Los Angeles Dodgers director of player development Brandon McDaniel is going to provide fans with an opportunity to work out as though they were a Major Leaguer.
“Psychologically, fitness is huge right now,” McDaniel said. “To be locked up in a house or wherever you might be, being fit and having the ability to exercise and release some endorphins and get some hormones going is really good for your mental health.
“The workouts that we’re going to provide for our fan sare literally the same workouts that we’re giving some of our players.”
McDaniel and his staff divided the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and are overseeing remote workouts. Some players — such as Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen — have the benefit of a home gym to utilize. Whereas other players have needed to be more resourceful and creative.
“Our player health group and player performance group have been in regular contact with them,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said last week.
McDaniel will lead free workouts that are streamed on Dodgers social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The 30-minute workouts are scheduled to take place Mondays and Fridays, beginning April 3, at 8 a.m. PT.
McDaniel joined the Dodgers organization in 2012 as a Triple-A strength coach, and has been with the Major League team since 2013. He was the head strength and conditioning coach from 2014-18, then received a promotion to director of athletic development and performance science in 2019.
McDaniel was promoted again in 2020 to his current role as director of player performance.
With plenty of uncertainty hanging over the 2020 Major League Baseball season, McDaniel’s ability to remain connected to players will prove key as keeping in shape will have them in better position if and when a second Spring Training begins.
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