Is it the season yet?

Finally, the 2012 baseball season is finally here. There is nothing really to say about my off-season besides it was much needed. I was very fortunate to sign with the Blue Jays at the end of my college season. It was definitely a journey throughout the season traveling five times between three different teams. It was a long season for me and after 200 innings for the year, my arm and body needed a break. The bad thing about the season is that I put on a couple lbs. When I came home I was walking around the house with my shirt off and the first thing my mother told me was that I had gotten chubby.

I knew that next day I had to get to work. I came into mini-camp weighing 208 pounds.....I left at 218 and it wasn't the good kind of weight gain. The strength trainers gave me some goals to come back around 205 pounds but most importantly to cut down the body fat percentage. I'm not going to go into detail into all of my workouts because it was the same thing basically each week. Mondays were lower body and yoga. Tuesday was upper and a fitness class called Les Mills body pump/flow. Body pump was a low weight high intensity class and body flow was a mixture of yoga and Pilates. Wednesdays were off days but I would do yoga on these days. Thursdays were lower body again with the Les Mills classes. Fridays were upper body. Of course the main important part was running because I didn't want to be chubby anymore so before working out I would run long distance anywhere from two-five miles. After my workout I would do intervals on the treadmill with a jacket on to sweat a little.

I did not touch or let alone throw a baseball until January 1st. However, I did go on my first vacation I think ever in my life. It was a very random how it all came about. One of my best friends started dating the 2011 Miss America and he had invited a group of friends to accompany him to Las Vegas. Well you know how the story goes..... What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. It was a lot of fun though hanging out with friends with nothing to worry about. Once I got back from Vegas it was time to start throwing again. I had two goals in off-season: improve my curveball and make it more consistent; also to develop a slider. I worked on my curveball and slider everyday in flat grounds and throw bullpens at least twice a week. As the off-season started winding down I felt great. I was weighing between 200-205 pounds and my curveball improved a lot and I finally had a slider. I was feeling great and I am excited for extended spring training to start. I am currently trying to fall asleep because tomorrow is physicals and our first full workout. I'm also excited to get new blue jays gear and equipment. We will have to wait and see how the day goes but until then..... As Salon Sinclair said, "dream big, laugh often, and reach for the stars."