How Do Padres Keep Fit for the Long Haul?

At 162 games, Major League Baseball has the longest regular season in pro sports. How do Padres players stay strong for the long haul?

Chris Denorfia (outfield): “I’ve started to get into an anti-inflammatory diet, which focuses on things that are better for your body. More fish and fruits and vegetables, and cutting down on sodium and preservatives. My wife and I try to go shopping more often, so we have fresher stuff around to eat.”

Chase Headley (third base): “I’m big on getting into the cold tub after the game. Cold therapy makes your blood vessels constrict, which helps flush the blood that’s been used out of the muscles. (When muscle tissue warms, oxygenated blood returns, which aids in recovery.) I also have our massage therapist go through my legs a few times a week to try to stay as loose as I can.”

Yonder Alonso (first base): “A big key is making sure to stay in that weight room. There will be times when you don’t really want to lift after you’re done with a long game. But you have to make sure that you’re not only thinking about right now. You have to be thinking about getting stronger throughout the whole season.”

Jedd Gyorko (second base): “With all of our travel and night games, it’s important for me to figure out a good sleep schedule and then stick with it. I try to get seven or eight hours of sleep every night, whether it’s at home or on the road.”

Huston Street (pitcher): “Throughout the season, you’re doing plenty on the field, and the travel and long hours are difficult. Eventually, these things can start to wear you down. Sometimes you have to make the tough choice and do nothing. There’s something to the old saying that less is more.”

Nick Hundley (catcher): “I do a lot of vegetable and fruit juicing. Things like carrots, ginger and celery, to help keep those nutrients in my body consistently. I got into it last year and my body feels great, I love it. I try to make bigger batches so it lasts a few days.”

Anthony Bass (pitcher): “I like to do some type of yoga at least a couple of times a week. It helps me stay flexible and also allows me to be in a meditative realm. I get to clear my thoughts, not worry about baseball or what’s going on in the world.”

Scripps has been the official health care provider to the Padres since 1981. To find a Scripps physician, call 1-800-SCRIPPS.