Updated by Joe D. on November 1
I spoke to a very reliable team source who happens to be at Port St. Lucie where the Mets are conducting their Instructional League.
While the Mets did not confirm the report by Andy Martino that they are relocating the Michigan Fitness Camp to Port St. Lucie, I’ve been told the move has already been made and that there’s already “a brand new facility located below the Tradition Field complex in PSL.”
Additionally, Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores, Amed Rosario, Dominic Smith, and Juan Lagares are among some of the players that were spotted there.
Some of the players will be on a regimented program that has them working with weights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and conducting speed and agility drills on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The players are also being provided specialized meals Monday thru Friday, including proteins and vitamins for a period of four weeks.
It’s great to see the Mets taking such a serious and proactive approach to the players’ fitness. This can only help the team moving forward and I was pleased with the results last Winter.
October 30
Andy Martino of the Daily News is reporting that the Mets were so pleased with the results of an offseason conditioning program in Michigan last winter, that they will relocate the operation to Port St. Lucie.
“According to major league sources, the plan, which has not yet been made public, is to utilize newly hired strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Barwis at the Mets’ facility in Florida, rather than send personnel to Michigan.”
“Several players are expected to begin work in Port St. Lucie this week. It was unclear if the Mets would totally discontinue use of the Michigan facilities, or simply move most of the work to Florida.”
The Mets have not confirmed the move.
Last winter, Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores, Ruben Tejada and Juan Lagares all worked with Barwis in Michigan, and each player performed better this season than in 2013.
October 2
The Mets made another minor move Thursday after they announced that hitting coaches Lamar Johnson and Luis Natera would not return for the 2015 season. The team will also cut ties with strength and conditioning coach Jim Malone and he will be replaced by Mike Barwis.
Barwis, 41, has been with the Mets organization for the past few years as the senior adviser of strength and conditioning. He is the founder of Barwis Methods Training Centers, and has worked at the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan. Barwis is known for his intense “Barwis Methods”, and starred in the Discovery Channel show, “American Muscle”. He will oversee the hiring of all Mets training staff personnel
Malone, 47, had been with the Mets in the same role since 2013, after spending seven seasons with the San Diego Padres.
“Jim Malone did an excellent job for us over the last two seasons, and we wish him well,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson.
“Mike Barwis and his organization offer the Mets an inclusive in-season and off-season approach to performance training, which we think will accelerate the development of our players at all levels.”
Barwis will be the third Mets strength coach in the past four seasons.
