Jim Palmer, played 19 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. He made his major league player debut at 19 years in 1965. After one year in rotation, the Orioles won the World Series. As a young player, Palmer would finish his season and then go back to his other day job- folding clothes!
In the late 1990s, baseball player salaries started to increase. In 2012, the average major league salary was just over $3.2 million, today it is $4.9 million. This increase in salary for baseball players has motivated them to become an all-year round athlete. Even though the season comes to an end, training should not!
Baseball is a sport that is known for long-standing traditions and I believe is partly responsible for 'being behind the times' when it comes to strength and performance training. Without getting side-tracked by the influence of steroids on the sport of baseball and the McGuire/Sosa years; the top baseball players are prioritizing strength training to build power and mitigate injuries, while also integrating hi-level speed and performance training to improve acceleration, optimal rotation skills, multi-directional & deceleration mechanics.
The evolution of the business of baseball has changed the finances and economics surrounding the sport. The addition of technology like Sparta Science force plates and the capture of ball metrics has also positively boosted the baseball player of yester-years into athletic specimens. Today’s top baseball athletes are following a robust speed, performance, strength and injury mitigation program. This is apparent when looking at the size of baseball players today.
Baseball is also a sport that suffers from the “nocebo effect.” This is when the fear of injury induces a physiological change potentially inducing a negative outcome. It is the opposite of the placebo effect. Many coaches, players and parents do not understand the comprehensive value of speed, strength and performance training.The Chicago Parisi Speed School, located inside POW! GYM in Chicago's West Loop off an amazing speed, sports performance and injury prevention program. Strength is a key component of our program, but never at the deficit of speed or skills. Our program will always address the need for mobility and prioritize shoulder health and rotation movement patterns.
