YORBA LINDA, CA, July 17, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — Fresh off being named the 2026 ABCA/Soldier Sports Pacific Association Division National Assistant Coach of the Year, George Carralejo is using the recognition to advocate for a change in how young athletes are developed across the country. Rather than measuring success by results alone, Carralejo believes there should be a growing emphasis on player development and skill vs. volume of games played.
“The award is a tremendous honor,” said Carralejo. “But what matters most to me is helping young players build skills that last. I’d like to see our youth parents take a step back and focus on the big picture, which is improvement over time and understanding the lessons that are learned during times of failure as well as success.”
Carralejo has spent nearly two decades coaching high school and college baseball, developing pitchers who understand the blend of developing physical skills while also focusing on decision-making, composure, and execution during the pressure of competition.
His message comes as youth sports continues to place increasing attention on playing an unhealthy volume of games which puts pressure on young bodies.
“I understand the love of competition. I love to compete, but I also believe in the development of skills and you can get 100 ground balls in a practice, you might get 3 in a game. I do believe we need to spend more time on practice development.”
“I’ve coached both college and youth sports. Youth parents seem to be in a race against the clock as it comes to their kids. Hitting lessons, pitching lessons, fielding lessons. No time off, no chance to miss the game. And then the emphasis on results. Particularly in sports like baseball and softball, success is not linear. We need to support our kids during their slumps, not harp on them. The lessons of struggle are just as important in development as the times of success.”
The issue has become increasingly visible across youth baseball.
According to the American Sports Medicine Institute, pitching while fatigued significantly increases the risk of injury in young athletes. Research has also found that pitchers who regularly exceed recommended pitch counts are more likely to experience serious arm injuries later in their careers. Meanwhile, USA Baseball and Major League Baseball’s Pitch Smart program continue to recommend age-based pitch count limits and proper recovery to reduce overuse injuries among youth pitchers.
Carralejo believes many of these risks can be reduced by changing how success is defined.
“We are playing a lot of weekend tournaments. Ok, then we need to develop an entire roster of pitchers, so we can cover that many games in a short period. This wasn’t unheard of years ago, when our starting SS was our best athlete, so they also pitched; but now we want to rely on the best 2-3 arms all weekend, and then create PO’s at 10 years old.”
As part of his awareness effort, Carralejo encourages players, parents, and coaches to adopt several practical habits:
Focus on multiple sports. Build better athletes, not just skill based players.
Embrace failure, don’t protect kids from it. This builds mental toughness and resilience.
Stack small wins. Celebrate incremental improvement.
Have a growth mindset. Focus on the long term.
Enjoy the car ride home.
“When I get pitchers coming to play for me in college, I want athletes. Guys who can pitch, who know how to compete, value winning. That’s an understated trait. Valuing winning. How many parents ask their kids if they won or lost? Not many. It’s just how many did you score? Why didn’t you get a hit? I love guys that want to compete and have the base of athleticism to learn new things quickly.”
Carralejo also hopes coaches continue teaching the mental side of sports alongside physical development.
“The players who perform at advanced ages are the ones who stay composed when the game gets difficult,” he said. “A strong foundation builds confidence. Confidence helps players compete.”
The American Baseball Coaches Association began recognizing National Assistant Coaches of the Year in 1999 and now honors assistant coaches across multiple collegiate and high school divisions based on coaching expertise, recruiting, loyalty to their programs, and respect for players and the game. Carralejo was selected as the 2026 recipient for the Pacific Association Division and will be recognized during the 83rd annual ABCA Convention in Chicago in January 2027.
Carralejo hopes the recognition creates an opportunity for a larger conversation about sustainable player development.
“If this award encourages one more coach to develop players more thoughtfully, or one more young athlete to stay patient with their development, that’s a win,” he said. “The goal isn’t to create the greatest player. It’s to help create people who learn to compete with confidence, and enjoy the game for years to come.”
What You Can Do Today
Players, parents, and coaches can support healthier athletic development by learning Pitch Smart guidelines, encouraging proper rest between outings, rewarding consistent improvement over time, and focusing on building mentally resilient athletes. Every practice is an opportunity to build better decision-making, stronger mechanics, and healthier athletes.
George Carralejo is a veteran high school and college baseball coach based in Santa Ana, California. In 2026, he was named the ABCA/Soldier Sports Pacific Association Division National Assistant Coach of the Year. Throughout nearly two decades of coaching, he has focused on developing complete pitchers through sound mechanics, command, disciplined preparation, and long-term player development.
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