Episode 268: "Following Your Dreams & Challenging Traditions"

"I Couldn’t Get Caught Up In Everything That I Wasn't” This is what Tanner Swanson, Catching Coach of the New York Yankees told me about  his success. Realizing that there were some “boxes" he knew he would never be able to check, regardless of how much effort he put into them. Understanding this, he decided to focus on his strengths and become the best version of himself at every level. This attitude led him directly to a seat at “The Show”, where he walks the clubhouse and smells the fresh cut grass on game day getting to watch some of the best athletes in the game. He realizes he’s not only living his dreams but the dreams of others, and that is definitely not lost on him. Not only has he earned his seat with the big boys he’s making quite a name for himself by challenging the traditions of Major League Baseball. A sport that takes great pride in it’s stats and history, making the traditionalists not very eager to accept or even listen to ideas of change. But when Tanner identified a flaw in the way catchers have been playing the game for decades, he couldn’t be ignored. With the style and strategies being implemented by Tanner, the game, as far as catchers are concerned, has changed. Last year there was only one catcher in the MLB that was using this new strategy, and that catcher reached out to Tanner directly to help fix his game. Fast forward to today and almost half of the catchers in the league have adopted this style. Although Tanner lacked experience on the field as a Major League player that was actually a benefit for him. He didn’t carry any preconceptions or biases that could have come along with that experience. This gave him a clean slate and the ability to look at the position with an open mind and ask himself, “maybe this could work”. By not leaning on, “this is how we’ve always done it” and challenging tradition he has been able change the way the catcher position is being played at the highest level, and who knows, maybe the way it will be played forever. What struck me most about this conversation with Tanner about him following his dreams, his quest for being the best at whatever it is he was doing at the time, and battling decades old traditions, was the humility, passion and pride that he possesses. You can see it in his smile when he tells you that he coaches for the New York Yankees.