Julio and Fernando stepped off the treadmills and started stretching.
“When do you leave for spring training, Julio?”
“I have to report to Sloan Park, on the third of March.”
“Wow, only a couple days away. We’ll miss you around here, man.”
“I’ll make sure you get to Chicago to see a couple games, maybe eat some pizza as well. Maybe you can put in a couple days with the charity.”
“I’m in. That’s the kid’s cancer deal, right?”
“Yep, now let’s get to work,” said Julio.
They selected three-kilogram balls and set up for the rotational medicine ball toss, designed to build hitting power by building the torso. The exercise involved twisting the body with the ball at shoulder level, then explosively throwing it in the direction you would swing your bat. They did three sets of eight throws for each side of the body to keep their muscles balanced.
The next drill, the rotational scoop toss, started by holding the ball near the hip and throwing it as forcefully as possible toward the wall while rotating the hips. This exercise helped teach the body to explosively transfer power from the lower body to the upper.
One of Julio’s favorites was the rotational figure eight throw, designed to build rotational power while transferring power from the rear foot to the front, greatly helping increase bat speed. He did extra sets on each side.
Fifteen minutes later they were both sucking wind and drinking water.
Julio looked at his checklist.
“What’s next?” asked Fernando.
“I go to the batting cage, and you have pitching drills.”
Fernando joined the other pitchers and started on drills. The first was the Hershiser drill, which teaches pitchers to lead with the front hip, followed by wall, knee and rocker drills. After a water break, they finished with the towel drill. Everyone was videotaped so they could review and correct body mechanics and alignment.
Julio entered the batting cage and took a stance forty-five feet from the pitching machine. When it started launching balls at seventy-five miles an hour, from three quarters of the distance from a regulation mound, he had to be fast. Ten minutes later he had staff increase speed to eighty MPH and then eighty-five for the next interval. When finished, he was pleased with his performance and headed out to the field for the next practice set, hitting against the pitchers.
He started with Fernando, who had instructions to throw fifty varied pitches: curve, breaking, fast, knuckle, sliders, and sinkers.
Julio settled into a rhythm, consistently batting homers and base hits.
Julio took pitches from some of the newer recruits and did not have trouble handling them if they came in over the plate. Control was frequently an issue with the newbies.
When batting practice was over, they threw a round of catch, working around the bases and infield until everyone was cooled down.
“We’re going down to the beach later. That okay with you, Julio?” asked Fernando.
“Sure. I want to soak up all the ocean I can before I head north.”
“Julio, you are looking great,” added Fernando, as they headed for the locker rooms.
“I plan to peak when the first game starts, not part way into the season. When I step onto the field for the opener I will be in the best shape of my life, because I am going to have the greatest baseball season of my life!”
“I think you’re there,” said Fernando.