by Kelly Treviño, MS, LAT, ATC

In baseball, scouts look for the rare “five-tool player” – someone who can hit for average, hit for power, run, field, and throw. It’s the kind of player who impacts every part of the game, not just one piece of it. Industrial athletes have their own five tools to look to when it comes to affecting safety and staying ahead of close calls and near misses: consistency, impact, reaction, awareness, and communication. These tools all play a role, especially in the moments that don’t go according to plan. Let’s take a closer look at how each one plays a role.

Hitting For Average → Consistency

Let’s compare hitting for average and its industrial athlete counterpart. In baseball, a player that can hit for average is consistent at the plate and produces time after time. It’s not about one big swing, it’s about steady, repeatable performance. When it comes to the industrial athlete, consistency shows up in the safe and healthy habits – following safe practices even when no one is looking. Consistency is the sign of a diligent and hard working team member.

Hitting For Power → Impact

Hitting for power is about making an impact. In baseball, that’s the player who can change the game in a single swing. For the industrial athlete, impact comes from taking action when something seems off, or not ignoring hazards, or choosing to speak up in the moment. Industrial athletes have the ability to make this impact whether it be big or small. We want to call things out when we see them.

Running → Reaction

Speed on the bases is all about reaction. A baseball player that runs fast is quick to respond to what’s happening around them. For industrial athletes, reaction speed shows up in how quickly you adjust when something happens unexpectedly, or just having a quick reaction to change. Being able to adapt and react quickly allows the industrial athlete to keep a close call from becoming something more.

Fielding → Awareness

Fielding in baseball is about awareness and thinking ahead. A good fielder isn’t just reacting, they’re reading the play as it develops and preparing for what could happen next. For industrial athletes, awareness shows up in the same way. Reading the work environment and spotting risks early keeps us in a better position to respond. Awareness of our surroundings at all times means not just seeing what’s there, but being ready for what could happen next.

Throwing → Communication

In baseball, the play doesn’t end until the ball gets where it needs to go, and that takes coordination between players. At work, communication functions the same way. Passing information down to one another helps spread potential risks, hazards, important details, and keeps everyone on the same page and in a better position to respond.

Applying these 5 tools on a regular basis is what makes a well-rounded industrial athlete. It’s not about relying on just one strength, it’s about how efficient, safe, and prepared we can be when these five tools work together when something doesn’t go according to plan. Let’s play ball!

Kelly Treviño, MS, LAT, ATC || Kelly has been practicing athletic training since 2018. She currently lives in Rio Rancho, NM with her wife, Shelby, and three dogs, Harvey, Storm, and Pepsi. In her free time she enjoys Legos, working out, and going for rides on her motorcycle.

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Be sure to check out our other blogs for further injury prevention education and tips for the industrial athlete from Work Right!