All-Star Wade Davis continually sharpens his mind and body - Kansas City Star
On winter nights in New York’s Hudson Valley, Wade Davis climbs into his 2010 Ford F-150 and uses his headlights to illuminate the snow-covered roads. Then he points his truck toward a gym on State Route 17K in Montgomery, N. Y. , the space where he transformed his body en route to becoming baseball’s most reliable reliever. Davis makes a 20-minute drive from his home in Ulster County for workouts that start around 9 p. m. He spends the rest of the night absorbing challenges from his trainer, stepping through ladder drills, leaping hurdles and straining himself with... “He wants to come in and dominate things,” said Davis’ trainer, Niyan Oladipo. “He wants to do it. He’s going to put in the work to get it right and be the best at it. ”. The journey from also-ran starter to All-Star reliever began here. Davis never worked with a personal trainer before he met Oladipo after the 2012 season. In their second winter together, months before Kansas City shifted him into the bullpen for 2014, Davis revamped his physique. He added about 20 pounds, most of it muscle, building a base that set the stage for the devastation Davis has wrought upon the American League these past two seasons. Davis combines a vicious, three-pitch arsenal with a pristine delivery and a keen intellect, say coaches, teammates, opponents and rival evaluators. “I’ve never seen somebody absolutely dominate hitters the way Wade did last year, and the way he’s doing this year,” fellow Royal Luke Hochever. Source: www.kansascity.com
