Little League Classic 2026: MLB players' best youth baseball advice - ESPN

The Little League Baseball World Series is currently underway in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with some of the best youth baseball players in the country on display.

With members of the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers heading there this weekend to join the festivities by playing in the Little League Classic, it got us thinking about their days of youth baseball. What advice did major leaguers get that has stayed with them? And would they give young players today the same advice, or has it changed with their time in MLB?

We asked more than 15 current and former major league players these questions, with answers ranging from the typical «have fun» to… «don't dig holes in the outfield.»

Let's get right into it — and make sure to tune in to ESPN for the Little League Classic on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

Bobby Witt Jr., shortstop, Kansas City Royals: «For me, it was always just work hard, stay humble, keep your head down and keep trying to get better.»

Riley O'Brien, pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals: «Working hard and having fun. It's kind of cliché. Most importantly, you have to enjoy baseball — if you don't enjoy it, it's going to feel like a job. And then you have to work hard. There are tons of kids out there that want to keep progressing and playing at a higher level and you have to work hard to keep up. So I think it's a combination of working hard and enjoying the hard work.»

James Wood, outfielder, Washington Nationals: «My travel ball coach that I had throughout the years would always tell me to hit to the middle of the field. So I feel like ever since then I've just been trying to hit to the middle of the field. I always had a little bit of power, but… umm, I was always a little bit bigger than most kids my age, so I