-sport high school standout to the Major Leagues and now influence the way he develops young athletes as a coach.
Choo dives into the importance of discipline, confidence, resilience, and learning to love the process. He explains why improvement is built through the work you do every day, how athletes can become more comfortable with failure, and why the mental side of the game becomes increasingly important as the competition gets tougher.
He also explores how baseball development has changed with analytics, showcases, and social media and why evaluating an athlete should still go beyond numbers. Choo shares his perspective on multi-sport athletes, defensive development, recruiting, and preparing players for the jump from high school to college or professional baseball.
Plus, Choo takes us inside his playing career with stories and lessons from Clint Hurdle, Larry Walker, Matt Holliday, and Torii Hunter, including the advice and relationships that helped shape his approach to competition and coaching.
From chasing a Major League dream to navigating adversity, an unexpected end to his playing career, and finding a new purpose in coaching, this conversation is about much more than baseball.
It’s about embracing the work, growing through the hard moments, and becoming the athlete and person you’re meant to be.
🎙️ The Coach & Counselor
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/vroniga4sjU?si=sNGFbG6HfachJFNt
