Sometimes it’s not about mechanics, swing angles, or pitch selection. Sometimes, a player needs someone to sit them down and ask, “Hey man, are you okay?”
Baseball is a mental game, and some guys never quite figured out how to get out of their heads. Whether it was anger issues or just constant chaos, these players probably needed a therapist more than they needed a hitting coach.
17. Carlos Zambrano
Zambrano was always one pitch away from throwing a tantrum or a punch. The talent was there, but the emotional control was lacking.
16. Yasiel Puig
Puig had all the tools but played like a human rollercoaster. He didn’t need a new manager—he needed someone to help him chill out and focus.
15. Milton Bradley
Bradley was a walking ejection risk with a swing that teased greatness. His career was a highlight reel of confrontations that a good therapist might’ve helped avoid.
14. Jonathan Papelbon
Papelbon brought intensity, but sometimes it spilled into full-on aggression. Choking a teammate probably should’ve triggered a few mandatory sessions.
13. Manny Ramirez
Manny being Manny wasn’t just a catchphrase—it was a cry for structure. He marched to his beat, and a therapist could’ve maybe helped him march a little straighter.
12. Trevor Bauer
Bauer had the brains but often clashed with, well, everyone. Less pitching advice, more introspection might’ve helped him stay out of headlines for the wrong reasons.
11. Delmon Young
Young came into the league with high expectations and a short fuse. One bat-throwing incident later, and it was clear his issues weren’t just on the field.
10. Jose Guillen
Guillen had a pop in his bat and beef with almost every manager he ever had. Maybe fewer clubhouse fights and more therapy appointments would’ve stretched out his career.
9. Elijah Dukes
Dukes had a troubled past and a volatile presence on the field. MLB teams tried coaching him up, but what he needed was consistent mental health support.
8. John Rocker
Rocker wasn’t just controversial—he was a full-blown PR disaster. Coaching couldn’t fix that level of unchecked chaos.
7. Josh Hamilton
Hamilton’s story is heartbreaking and heroic, but also deeply complicated. Therapy played a role in his comebacks, and earlier intervention might’ve changed everything.
6. Kevin Brown
Brown was a dominant pitcher who treated locker room walls like enemies. If only he had pitched to a therapist the way he pitched to batters.
5. Carl Everett
Everett didn’t believe in dinosaurs and wasn’t too sure about authority either. He was always on edge, and a little self-reflection might’ve gone a long way.
4. Nyjer Morgan
“Tony Plush” was his alter ego, and things only got stranger from there. The on-field antics were entertaining, but a therapist might’ve helped him blend talent with consistency.
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3. Lenny Dykstra
Dykstra was wild during and after his playing days. He needed more than coaching—he needed a life overhaul and a standing therapy appointment.
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2. Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod was obsessed with being liked and being perfect, which led to some bizarre decisions. Therapy might’ve saved him from himself years before the damage was done.
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1. Barry Bonds
Bonds didn’t trust many people, and his media feuds became legendary. The best hitter of a generation might’ve found peace—and maybe a little humility—with the right therapist in his corner.
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