This whole site revolves around nutrition! So what better way to kick off the first blog post by showing you why I created this nutrition-based website.
I’d like to propose a question to you. How much do you think the average MLB player weighs? In an article by Christopher Lee, he found that the average weight of an MLB player is roughly 196 lbs. For guys who are undersized aka 160 or less, it may seem like getting near this weight or even adding 5 lbs is an almost impossible task. But let me tell you from experience, it is possible to get there. For guys who already weigh more than this and think they are in the clear, (in the most Lee Corso voice possible) NOT SO FAST! In Ben Brewster’s Building The 95 MPH Body, he shows that the average lean body mass (aka muscle) of MLB players is around 190 lbs. For players with smaller frames (height) or higher body fat prone genetics, this number will be very hard to reach without some serious time in the weight room supplemented with a high protein diet. The formula to figuring out your lean body mass is: Total Body Weight – Body Fat. (Disclaimer: You have to know how much you weigh and your body fat to do this.)
The amount of muscle on your frame is important because you will be able to produce more force if you have more muscle mass . This means the metrics which drive recruitment (60 yard dash, throwing velocity, exit velocity) can all be improved if you are able to produce more force. The mechanics for each of these movements will help enhance these metrics of course (we are not immobile body builders), but once mechanics are efficient, your force output will ultimately decide what numbers you can put up. And obviously, nobody wants to put up great showcase numbers but lack the training to excel on the field, but no D1 or pro scout is going to be salivating over a 75 mph fastball.
There is a reason why a huge area for growth in a baseball player’s development is their weight and muscle mass… it is hard! But if it was easy, as the saying goes, everyone would do it. I am so passionate about nutrition because it takes ZERO talent to maximize your weight/lean body mass. If you eat the calories you will gain the weight (and vice versa). Now you still have to train to make sure you don’t just add on dead weight in the form of fat, but you most likely become better at the sport if you are under or oversized. If you want a guesstimate of the amount of calories you should intake, check out my Macro and Calorie Calculator.
The Bottom Line
Maximizing your nutrition will unlock your body’s full potential and it will make a bigger difference in your career than spending money on another coaching session. Getting big and strong, as elementary as that sounds, is crucial if you want to succeed in this new-age metric-driven game of baseball. If you are serious about getting better, come along with me on the journey to becoming the best baseball player you can be. If you are not… no worries, I still would like your feedback on how I can improve the quality of this website or answer any questions you may have!