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8 CAVALIER CORNER cavalier sports L egendary baseball icon Yogi Berra came up with a treasure chest of sayings dur- ing his career, including this famous obser- vation: "Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical." Former UVA standout Brandon Guyer would probably agree with that observation 100 percent in his post-professional base- ball career that now includes a role with the Cavalier baseball program. Guyer, who was inducted into the Virginia Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, enjoyed a seven-year career in Major League Baseball and is now using those experiences to help head coach Brian O'Connor's program with his Major League Mindset mental skills training program. In his new role, Guyer is working as a player consultant to help de- velop mental skills aimed at assisting UVA players both on and off the field. Guyer has also worked with the baseball programs at Houston, Illinois State and Utah Valley. Major League Mindset does not attempt to change the physical nature of how play- ers compete. Instead, it looks to increase confidence and overcome roadblocks — such as fear, pressure and self-doubt — that can limit an individual and often impact the passion they have for the game. Pre-game, in-game and post-game men- tal performance routines all play a part in Guyer's approach to better prepare players' focus and mental approach to mastering game-time situations and "stack the odds in their favor." "I strongly believe that the same skills, tools, character and overall mindset that helps them thrive off the field will then in turn help them perform at a high level on the field," he said. His focus is on four areas — fear, inability to handle adversity, lack of routines and lack of self-discipline. Guyer is a strong believer that "prepara- tion builds confidence" and that "everyone faces adversity and gets knocked down. Even the best of the best. It's how quickly you bounce back and to bounce back even stronger." In addition to working with collegiate pro- grams, Guyer has tailored his training for youth competitors and offers his approach in the form of an online eight-week course to both baseball and softball players. Each week he is joined by former players and coaches who of- fer instruction and insight into how individuals can improve their performances. As a "below average" player while at- tending Herndon High School, Guyer felt the mental part of the game was what was holding him back and he passionately pursued learning more. He credits world- renowned sports psychologist Ken Ravizza's book "Heads Up Baseball" for changing his approach to the game. When he retired in 2020, Guyer knew he wanted to pursue a career that would help empower other players to overcome short- comings that might limit their potential. He used small workshops and took to Zoom to build his business. Guyer started working with O'Connor's team last fall. "I am in awe of what he's done after his playing days as a mental skills coach," O'Connor said. "We are excited to welcome him back to our locker room and I know that he's excited to be able to bring his experi- ence and knowledge to help our players." — Jim Daves behind the scenes Brandon Guyer Gives Back To UVA Baseball With Mental Training Skills Guyer, who enjoyed a seven-year MLB career after excelling for the Cavaliers from 2005-07, ser ves as a player consultant to help develop mental skills aimed at assisting players both on and off the field. (Photo courtesy UVA)