Why Rest and Recovery Are The Real MVPs Of The MLB’s 162-Game Season

Baseball is often called a game of endurance, as the season consists of 162 games stretched over six months. The National Basketball Association regular season is made up of 82 games while the National Football League season consists of 17 games. The Major League Baseball season is the longest in professional sports, requiring sustained focus and physical resilience over the prolonged season. While there is a lot of public scrutiny from fans and analysts as they review batting averages and clutch performances, the often-overlooked factor required to sustain performance is rest and recovery.

As a concierge sports and performance psychiatrist working with high-performing athletes, I have seen firsthand that both mental and physical recovery are just as important as training and competition. More baseball teams are realizing the critical role that mental health and mental performance play as well as how it can translate to better on-field performance. The psychological and physiological demands of the MLB season require that players refine their recovery routines to sustain peak performance throughout the season, preventing burnout and extending their careers.

The Mental Toll Of A 162 Game Season

Many endurance sports like marathon running require strategic pacing and planning, and baseball is no different. Not only do players have to show up almost daily to practice, but they often compete in different time zones with little downtime between game days. While the adrenaline of a play-off run can carry people through some of these high-stakes moments, the MLB season is different—it’s a daily grind that tests mental fortitude and emotional regulation. For about six months, MLB players are traveling and away from their families, often their biggest support systems, and are expected to maintain peak performance in these high-pressure environments.

Some factors that take a toll on the players’ cognitive performance include sleep deprivation, travel fatigue, lack of social support when traveling, and the constant stress of competition. If an athlete does not refine their recovery routine to anticipate being in different time zones, their sleep can suffer. Studies show that sleep deficits can then result in decreased reaction times, impaired decision-making, and reduced emotional control—factors that are necessary for hitters tracking fastballs or infielders making split-second decisions. Stress has been shown in recent studies to negatively impact sports performance in athletes.

Recovery As A Competitive Advantage

Traditionally, performance training focused on strength, agility, and skill development; however, in today’s modern world, athletes are recognizing the importance of prioritizing recovery as a fundamental pillar of success. Dr. Rolando Gonzalez, M.D., Sports Psychiatrist and MLB Consultant says, “Recovery is important as it allows athletes the opportunity to rest, improve stamina, muscle repair, training load, and focus—all of which contribute to a competitive advantage.” It’s important to understand that recovery is not just an “off day” but an intentional process that integrates sleep optimization with mental decompression, strategic workload management, and psychological resilience training.

Many MLB teams employ and/or contract sports psychiatrists, sport and performance psychologists, therapists, and mental performance coaches to help athletes and staff develop mental performance skills and address any mental health concerns that may result in on-field performance. These professionals can also help athletes develop mental recovery routines to optimize rest and recovery. Some of the best athletes have learned how powerful mindfulness and meditation techniques can be to manage stress and maintain mental clarity throughout a season. It’s no longer optional for athletes to develop mental skills but it’s now an essential component of high-performance longevity.

Psychological Resilience: The Underrated Skill

It’s inevitable that athletes will experience highs, lows, injuries, pressures, and varying demands throughout the 162-game stretch. Which players have the advantage? Those who can mentally reset after failure, stay present, and exert control over their emotions. Sports and Performance Psychiatrists as well as Sport and Performance Psychologists play critical roles in developing elite players. Dr. Gonzalez defines psychological resilience as, “The ability to cope, adapt, and recover from stressful situations.” Cognitive reframing, visualization, and breathwork help maintain focus and improve resilience in high-pressure situations. “Professional baseball is fraught with ups and downs, including high levels of failure, ongoing scrutiny, lengthy seasons, and injury risk,” says Dr. Gonzalez. “Psychological resilience is the key to sustaining these grinding seasons and reaching peak performance.”

The Future Of Rest And Recovery in Baseball

The conversation around athlete well-being is shifting—while there was a prior focus on physical training and injury prevention, there is now a greater focus on mental performance optimization. In addition, more data is driving individualized recovery strategies, helping teams identify when a player may be at risk for fatigue-related injuries. Organizations that prioritize both mental and physical recovery are the ones setting their players up for long-term success. Baseball’s MVPs aren’t just the ones with the best batting averages, but the ones who achieve peak performance through mental preparation, ensuring they have the endurance to perform at their best— through game 162 and beyond.