The Extra Innings Foundation is a community of professional baseball players supporting the success of others.
We also provide a Blog for professional baseball players seeking to take themselves to the next level in their careers.

Jimmy Reyes - Player of the Month

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Frisco RoughRiders
Jimmy taught students how to use success strategies during the AZ Fall League 2012 where he advised students to also be their own teacher and be proactive in learning. Player selection criteria includes leading by example, supporting the success of others, and more. Click on the Players of the Month tab above for more info and a listing of previous players recognized.

Tommy John's
Interview Do's & Don'ts

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Former MLB Pitcher Tommy John
When it comes to working with the media, former MLB pitcher Tommy John has seen it all. Television, call-in, newspaper, conferences, clubhouse, online, annoying reporters, crazy questions, misquotes, and more. Visit our Blog for an audio of tips and advice created by Tommy for you, the progressive professional baseball player.

History of the Foundation

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The Extra Innings Foundation (EIF) was co-created by Lynn Miller, Ed.D., assistant professor at Arizona State University, and Jerry Hairston, Jr., 3rd generation MLB player, currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Extra Innings was founded in 2010 with the original goal of facilitating classroom visits by professional baseball players where players teach students how to use 3 success strategies to reach a goal. The strategies, used by Jerry's grandfather former Negro League and MLB player Sam Hairston, are staying focused, improving every day, and not taking anything for granted, During the classroom visit, players add a strategy of their own, such as turning turn minor sebacks into major comebacks, visualizing success, adapting to change, and  more. This program is called Your Success Story.

Blog. The EIF provides a blog, created by MiLB player Eric Farris, which provides tips and strategies to help minor league players develop themselves in preparation to advance their careers.

Insider's Advantage. Later, the EIF added Insider's Advantage which is similar to Your Success Story, except it facilitates visits to high school baseball teams where professional baseball players discuss what it take to make it to the pros.

The Progressive Professional Athlete. More recently, the EIF has partnered with Learning, Leading, and Beyond's Progressive Professional Athlete program, the first-ever online learning system developing the professional attitudes and behaviors of today's minor league baseball players. The Progressive Professional Athlete includes short, web-based courses on various topics..

This Week's Feature:
Tips for Players for Better Social Media Presence

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Update your profile picture
When is the last time you updated your profile photo? This is the one thing that everyone identifies you with on social media.
 Tip - Keep a folder on your computer or in DropBox of some of your favorite photos of yourself. It may sound vain, but this is an easy way to rotate out stale profile photos periodically. Also, make sure your photos are professional in appearance. Very important!
Your Success Story - Player Heroes
Visit a classroom and teach students how to reach their goals while improving your public speaking and community outreach skills. We will show you how with Purposeful Storytelling. Click Here for a Slide Show of player classroom visits!
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Jerry Hairston Jr.

    Players - It's easy & fun to be a hero by participating in the
    Your Success Story program.
    Complete this form and hit 'submit.' We'll contact you soon!

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Engel Beltre

Turn Minor Setbacks into Major Comebacks:
A Success Strategy
from Adron Chambers

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Adron Chambers
Don’t let minor setbacks ruin your game when you can turn them into major comebacks putting you back on the path to success.
   Athletes who successfully turn minor setbacks into major comebacks are those who define themselves not by what has happened to them, but by what they can make out of what has happened to them. They see it as a learning experience! These athletes have the ability and the willingness to move up NOT despite setbacks, but BECAUSE of them.
   For example, after I experience what I view as a setback, I have an option of taking three different paths. One path keeps me circling around where I am; the setback creates no change in me and I end up right where I started. Not good!
   The second path leads me toward more negative consequences and I feel defeated. Not good!
   The third, and BEST path, takes me from failure or setback to a place where I am stronger and more capable than I was even before the setback. It's true! This is the path forward.
   My ability and your ability to find and take the path forward is the difference between players who are crippled by failure and those who rise above it.
You decide!
Our Mission - Support others reach their dreams and goals.
Our Values - Leadership, Innovation, Collaboration, Success & Gratitude
 Our Philosophy - Good players inspire themselves; Great players inspire others.