“We’re like Navy Seals trained for failure” – Alex Rodriguez reveals how he and his rival David Ortiz embrace setbacks to achieve success…
In the world of professional sports, where victory is celebrated and failure often harshly scrutinized, the mental fortitude of athletes becomes as crucial as their physical prowess. For baseball legends Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz, two of the most iconic figures in Major League Baseball (MLB), their journey to success has been marked by an unwavering ability to embrace and overcome setbacks. In a recent interview, Rodriguez offered a rare glimpse into the mindset that propelled both him and Ortiz to the pinnacle of their sport, likening their resilience to that of Navy SEALs—trained to navigate and thrive amidst failure.
The Battle-Hardened Mentality
Rodriguez and Ortiz, despite their fierce rivalry on the field, share a mutual respect for each other’s careers and a deep understanding of the pressures that come with being at the top of their game. Their paths crossed numerous times, particularly during the intense Yankees-Red Sox rivalry that defined much of the early 2000s. But beyond the home runs, championships, and awards, Rodriguez revealed that it was their ability to face and learn from failure that truly set them apart.
“We’re like Navy SEALs trained for failure,” Rodriguez remarked during the interview, emphasizing the mental conditioning required to succeed in the high-stakes environment of professional baseball. “In this game, you fail more than you succeed. It’s about how you handle that failure, how you come back stronger, that defines your career.”
Lessons from Setbacks
Throughout their careers, both Rodriguez and Ortiz experienced their share of setbacks—on and off the field. Rodriguez, often referred to as “A-Rod,” was one of the most talented players of his generation, but his career was marred by controversies, including a high-profile suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Ortiz, affectionately known as “Big Papi,” faced early struggles with the Minnesota Twins before finding his stride with the Boston Red Sox, where he became a beloved figure and clutch performer.
Rodriguez’s suspension in 2014 was a particularly dark period in his career. As he served his year-long ban, Rodriguez was forced to confront the very real possibility that his career might be over. However, rather than succumbing to despair, he used this time to reflect and refocus. “That was a moment where I had to look deep within myself,” Rodriguez shared. “I had to rebuild my life and my career from the ground up. It was humbling, but it was also one of the most important experiences of my life.”
Similarly, Ortiz faced doubts early in his career when he was released by the Twins in 2002. The setback could have been devastating, but instead, it became the catalyst for his transformation into one of the most feared hitters in baseball. “Getting released was a wake-up call,” Ortiz once said. “I knew I had to work harder, be better, and prove everyone wrong. That failure motivated me to become who I am today.”
The Power of Mental Toughness
Both Rodriguez and Ortiz attribute their resilience to a mindset that views failure not as a final destination, but as a stepping stone to success. This mentality, Rodriguez explained, is akin to the training of Navy SEALs—elite warriors who are conditioned to endure and overcome the most grueling physical and mental challenges.
“Navy SEALs are trained to expect failure and to push through it,” Rodriguez noted. “In baseball, we face different kinds of challenges, but the principle is the same. You’re going to have bad days, you’re going to strike out, you’re going to lose games. But you have to keep going, keep pushing, and learn from every mistake.”
For Rodriguez, this meant developing a relentless work ethic and an unshakeable belief in his ability to succeed, even when the odds were against him. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my career, but I never let the failures define me,” he said. “I used them as motivation to get better, to be the best version of myself.”
Ortiz, too, embraced this mindset. Known for his clutch performances in crucial moments, particularly during the postseason, Ortiz’s ability to deliver under pressure was a testament to his mental toughness. “You can’t be afraid to fail,” Ortiz once remarked. “If you’re afraid to fail, you’ll never succeed. You have to believe in yourself, even when no one else does.”
A Legacy of Resilience
As both players transition into their post-playing careers—Rodriguez as a businessman and television analyst, and Ortiz as a broadcaster and ambassador for the game—the lessons they learned from their failures continue to shape their lives. Rodriguez, in particular, has spoken openly about how his experiences in baseball have prepared him for the challenges of the business world.
“Baseball taught me everything I know about resilience, about handling pressure, and about bouncing back from failure,” Rodriguez said. “Those are lessons I carry with me every day, whether I’m in the boardroom or in front of the camera.”
Ortiz, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, has similarly reflected on how his struggles early in his career made him appreciate his successes even more. “I wouldn’t change anything about my journey,” Ortiz stated. “The setbacks, the doubts—they made me stronger, they made me who I am.”
The Navy SEALs of Baseball
In the end, Rodriguez’s comparison to Navy SEALs is more than just a metaphor—it’s a reflection of the grit and determination required to excel at the highest levels of sport. Both he and Ortiz have demonstrated that true success is not just about talent or skill, but about the ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
As Rodriguez concluded, “We’ve been through a lot, Big Papi and I. But we never gave up. We learned, we grew, and we came back stronger. That’s what it takes to succeed—not just in baseball, but in life.”
Their story serves as a powerful reminder that the road to success is often paved with failure, but it’s how one responds to those failures that ultimately defines their legacy. For Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz, their ability to embrace setbacks and emerge stronger has solidified their place not just as baseball greats, but as true exemplars of resilience and perseverance.
