Annually, baseball fields worldwide are stuffed with hundreds of younger, native phenoms trying to be the subsequent Manny Machado. On the identical time, professional scouts are tasked with scouring these identical world sandlots to pick the handful of potential standouts who could—or could not—excel on the subsequent degree.
And whereas predicting an athlete’s future efficiency is under no circumstances an actual science, it’s typically stated that to be able to be the very best, expertise alone isn’t sufficient. Specialists can probably agree on this: Work ethic and dedication are oftentimes the good separators between mid-level prospect and perennial All-Star.
Right now, on the subject of who’s probably the most gifted and genetically gifted participant in baseball, Machado’s title is at or close to the highest of each baseball authority’s record. You too can throw in most devoted athlete as nicely. Now in his 14th season, the San Diego Padres All-Star third-baseman’s fielding prowess is the stuff of legend—watching Machado throw a baseball throughout the infield can nonetheless make jaws drop and eyes pop.
After which there’s his offensive dominance. With 356 dwelling runs to his credit score, the 33-year-old is a well-rounded juggernaut, adequate to have develop into one of many sport’s most revered gamers and incomes him the type of wage (in 2023, Machado signed an 11-year, $350 million contract) that has secured generational wealth.
As Machado ready for the 2025 season—his seventh as a member of the Padres—he spent most of this offseason within the gymnasium, underneath the watchful eye of tremendous coach Nick Soto, some of the well-rounded athletic coaches on this planet.
Soto’s strategy may very well be labeled unconventional, however after witnessing his star consumer’s efficiency for greater than a decade, it’s been confirmed efficient. The coach focuses on explosiveness, pace, and the type of total useful power that helps his shoppers attain the highest of their sport.
Soto’s type doesn’t resemble the cookie-cutter strategy deployed by most athletic trainers—he builds packages with a deep understanding of his consumer’s strengths, musculature, vulnerabilities, psychological toughness, and an array of different elements that maintain his elite athletes on the prime of their sport yr in and yr out. Machado isn’t any exception.
“I’ve been coaching with Nick for a very long time,” explains Machado. “His understanding of physiology and total efficiency has been a giant a part of my improvement. Success on the sector begins with what I’m doing within the gymnasium, away from the intense lights.”
Consistency Retains Manny Machado on the High of His Recreation
Machado’s exercise routine by no means adjustments. The second the season ends, he and Soto might be discovered practically every single day on the College of Miami’s baseball coaching facility. It’s no secret that South Florida is dwelling to among the most elite baseball expertise on the planet, a actuality that surrounds Soto with the very best of the very best, forcing him to continuously up his sport as each a coach and as a pacesetter in his discipline. Soto additionally serves as power & conditioning coach for the Hurricanes baseball staff, a five-time nationwide championship program.
“It’s all about making somebody as highly effective and explosive as they are often,” he explains, “all whereas having the ability to transfer and coordinate at optimum angles and with optimum timing, and at last being resilient sufficient to deal with the stress of the motion patterns so we are able to mitigate accidents as a lot as doable.”
In different phrases, Soto says, “I wish to make athletes explosive, superior movers, who’re resilient in physique and thoughts.”
Machado was just lately named a starter on the Nationwide League All Star staff—it’s his seventh All-Star look. However on the identical time his affect has prolonged past the baseball discipline. He and along with his spouse Yainee are the mother and father of 1-year-old son. On the identical time Machado additionally turned part-owner of Main League Soccer’s San Diego FC.
As he continues piling up Corridor of Fame-like numbers, Machado understands that his low season coaching is extra essential now than it’s ever been. And he’s exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. His profession stats place him among the many finest energetic gamers within the sport. Nonetheless, Machado realizes that baseball is a staff sport, and his fundamental objective stays getting that elusive World Collection ring.
“I’ve been in a position to do some nice issues within the sport, however the objective is the ring,” Machado says. “That’s why I play—to win and to provide the followers in San Diego what they deserve. That’s why I put within the work every single day.”
Olympia President Dan Solomon has adopted Machado’s baseball profession from the start. “Manny is totally different. His uncooked expertise speaks for itself, however what separates him is his depth, his hearth. He’s actual. Not everybody understands his distinctive strategy to the sport, however he’s the final word teammate and his low season exercises with Nick Soto are a giant a part of his success. When it’s all stated and finished, he’ll go down as among the best to ever play the sport.”
Soto research Machado’s efficiency at varied factors throughout the season, looking for methods to raise his sport.
“A humorous reality is I’m not a giant baseball fan in any respect,” confesses Soto, “I’m a participant fan, and I’m a fan of motion. So once I watch a sport the place my guys are enjoying I’m taking a look at motion patterns, [I’m looking at], do they give the impression of being comfy, fast, quick, explosive, tight? Are they kicking too far behind after they should take off on a dash? These are the issues I discover. An athlete must be striving for bodily enchancment because the season progresses, we would like them to be prepared when the stakes are the very best.”
You should definitely tune in to the 2025 MLB All-Star sport on July 15 (televised on FOX), and watch Machado together with the very best in baseball.
To study extra about Nick Soto’s strategy to coaching elite athlete athletes, go to the www.EliteUperformance.com
