Jacob Blackiston knows that there’s more to baseball than just the physical aspects. Blackiston, junior communication studies major, knows that strong mental game and a good attitude are just as important as physical training.
Blackiston is originally from Hacienda Heights, California, where he grew up playing baseball alongside his older brother.
He said, “My dad played growing up, and then, my brother, who is three years older than me, played, and that led to me playing baseball.”
Blackiston played baseball all four years of high school at Los Altos High School and then played briefly at a junior college before attending NSU.
During his first season at NSU, Blackiston was a member of the 2015 Sunshine State Conference Championship team.
I got the chance to sit down with Blackiston and ask him a few questions.
How did you get started playing baseball?
“I started playing when I was 4. It was just tee ball and stuff like that. My grandpa and my older brother taught me how to play. I did little league and travel baseball, then high school and junior college, then I ended up at NSU.”
What do you think is the hardest part of playing baseball?
“I would say the mental aspect of it. Because you can train and try to make yourself better every day, but if you go into the game with a negative mindset, then you can tell; [you’ll] perform badly. But if you have a bad day and have a positive mindset, you’ll get better. The next day is a new day, and you can tell because [you’ll] go out on the field and perform better, too.”
Are there any specific tools you use to motivate yourself to keep that strong mental game?
“Yeah. I guess it would be the fear of not playing anymore. So my dad always tells me that I’m going to regret not playing anymore when I’m older, so I might as well leave everything out there. That just keeps me going.”
Do you plan to continue playing baseball after college?
“I would like to say so. Everybody hopes to get to the next level and keep playing as long as [they] can. But I also see the other side of it, I’m here to get an education first, so I plan on getting my degree and getting a job, too.”
If you don’t continue playing baseball after college, what would you want to do career-wise?
“I want to work in the front office of a major league baseball team. Preferably the LA Angels of Anaheim, but if not, somewhere in Sports Center. That would be pretty cool.”
Are there any athletes that you look up to or like to model your style of play after?
“I would say Derek Jeter. Watching him play, his energy and effort, I take that into my mindset on the field. Give [the game] all of your energy and all of your effort, and it’ll play itself out on the field. For his whole career, his mindset was ‘I may not be the best player, but I work the hardest. So I’m not going to let anyone outwork me,’ and I think that way, too.”
Throughout your career in baseball, have you had any coaches who have influenced or inspired you?
“I would say my dad. I played for my high school coach for three years, and I still keep in touch with him, but my dad is the driving force behind me in baseball. He keeps me going every day, and he’ll text me words of motivation.”
What has been your greatest accomplishment as a baseball player?
“My greatest accomplishment was receiving a scholarship and coming over here to play. When I hit my sophomore year in junior college, I thought that that might be it, and I might not get any offers. But then, NSU made an offer and gave me two more years to play, if not more, if I succeed. That’s probably been my greatest accomplishment. That and winning the conference championship last year.”
What do you think has been the most rewarding part of being a member of NSU’s baseball team?
“I would say the people [who] you get to meet. My coach is always adamant about ‘the hang,’ which is just hanging out with the group and the team. Once you’re done with baseball, you won’t really have the ‘hang’ anymore, because all the guys are doing other things, whether they make it big in baseball, or they’re doing jobs and other things like that. All of my closest friends are members of this team or are people I grew up playing baseball with back home. So I’d say that’s the best part about baseball, just creating those relationships with people.”
Is there anything specific that you do to pump yourself up for a match or to celebrate after a win?
“Before the game, I’ll listen to music. We also have superstitions and stuff like that, like don’t step on the line or just other weird stuff. But post-game, if we win, we’ll be in the locker room just going crazy, banging on the lockers, yelling, having little mosh pits ― it’s all just fun and games. You have to let all of that energy out, and it feels good to win.”
When you’re not in practice or a game, what do you enjoy doing?
“When I’m not in practice, I enjoy playing video games and eating Chipotle.”
