How the Texas Rangers Are Training for Pressure — Before They Step on the Field
February 13, 2026 | 11:26 AM GMT | Sponsored by Oxygen Advantage®
When most people think about elite baseball performance, they think about strength, speed, mechanics, and skill.
But for me, breathing has become something else entirely.
It’s not optional.
It’s trainable physiology.
And it’s changing how I help players prepare for high-leverage moments.
“I used Oxygen Advantage as a player.”
Before stepping into my role as Mental Performance Coordinator with the Texas Rangers, I was a professional player myself.
I understand pressure from the inside.
I dealt with anxiety. Stress. The unpredictability of the game.
I was always interested in breathwork — but I didn’t have structure. I didn’t really know what I was doing.
That changed when I found Oxygen Advantage®.
“What really stood out to me was that it gave me a way to train something most athletes never actually touch — their physiology under pressure.”
In baseball, most guys already have the skill. That’s usually not the issue.
“The gap shows up when the moment speeds up, heart rate spikes, and they lose access to what they’ve already built.”
Breathwork gave me a way to close that gap.
Training Stress — Not Avoiding It
Pressure is part of the game. It’s not something you eliminate.
The real question is:
Can you regulate your system when it matters most?
That’s why I use tools like the BOLT score and Maximum Breath Tolerance (MBT). They give players measurable feedback on how their body responds to stress.
“Oxygen Advantage gave me a system to measure and train that exact gap — connecting breathing, the nervous system, and performance in a way that’s simple, practical, and repeatable.”
When players go through assessments, they start to feel it.
“They’re recreating the same high-pressure stressors they’ll experience on the field — but now we can train it in advance.”
So instead of reacting in the moment, they’re prepared for it.
“Treat it like strength and conditioning.”
One of the biggest shifts is how we frame breath training.
Athletes understand training. They understand reps, consistency, progression.
So that’s how I present it.
“I describe breathing like strength and conditioning for the nervous system.”
We’re not maxing out every day.
“Breathe Light work is like hygiene — like brushing your teeth.”
But over time, it builds something powerful:
Capacity.
Tolerance.
Recovery.
“If you don’t train the nervous system, it defaults to old patterns. Breathing gives us a direct way to load it and adapt it.”
Now we’re not hoping a player can handle pressure.
We’re preparing them for it.
The Mind–Body Connection in Real Time
I don’t present breathing as abstract or just mindfulness.
This is psychophysiology.
“Your body responds to your breathing in real time.”
When breathing becomes fast, shallow, and irregular — the brain reads threat.
When it’s slow, controlled, and nasal — the body shifts toward control.
“Instead of trying to think their way through stress, players can regulate their body in real time.”
That’s a massive difference.
Building Resilience That Transfers
What makes this powerful is that it transfers everywhere.
The same breath control we train:
- Before stepping into the batter’s box
- During high-leverage pitching
- In game-changing moments
Is the same skill that helps players:
- Manage anxiety
- Recover faster
- Sleep better
- Stay composed under pressure
“When we train it consistently, players learn how to slow things down, control heart rate, and stay present.”
And then something shifts:
“When the moment comes, it’s not new. Their body has already experienced it. Now it feels familiar instead of overwhelming.”
Performance Isn’t Just Physical Anymore
The game is evolving.
Mental performance isn’t about just talking through challenges.
It’s about measurable regulation.
“Breathing isn’t just for relaxation — it’s a performance tool.”
And when it’s trained properly:
“You see less panic, more control. Clearer decision-making. Faster recovery between plays.”
Over time, confidence changes too.
“Because now it’s backed by what their body can actually handle.”
Players become:
- More consistent
- Less reactive
- More able to access their skill — especially when it matters most
Why This Matters
Pressure isn’t going anywhere.
But how we respond to it can be trained.
For me, that’s the shift.
“We’re not trying to survive pressure anymore — we’re preparing for it.”
