In the challenging world of baseball, how does professional player Cody Ponce keep his head up?

“I don’t let the negative consume my life. While I’m playing the game, I try not to let the failures fail me so I always try to look on the positive no matter what they all can be,” answers Cody.

Staying positive may sound like a cliché but for a sport that’s often described as a game of failure that has the ability to make you feel on top of the world one moment then a failure the next, a strong mindset is equally required with physical prowess to climb up the big league, which is every baseball player’s ultimate dream.

To improve himself physically, Cody keeps tabs on his routine and hydration, which he considers as a number one key to recovery and performance. 

He then turns to his parents for mental strength. 

“Whether I had a good or bad game, my parents are always there. They push me to become better even in my good games. So, shout out to my parents who give me confidence to keep going.”

Apart from always cheering him on, Cody’s parents have also instilled the ultimate secret to success: humility.

“When I’m failing or succeeding they make sure that I stay humble the entire time. When you hit the highs of high, know that you don’t want to ride the high horse so much because you will fall off and it will hurt very bad.”

His efforts and lessons must have already paid off after Cody made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut last August with the National League Central Division member club Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Cody may have reached his big league dream but as what the negative sports had taught this young baseball optimist, it is not yet the end of the road.

“I still have to learn different things. I will go out there and have as much fun as I can because I don’t know the last day that I’ll be able to put my cleats on but someday, I want to look back and say, I did everything I could and enjoyed the experience. That’s all that matters.

Cody concluded with a bright smile.