Third baseman Izaac Pacheco has never liked being told something canâ€t be accomplished.
The Tigers’ 2021 second-round pick out of Friendswood High in Texas has proven he is willing to exhaust every option before accepting anything but success.
That stems from a work ethic ingrained from an early age.
“Head down and keep working,†Pacheco said, citing his high school coach Cory Benavides.
The 22-year-old Pacheco has spent the past three seasons at High-A West Michigan. This year he broke through as the Midwest League MVP after hitting .258/.388/.499 with 17 home runs in 99 games.
Routine has always been a focal point for Pacheco, but he found additional inspiration from an MLB all-star.
“I watched a podcast with Bobby Witt Jr., and he talked about journaling,†Pacheco said. “I think he was the first guy I saw who was open about it and said he writes his affirmations and journals and brings the journal into the dugout.
“It made me think, ‘Obviously, this guy is an incredible player,’ so I wanted to do that too.â€
The journal became a daily practice for Pacheco—pages of personal affirmations, notes on opposing pitchers and takeaways from a rotation of mental-skills books. Scouts took note of the differences.
“This was not the same kid I saw last year,†one said. “He played tighter defensively. His swing was better. And he just looked like he understood his body. The kid grew up.â€
For Pacheco, the mental side of baseball holds as much value as the physical.
“I really never failed coming up to pro ball,†Pacheco said. “I think it’s a big realization to know that there are 10 guys behind you who want your spot. It’s not about being scared of it, but wanting to put the work in, and that’s who I am.
“My parents raised me to believe that if you want something, you have to work hard for it. If you want to be better than the people behind you, youâ€ve got to work harder than they do.
“Itâ€s pretty simple.â€
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