The first time I met Nick Swisher was back in 2016. He was in the twilight of his professional playing career, grinding it out in Triple-A with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. A former All-Star and World Series champion, Swish was no longer in the spotlight, but his energy was still electric. Even at that stage, you could feel the passion he brought to the game and to life.
I had the chance to chat with him one-on-one, and I asked what advice he would give to young ballplayers trying to find their path. His response stuck with me, not because it was some technical breakdown of mechanics or training, but because it was real, honest, and refreshingly human.
“Love what you do. Absolutely love what you do, because if you don’t love what you do, do something else. There are a gazillion sports out there. I feel like kids nowadays try to isolate themselves to just one sport. For myself, when I was growing up, whatever season, it was the sport that you were playing. I even tried the diving team once; I was horrible, but I tried it just to see if I was any good at it. Love what you do and try everything because you never know what you are going to be good at.”
Swisher wasn’t just talking about sports… he was talking about life. About giving yourself the freedom to explore, to fail, and to find joy in the process.
That’s a message I think we could all use a little more of. As kids, we’re encouraged to play. To try things just to see what sticks. But somewhere along the line, we’re told to specialize, to stay in our lane, to focus only on what we’re already good at. The curiosity and experimentation that defined our childhoods slowly gets traded for expectations and pressure.
Swisher’s words are a reminder that it’s okay, and necessary, to try new things. You might fall flat on your face. You might find out you’re terrible at diving (like he did). But you might also discover a new passion, a new strength, or a new way to love what you do.
And let’s be honest… it clearly worked out for him. He may not have been destined for the diving board, but a career as a Major League All-Star? That sounds pretty solid!
So wherever you are in life, whether you’re a kid figuring it out, a parent guiding the next generation, or someone just looking for a little inspiration, take a note from Swish: love what you do, and don’t be afraid to try something different. You never know where it might lead.
Social Media: @billythebatboy
Billy Pinckney
(862) 377-8737
