The development of a strength and conditioning professional goes far beyond just possessing the knowledge needed to utilize the principles and theories of training in the design and implementation of effective training programs. Proficient and efficient programming requires coaching. In each strength coach’s...

Name:  Napoleon Pichardo Or­ga­ni­za­tion:  Texas Rangers Title: Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Years working in pro­fes­sional base­ball strength and conditioning:  Thirteen seasons including one spring with the Yankees, one year with the Blue Jays and eleven years with the...

The emergence of the professional baseball strength and conditioning profession started in 1993 with three American League strength coaches, Fernando Montes (Cleveland Indians), Steve Odgers (Chicago White Sox) and Bob Alejo (Oakland A’s). Montes, who was a member of the National Strength and Conditioning...

Strength and conditioning emerged as a priority activity among Major League players in the late 1980s and early 1990s. You could see the change in player size and body structure in the clubhouse and on the field. More clubs were hiring strength and conditioning coaches and more clubhouses had weight rooms, some even...

Nolan Ryan joined the Houston Astros prior to the 1980 season as the highest-paid player in MLB, earning 1.1 million dollars a year. I received a phone call from the GM, Tal Smith, informing me that we had signed him and inviting me to a reception to introduce him as the Astros’ newest member. Prior to the...

My first experience in strength training for professional baseball occurred in the spring of 1976. The minor league field coordinator for the Houston Astros had become a marathon runner. When the organization brought the top minor league prospects to Florida in September for an additional six weeks of Instructional...

Paul Fournier and Perry Castellano were selected by MLB to serve as National and American League strength and conditioning coaches, respectively for the 2014 All-Star Game at Target Field in Minneapolis. Fournier is only the third NL strength and conditioning coach to be invited to participate in the MLB All-Star...

Hiring a Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coach is a delicate and time consuming process.  As I sift through hundreds of cover letters and resumes, there are numerous traits that I look for in a potential coach; covering all of them would take a while. Below, I’ve listed the top 5 traits I look for...

When looking at potential employees for our organization there are certain requirements we consider mandatory prior to an interview.  You must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field (Kinesiology, Exercise Science, etc.), your CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) through the NSCA...

When looking at candidates for strength and conditioning positions in professional baseball, and specifically ones that are looking at professional baseball as a career, I look for certain criteria within their resume.  Here are 5 things that I immediately look for when look at a resume. 1. CSCS CERTIFIED—When a...