
Said that their training sessions intensified in Florida during the five-month Rios began boxing with Larkin in 2018, but It's tough to argue with the logic, especially after Rios' (Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) That boxing helped strengthen his core, back, and shoulder muscles, all vitalĭodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez prepares for spring training in 2013 with an off-season boxing workout with former heavyweight fighter Chris Byrd. The former slugger who hit 317 career home runs claims Instead of lifting weights in the offseason, Gonzalez wouldīox five times a week. The gym of Hall-of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach. He famously trains at Wild Card Boxing in Hollywood, Ironically, another famous Dodgers' first baseman who is also a left-handed power hitter like Rios, also participates in boxing training in the offseason.įormer Dodger Adrian Gonzalez, who was a five-time All-Star

Not just for the body, but for the mind as well." "I was a little skeptical at first," said Rios of Similarly, a hitter in baseball throws out his hands, rotates his hips, and turns his back foot in an almost identical motion to a boxer delivering a knockout punch. In order to avoid this, a boxer must be perfectly balanced, rotate the hips, and turn the back foot in order to maximize the force and power behind the punch. Weakened position for a counter punch from his opponent. Unbalanced, his punch will not pack much force, and he puts himself in a

In the ring, a boxer must have a pristineĬenter of gravity in order to unleash a punch at a moving target. In order to throw the perfect punch, a fighter must have The same principles are inherent in boxing. Hitters reaction time and anticipation is faster than the average person, and The best hitters in baseball have excellent hand-eyeĬoordination, quick hands, unbelievable balance, torque, and a relaxed body. Surprisingly,īoxing is great training for baseball players looking for an alternative to Larkin encouraged Rios to take up boxing in the offseason. We've been going at it forĪ couple years now, and I'm starting to see the results now." He's a Hall-of-Famer, so you better listen. "He's taken me under his wing, and every time he opens his mouth I "Ever since that moment we kicked it off," said With the Hall-of-Famer, that perhaps he too, could learn from his tutelage. That day in 2015, and he hoped that if he was able to strike up a friendship Rios believed that fate had brought Larkin to Disney World Has mentored two-time All-Star Dee Gordon of the Seattle Mariners and four-timeĪll-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians. He often invites manyĬurrent players to come down and train with him in the offseason and famously Retirement in 2004, and lives with his family in Orlando. Larkin has remained around the game of baseball since his September is National Preparedness Month: Is your family ready for an emergency? He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Reds retired his number 11 at Great America Ballpark later that year.
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He was a 12-time All-Star, a World Series Champion, and the National League MVP in 1995. Larkin played shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds from 1986 to 2004. Place to work out and Barry Larkin walks through the door?'" "I was like 'Holy Cow what are the chances I pick out this "I was working out with Tom Shaw at Disney World, andīarry Larkin showed up with Dee Gordon, Willy Adames, and Francisco Lindor," Rios, who played his college ball at nearby Florida International University, had heard of the camps before and decided to check it out.
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Professional athletes from across different sports workout together during the camps at Disney World, and it provides a unique opportunity for athletes to congregate, network, and share training tips.

Tom Shaw hosts a performance training camp there in the Fall and Winter, and it has been frequented by MLB stars like Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte and New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. One of the safest places in the country from the COVID-19 virus.īefore it became known as the home of the NBA's bubble, theĮSPN Wide World of Sports Complex was a secret training ground for many MLB and The health and safety protocols implemented by both leagues, it also could be League Soccer's "MLS is Back" World Cup style tournament. It currently is the home of the Nationalīasketball Association's restart inside a bubble. It was a warm and muggy day in the fall of 2015 when Los Angeles Dodgers sixth round draft pick Edwin Rios decided to work out at the ESPN Wilde World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.īy now, even the casual sports fan has heard of the ESPN
