In high-school baseball, finding that elusive 5-tool player doesn't happen every season. Well-rounded players are rarely seen. The gifted ballplayer practices hitting drills daily. Perhaps a great player watches an instructional hitting dvd. A good infielder takes grounders everyday. A talented outfielder fine tunes his throwing accuracy. A great base runner studies the moves of opposing pitchers. Although every ball player is different, and possesses varying strengths and weaknesses, every 5-tool player has a few things in common.

A singular characteristic that all 5-tool players have is versatility. Remember that kid in grade school who, during a pick-up game, was all over the field, catching every ball? He threw out every runner all over the diamond. He batted the ball hard every time he came to the plate, usually stroking it over the fence. There was nothing too hard for him. This is basically the very definition of a 5-tool player. His His talent impresses coaches, players, and fans. He is the rare player a coach can depend on all the time. His batting skills are valuable, whether it's a situation where an extra- base hit is desired, or simply a make -contact opportunity. His speed can help a team, whether with a stolen base, or tracking down a ball in the outfield. The 5-tool player is usually the star of his team. At least, that is, if he is coachable. This leads to another point about well-rounded ball players.

Every developed 5-tool player has access to people who can motivate him to greater achievements. Most exceptionally talented athletes have a God-given ability. They are just naturally good at their sport. Usually, when they are young, they will take an interest in a particular area, sometimes several areas, and that is where they typically excel. At some point though, every young player needs the instruction of a good coach. A coach can be just the one to bring out the absolute best in someone. He can take the raw talent and develop that talent through a trained eye and through a mature outlook. The input of a coach can help a player with skill specific improvements, or can help a player in areas which are not directly related to the sport he plays. Such things as self-confidence, self-control, and the ability to be a good leader are all characteristics a true leader can model for his player.

A third area where a 5-tool player shines above his peers is in his strong work ethic. It can be tempting, especially for a high-school ball player, to rest on his reputation of being a star. Those athletes who find success for the long term are those athletes who put in the long hours of practice. The diligence of the disciplined will serve him well in his athletic career. Even 5-tool guys are capable of slumps. But the disciplined player will be confident in how he goes about his business. He will run out every ground ball. He will study his swing. He will put in more hours of practice. Also, even the best players can succumb to injury. If an injury does occur, the player with the disciplined routine will be willing to take on a rehabilitation regimen. Not only is superior self discipline important in the physical sense, but mentally as well. The player who is both mentally and physically fit provides excellent leadership to a team.