--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you get to the big leagues, you need…" description: "\"When you get to the big leagues, you need to take potential and turn it into performance. You want to be the guy who got the most out of his ability, n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/travis-hafner-38862_ability_when-you-get-to-the-big-leagues-you-need_1727445.jpg" --- # When you get to the big leagues, you need to take… ![“When you get to the big leagues, you need to take potential and turn it into performance. You want to be the guy who got the most out of his ability, not the guy who never fulfilled his potential.” quote by Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/travis-hafner-38862_ability_when-you-get-to-the-big-leagues-you-need_1727445.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/travis-hafner-38862_ability_when-you-get-to-the-big-leagues-you-need_1727445.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/travis-hafner-38862_ability_when-you-get-to-the-big-leagues-you-need_1727445.jpg) > “When you get to the big leagues, you need to take potential and turn it into performance. You want to be the guy who got the most out of his ability, not the guy who never fulfilled his potential.” [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires converting raw talent into measurable results, emphasizing effort and execution over mere potential. **In simple terms:** Turn talent into performance. Key Takeaway Focus on effort and results. Themes sports performance potential Mood inspirational practical Type motivational coach When to use this quote - coaching - training programs - career development Key Concepts motivation goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What habits turn potential into achievement? - How can setbacks be reframed as growth? A Different Perspective Potential alone is insufficient without disciplined action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-guy-1397615/) [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Big leagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-leagues/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Fulfilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfilled/) [Fulfilled Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfilled-potential-1397613/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/league/) [Leagues Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leagues-need-1397614/) [Need Potential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-potential-1397612/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be a better person in every aspect. I really don't feel I've in anyway fulfilled my potential in every area of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-albarn/i-want-to-be-a-better-person-in-every-aspect-i-really-don-t-feel-i-ve/) [Damon Albarn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-albarn/) > [The sports world, the administrators and the leagues, they need to place a high premium on the health of America, the health of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-rolle/the-sports-world-the-administrators-and-the-leagues-they-need-to/) [Myron Rolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-rolle/) > [I do think I fulfilled my potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinho/i-do-think-i-fulfilled-my-potential/) [Robinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinho/) > [If it were said that I didn't fulfil my potential as a mother and wife, I'd be heartbroken. But if it were said that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-rigg/if-it-were-said-that-i-didn-t-fulfil-my-potential-as-a-mother-and/) [Diana Rigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-rigg/) > [Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues. But to be able to trick people year in and year out the way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-uecker/anybody-with-ability-can-play-in-the-big-leagues-but-to-be-able-to/) [Bob Uecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-uecker/) > [I know for sure I came a long way since the day I signed and growing up as a kid just trying to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-know-for-sure-i-came-a-long-way-since-the-day-i-signed-and-growing/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [There are more second-, third-, fourth-, fifth- and so on in the big leagues than first-round picks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/there-are-more-second-third-fourth-fifth-and-so-on-in-the-big-leagues/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [The speed of the game in Triple-A, Double-A is not the same as in the Big Leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/the-speed-of-the-game-in-triple-a-double-a-is-not-the-same-as-in-the/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I never thought I'd get drafted, let alone make the big leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-corbin/i-never-thought-i-d-get-drafted-let-alone-make-the-big-leagues/) [Patrick Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-corbin/) > [We (Derek Jeter and I) want to kill each other. I think we both drive each other and motivate each other. But, when we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-rodriguez/we-derek-jeter-and-i-want-to-kill-each-other-i-think-we-both-drive/) [Alex Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-rodriguez/) > [I didn't know if I could make it to the big leagues without going through Triple-A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-didn-t-know-if-i-could-make-it-to-the-big-leagues-without-going/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I personally have the utmost respect for everyone and I'm attracted by the big Leagues, like the Spanish, English, Italian and French ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-felix/i-personally-have-the-utmost-respect-for-everyone-and-i-m-attracted/) [Joao Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-felix/) > [I wanted to be in the big leagues, not stuck in the minor leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aroldis-chapman/i-wanted-to-be-in-the-big-leagues-not-stuck-in-the-minor-leagues/) [Aroldis Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aroldis-chapman/) > [I always wanted to be a player, but I never had the talent to make the big leagues. So I did the next best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-finley/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-player-but-i-never-had-the-talent-to-make-the/) [Charlie Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-finley/) > [You can only shoot small movies and documentaries for so long if you want to have a family that you support; eventually, you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/you-can-only-shoot-small-movies-and-documentaries-for-so-long-if-you/) [Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/) ## More by Travis Hafner > [I hated farm work. I always got stuck with the jobs my father and brother didn't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/i-hated-farm-work-i-always-got-stuck-with-the-jobs-my-father-and/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [It's so much easier when you've got guys on base and the whole offense is clicking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/it-s-so-much-easier-when-you-ve-got-guys-on-base-and-the-whole/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [I read a lot of Socrates in the off-season. Don't print that, or it'll ruin my rep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/i-read-a-lot-of-socrates-in-the-off-season-don-t-print-that-or-it-ll/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [I'm not really satisfied. I've done all right, but there's room for improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/i-m-not-really-satisfied-i-ve-done-all-right-but-there-s-room-for/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [North Dakota is a great state. Everybody is real supportive up there. I couldn't ask for a better place to call home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/north-dakota-is-a-great-state-everybody-is-real-supportive-up-there-i/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [If you work hard, good things will happen. I will never be in a situation where if I fail I can look back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/if-you-work-hard-good-things-will-happen-i-will-never-be-in-a/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [If I'm asked to play first, I should be ready. It's nice to be in the lineup, regardless of where you're at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/if-i-m-asked-to-play-first-i-should-be-ready-it-s-nice-to-be-in-the/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [I'm not one for a lot of media attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/i-m-not-one-for-a-lot-of-media-attention/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [I've been streaky throughout my career, but I've been trying to become a more consistent hitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/i-ve-been-streaky-throughout-my-career-but-i-ve-been-trying-to-become/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) > [It's nice when you put in a lot of hard work and you're recognized and a few people appreciate what you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-hafner/it-s-nice-when-you-put-in-a-lot-of-hard-work-and-you-re-recognized/) [Travis Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) [Explore all 11 Travis Hafner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-hafner/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you get to the big leagues, you need to take potential and turn it into performance. 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