I have gotten a lot of questions lately about workouts, nutrition, and what supplements/vitamins to take so I thought I would add a page to Catching-101 about it. I am going to gather my information and put it all on this page. If you have any questions, or want to any information on a specific subject (how many times a week to work out, what exercises to not do, pre-hab, etc.) please email me and let me know and I'll try to answer them.
There are a few things to keep in mind when designing a workout for a baseball player...specifically a catcher. Baseball players are strength athletes which means that we need to train our muscles to be as strong as they can be. However, baseball is different from other sports because we play more games than anyone else. A Major League season consists of Spring Training, 162 regular season games, and then the post-season. Baseball players play twice as many games as the second closest sport!
We have to be in excellent shape for two reasons:
1) The better physical shape that we're in, we'll perform better. There is no such thing as being too quick, too fast, or too strong! If we make our bodies stronger we will be able to run faster, hit the ball further, and throw the ball with more velocity...all of which sound pretty good!
2) We are less prone to getting injured if we are in great shape. A lot of injuries can be prevented if we work hard in the gym. You are less likely to pull a muscle if that muscle has been worked out and fed the proper nutrients. No one wants to sit on the bench while they're team is playing because of an injury, so get on a workout program that will get you in the best shape of your life!
I have posted my off season workout book from 2006 when I was with the Atlanta Braves. Click Here to go to my "Downloads" page to download it for FREE! It has some very valuable information in there that can benefit any baseball player, but this book was designed for catchers!
I also posted my workout book from 2003 (my Junior year at Ole Miss). This will give some of you an inside look at what college workouts look like. Click Here to download it.
When I am picking out a supplement I have 3 questions: Does it work? Is it safe? How does it taste? I have listed all of the products that I believe work really well, are safe, and taste great! I have broken them down into categories: Protein Bars, Protein Shakes, Creatine Products, and Other Supplements.
Remember, supplements are a great way to put additional vitamins/minerals/nutrients into your body, but in no way are they mean to replace meals and a healthy diet. Try to consume the majority of your nutrients through your diet and use supplements to aid that. Example: You should try to consume the majority of your protein through lean protein sources (egg whites, chicken, tuna, etc.) however, most guys who are trying to pack on muscle need more protein throughout the day so protein bars/shakes are a great option. Pack a protein bar in your lunch, or put some protein powder in a shaker bottle and put it in your backpack. In between classes, fill it with water and you've got an extra 20g of protein!
I have personally tried EVERY supplement listed on this page!
Cliff Builders Bar
These are some of the best tasting protein bars out there! We give these to the team ever game in the 4th inning. My favorite flavors are Chocolate Chip, and Mint Chocolate.
Oh Yeah! Bars
If you want a little more protein per serving than the Clif Bars, this is the way to go. They’re packed with 26g of protein and taste like a Baby Ruth candy bar!
Designer Whey
This is my favorite product on this page. This is by far the best tasting protein available! It has 18g of protein and only 2g of sugars. You can’t go wrong with Chocolate or Strawberry!
Champion Nutrition Met Max
This is for the guys who are trying to gain weight and need more calories and protein. I’ve only tasted the Chocolate, but it’s good.
BSN CellMass
This is a high quality creatine that also includes glutamine for faster recovery times. If you’re looking for a good pump and fast recovery this is for you./p>
Schwartz Creatine Monohydrate
This will has the most bang for the buck. It’s 100 servings of creatine monohydrate. It’s tasteless, so you don’t have to worry about the bad taste of other products!/p>
Sci-FIt Creatine Capsules
If you prefer to take capsules over powder, this is the best creatine to go with.
