If mindset is the brain of hitting, timing is the heartbeat. Without it, nothing works. You can have perfect pitch selection and still struggle if your timing is off. In MLB The Show 26 Stubs, mastering timing is what separates average players from elite hitters.

At first, I relied entirely on reaction. I’d watch the pitch, try to identify it, and swing accordingly. That works against slower pitches, but against high-velocity fastballs, it’s a losing strategy. By the time you recognize the pitch, it’s already past you.

The key lesson I learned was to start early—specifically, to begin my load before the pitch reaches the plate. This doesn’t mean swinging early; it means preparing early. I began tracking the pitcher’s release point and using it as my trigger. The moment the ball left the hand, I started my timing mechanism.

One trick that helped me tremendously was “sitting fastball.” Even if I wasn’t sure a fastball was coming, I timed my swing as if it were. Why? Because it’s much easier to adjust from fastball timing to off-speed than the other way around. If you’re late on a fastball, you’re done. But if you’re early, you can still hold back slightly and make solid contact on a slower pitch.

Another breakthrough came from practicing in different modes. I spent time in batting practice facing high-velocity pitchers, gradually increasing difficulty. This forced me to speed up my reactions and refine my timing. Over time, pitches that once felt impossible became manageable.

I also learned to avoid overthinking. Timing is partly mechanical, but it’s also instinctive. When I tried to consciously control every aspect of my swing, I got worse. The best results came when I trusted my preparation and let my instincts take over.

Consistency was another challenge. Some games, I’d feel locked in—every pitch looked slow, every swing felt perfect. Other games, I was completely out of sync. The difference? Focus and rhythm. I started paying attention to my rhythm at the plate—how I tracked the pitcher, how I initiated my swing. Maintaining that rhythm became crucial.

Adjusting mid-game is another hallmark of elite hitters. If I noticed I was consistently late, I made a conscious effort to start earlier. If I was too early, I slowed down slightly. These small adjustments made a big difference over the course of a game.

In the end, timing isn’t something you master once—it’s something you constantly refine. But once you get it right, everything else becomes easier. The ball looks bigger, the game slows down, and hitting becomes less of a struggle and more of a flow.