One of the pleasant surprises so far this season for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been the production of rookie Edwin Rios, who has hit three home runs in very limited plate appearances.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went so far as calling him the most improved player since the start of Spring Training, which is a credit to the work Rios put in during the time off due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Just trying to get better every day. Obviously with everything going on and going into quarantine, I just tried to find a way to tune up my game and be the best version of me,” Rios said. “I’ve been able to do that and I look forward to keep doing that.”
Rios had a bit of a training routine change during the hiatus, which he revealed involved working out with Hall of Famer Barry Larkin.
“I did a lot of boxing with Barry Larkin during quarantine. I feel like that’s cardio in itself and that’s where I saw my body transform and cut up a little more. It was great. My conditioning feels great,” Rios said.
Getting the chance to work with someone like Larkin doesn’t come very often, and Rios said he got the opportunity in 2015. “It’s a crazy story. I was working out with Tom Shaw at Disney, and one year Barry Larkin showed up with Dee Gordon, Willy Adames, (Francisco) Lindor and a couple other guys,” Rios began.
“I was like, ‘Holy cow. What are the chances I’d pick out this place to work out and Barry Larkin walks through the door?’ Ever since that moment we kicked it off and he took me under his wing. Any time he opened his mouth, I listened. He’s a Hall of Famer, so you better listen. Just kind of been going at it a couple years and I’m starting to see the results now.”
Rios added that boxing wasn’t something he envisioned doing at first, but Larkin said he did it during his playing career, which made him more open to giving it a try.
“I was a little skeptical at first, but it’s crazy what boxing does to not just the body but your mind as well,” Rios said.
Boxing is a type of workout that other MLB players have tried as well to stay in shape, with former Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez one other notable player to do so.
While Rios has been doing it for a couple of years now, he joked that he still is not on Larkin’s level.
“Definitely him. I still got a ways to go.”
Rios pleased with defensive improvement
Rios may be known for his production at the plate and incredible power, but he also had made improvements on the defensive side of the ball so far this season, which has led to more playing time.
“I’ve always worked on my hitting but the last few years defense has kind of been a priority for me. Each offseason just trying to get better and better, working on a few things, trying new things and trying to see what works for me,” Rios said.
“I feel like I got to a spot where I realized where my body works best and what arm slots work best for me. Just being able to put that stuff together has translated on the field. It feels good. My goal was always just to put in the work.
“To see the results now and see how everything is going, it’s a really good feeling. Now I’ve just got to keep at it and keep taking care of business.”
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