Training the wrong energy system:

I cringe every time I see a baseball player going on runs for several miles, or running poles in a long slow manner. Without getting overly technical, the body uses different types of energy or fuel for different intensities and length of activity.

Most baseball actions, such as swinging a bat or throwing a ball, take less than a second to perform. They are incredibly explosive and require fast rotational movements.

There is no action in baseball that require slow movement over a long period of time. Because of this, training in that manner doesn’t make much sense. In fact, long slow distance running trains the body to move slowly, not explosively.

While a solid cardiovascular base is required for all sports including baseball, that can often be developed by performing recreational activities such as basketball, soccer, or even in PE class.

Players should do explosive short sprints (under 60 yards) instead of long slow distance running, and focus on movements that allow them to generate a large amount of force in a small amount of time.

Kyle Nelson - Cornerstone Academy