Vacation is one of the most underappreciated aspects of life, especially in an era when smartphones and laptops have rendered “the office” more of a concept than a physical location. Cruel and unusual punishment is the fact that some people don’t even have the option.
It doesn’t matter what constitutes a vacation as long as you’re physically and mentally away from “business as usual.” A vacation’s worth is determined by how you feel when it’s over.
Although the MLB season is only a few months long, the offseason is as close to an extended vacation as an MLB player can get, with training camp, and the grueling, physically punishing nature of the work itself. And, like most of us, some players go all out while others are more reserved or pursue interests other than football. There are also those who never truly “leave the office.”
When MLB players use social media apps like Instagram to share images and thoughts about life away from the game, fans get a glimpse into how their favorite players spend their offseason.
This is how MLB players spend their time off during the offseason.
What Are MLB Players Doing In the Offseason?
That, of course, is dependent on the type of player they are.
From endorsement ads (Hunter Pence), sitcom cameos (Clayton Kershaw), trips back to their home country and trips to other countries, working construction, demolition, climbing oil rigs, and fighting for survival in the jungle, are just some of the things MLB players do in the offseason.
Let’s start with the players on teams that still had something to play for in late October. If I know anything about baseball players, those guys are still reeling from the experience.
They put their bodies through hell to win the championship, and they deserve to party like it’s 1999. Alternatively, they deserve to drink like it’s 1929 if they didn’t bring home the hardware and are still dealing with the enormous weight of watching their dream crumble. In any case, they’ll be out of commission for a while.
Physical and psychological rest are both necessary for these long-season warriors.
Do you believe James Shields is the same person today as he was when the 2014 season began? Do you believe Madison Bumgarner is one of them? Michael Morse or Hunter Pence, perhaps?
Their roles in baseball’s ecosystem have shifted dramatically, and it will take some time to fully comprehend what has occurred. The importance of unplugging cannot be overstated.
Players in this stratosphere need to get away just to remember who they are once more. The massages are an added bonus.
Many players plan cruises, vacations, trips, resort visits, hunting trips, and other activities to this end. You won’t ever hear a baseball player say “You know, I really need to decompress and think all the personal growth I’ve experienced this year,” but that’s exactly what’s going on.
And, conveniently, they can write off all of that psychological nonsense by resting their bodies. Make no mistake: resting the machine is critical for a player, but if the person driving it isn’t rested, it won’t matter how good it is next season.
Players become exhausted, disconnected, and uninterested. That’s when baseball labels you as “a bad teammate,” “cancer,” or “a player who doesn’t hustle,” among other things.”
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), most players will not find themselves in a situation where they must flee the hype machine because the machine isn’t chasing them.
They did their job and played their part, but they were not exposed to postseason play or media scrutiny.
For the average MLB player, the offseason is a time to recharge and “relax and enjoy the fruits of his labors.”
These guys have a little more time on their hands and use it to catch up with their kids, pursue some personal goals, and prepare for the next season at a more leisurely pace – a luxury that some late-October combatants don’t always have (although the chance to make history more than outweighs the cost).
These MLB players will most likely return home and relax, playing video games in the basement and working out at a slower “maintenance” pace.
Medical staff in the offseason
The medical exam takes up a significant portion of time at the end of the season.
The MLB offseason can be set up by the medical. If the player is in good health, he simply signs a form stating that his in good health and moves on. If he’s injured, he’ll meet with his doctor and athletic training staff to devise an offseason strategy.
Surgical intervention will be required for some players. Others will require treatment. One of the most important discussions between the player and the coaching staff is where the rehab will take place.
Some teams prefer that players complete all their rehabs in-house, while others allow to leave and complete it at a facility near your offseason home.
Of course, the latter option is preferred by players. Most players and their families have offseason houses that aren’t in the same town as their current team.
How Do MLB Players Improve Their Baseball Skills During the Off-Season?
MLB players usually take a month off from the sport. This time off allows the athlete’s shoulders and elbows to heal, keeps the player’s interest/excitement in the sport (avoiding burnout), and allows the athlete to return to training mentally fresh and focused.
After that month has passed, it’s time to concentrate on maintaining core skills while addressing deficiencies. It would take a book to cover everything, so we’ll just focus on a few key skills.
Hitting
Because of the way today’s pitchers pitch, hitting is a skill that must be practiced all year.
Modern hitting mechanics are designed to allow for a powerful swing while swinging the bat quickly. As a result, footwork, head placement, and hand placement relative to the body are a year-round priority.
Batting cages are commonly used for this type of training. When it comes to cage work, there is usually a progression.
Pitching
This is now a skill that can be used all year. Pitching must match the amount of skill coached to younger and younger hitters.
The off-season is when new pitchers and skills are learned, and old ones are perfected. Any mechanics changes should be learned and perfected in this section.
MLB players usually rest for a month, which necessitates a gradual increase in pitching.
Catching
Because hitting and catching are year-round skills, catching is also something that must be practiced on a regular basis. Playing the catcher position has many fundamental skills. These are some of them:
• Receiving the ball and framing it
• Defending the ball
• Throwdowns
• Maintaining contact with the pitcher
All of these abilities must be honed in the off-season. Training catchers is convenient because it can be done almost anywhere.
Fielding
Without baseballs being hit by the athlete, infield play is extremely difficult to simulate.
MLB players practice fielding ground balls in the off-season by using both their hands and their footwork to come up and do the throw to the appropriate base.
Off-seasons are shorter than they were in the past. The season lengthens as athletes advance in level, while the rest period shortens. This means that during the off-season, it’s critical for players to prioritize, concentrate, and train in a systematic manner.
The off-season lays the groundwork for a successful or unsuccessful season.
How Do MLB Players Train in the Off-season?
The off-season lasts about four months. Outside of sport-specific workouts, this is where players address performance traits. Speed, agility, strength, and power training are all common components of workouts.
During this time, it’s critical for players to shift their training focus to improving physical qualities that help them perform better.
Baseball players are not training too much compared to sports like basketball and football. This gives them more time to rest and improve skills that have an indirect impact on performance.
As a general rule, off-season programs begin with a strong emphasis on speed and agility. As the program nears the halfway point, the emphasis shifts to peak strength and power.
A baseball workout should gradually increase strength and power training.
During spring training, this workout strategy involves using lighter weights. If you’re a coach, you already know that after a season, lighter weights and more volume are essential to avoid burnout.
When MLB player reaches the halfway point of a training program, they expect to see an increase in intensity. This means that training becomes less frequent.
Every athlete requires knowledge of running mechanics and footwork. Baseball players must steal bases, chase fly balls, and run to first base, among other things.
Athletes should have gotten enough rest around four weeks into the off-season. They’ve mastered speed and agility training by now. This is the time to begin incorporating power training into the program.
After another four weeks, baseball players incorporate strength training into their routine. Athletes can increase their muscle mass and strength by doing strength training. This lays a solid foundation for the season ahead.
During the speed and agility segment, training frequency is higher. This is due to the fact that the body is subjected to far less load and intensity.
The load and intensity increase as the athlete progresses through the training program. This necessitates a reduction in training frequency.
When baseball season comes, arm strength will improve for bat speed and throwing.
