For a baseball player, its like Disney World, Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro said on Thursday evening. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? Keegan Matheson. Thats where teenaged high school draftees will get their first taste of professional competition before advancing to Torontos lowest-level minor-league affiliate, conveniently located right there in Dunedin. But under the old system, MLB front offices saw their resources being spread too thin. Developmentally, theres nothing worse. {* backButton *} This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission. In addition to sports science labs and a movement studio used for yoga and stretching among other activities, there is a major-league training room and a minor-league training room both with eight training tables. Pete Walker is reminding them of the pitch clock so this is one of the more interesting live BPs compared to previous years. One position, however, that wasnt solidified was the final rotation spot, creating an internal competition between Yusei Kikuchi and Mitch White. I just can't wait to get going and work with them and just get after it.". {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. "To avoid it is good but also just to be on the same page with the team is nice too.". (approx 1 - 2 per week). We want your feedback! Its meant to be a competitive advantage, he added. But in his role as Torontos minor-league strength and conditioning coordinator, Steve Rassels job is to be creative. The complex features six fields, five of which are brand new, plus two half fields. He will, however, be expected to build off his late-season success as a reliever, where he shined to a 28.9 per cent strikeout-to-walk rate difference despite allowing four home runs and nine walks over 18.1 innings. Clubs devised creative methods to simulate game-like environments and recreate the pressure of high-leverage baseball. He and fellow franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr., are still scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the 2025 season. At a minimum, it is best in class among MLB, says Mark Shapiro, Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO. Its meant to lead to wins.. Pitchers and catchers reported to camp last week and the first spring training games are scheduled to begin Feb. 28 with the Blue Jays taking on AL East rival New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Other players took swings in the batting cages or played soft toss in the outfield. Kikuchi, on the other hand, is likely staring at a clear path to eventually being named the Blue Jays fifth starter. Over the decade since, 22 MLB teams have undergone major renovations or completely replaced their training facilities. We use cookies to improve your experience. According to Shapiro, news of this facility certainly helped sway those players decisions on joining the club. Other Dunedin Blue Jays Jobs Search TeamWork Online Jobs Any problems, Contact Us TeamWork Online Privacy Policy All our fans should be (proud) of what this environment is like., Its meaningful to our fans because its part of the ingredients, Shapiro continued. What are the things that we can control that can contribute to a championship environment? The Blue Jays want to learn what they have in both hurlers and have positioned them against each other this spring, hoping one will prove worthy of that fifth starting gig by improving off their 2022 woes. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media Republication or distribution of this content is You can change your selection at any time. Use another Its gratifying to be in here and Im really proud. Coming into spring training as the biggest spender, Toronto has added the likes of outfielder George Springer, infielder Marcus Semien and pitchers Kirby Yates and Robbie Ray. @ KeeganMatheson. Some guys would accidentally slide or roll down the hill as theyre doing their foam rolling prep, Rassel said. You can change your selections at any time. The clubhouse in the new Player Development Complex for the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, Florida, [+] includes a 78-locker MLB locker room. Coaches and coordinators will apply those same approaches with young athletes at the complex going forward. Bernard and Lopez probably arent too far behind Lukes. You can change your selection at any time. Dunedin was the laughingstock of MLB, frankly.. I really believe that well have the single best training centre the day our facilitys done, Shapiro said at the time. There are also fuel bars and grab n go fridges for both major- and minor-leaguers. Going forward, its players like Kloffenstein, a high school draftee who began his professional career at 17 in the unforgiving grind of the Gulf Coast League, who stand to benefit the most from the new facility particularly considering theres no more Gulf Coast League for players like him to report to. ', host Ian Glendon and John [], On this episode of Boot 2 The Face, we talk some AEW and Tony Khan vs [], The boys are back talking Black HIstory Wrestler of the week. Emailed daily. Sitting on a 65-acre site in Dunedin, FL, the complex combines innovative resources in a meticulously planned physical layout, to create a competitive advantage tool that will help the Blue Jays bring World Series Championships back to Canada. Theyd also glean the benefits of rubbing shoulders with current big-leaguers during spring training, learning by observing the daily routines and approaches of the games best players who occupy the 3,750-square-foot major-league clubhouse they hope to one day have their own stall in. NBA players and fans pay tribute to NBA great Kobe Bryant. Four Blue Jays regulars are set to play in the tournament. When submitting content, please abide by our. Its 168 feet long with an inline of 6.79 degrees. February 26th, 2023. Presenting our new Player Development Complex! He spent his last three years at Vanderbilt University, where Commodores players have access to 30,000-square-feet of modern training and rehab facilities that underwent a $12-million renovation in 2018. Starting this spring, Rassel will never have to program around Mattick Centers cramped, out-dated, windowless weight room again. 262: Dynasty Head Coach Nick Blackman, https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/G481GD/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADV7185869114.mp3?updated=1677636375, Ep. Web118K views, 2.1K likes, 309 loves, 413 comments, 1.1K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Toronto Blue Jays: A state-of-the-art facility unlike any other. An inside look at the Blue Jays new player development complex in Dunedin Its meant to lead to wins, Mark Shapiro said of the $80 million renovation, which This roster battle doesnt usually receive much attention, but this isnt any ordinary season. Barring an injury, the clubs Opening Day roster is poised to include Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson, Anthony Bass, Yimi Garcia, Tim Mayza, Adam Cimber, Trevor Richards and White in the bullpen. Please contact us. The organization researched English Premier League, National Football League, National Basketball Association and elite university facilities as they worked to create a place that is both uniquely theirs and could help directly contribute to bringing a World Series back to Canada. Some of the first Blue Jays to make use of the teams new facilities were actually minor-leaguers who passed through this winter as part of that series of specialized training camps intended to help make up for lost developmental time in 2020. There are several murals and quotes on various hallway walls throughout the facility, one of which displays the word Equality with the teams and MLBs concerted focus on inclusion and diversity across all levels of the sport. pic.twitter.com/ggKaqjeobv, Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 25, 2021. Featuring six full practice fields, two half-fields, 12 different pitching mounds, 12 covered batting cages, three sports-science labs, a hydrotherapy water room, pools, outdoor weight training area, a 22,000 square foot indoor weight room, three minor league locker rooms and a 3,700 square foot major league clubhouse, this state-of-the-art facility has it all. With light winds gently swaying the tops of the palm trees on a brilliant mid-February morning, the mood was as breezy as the favourable conditions in the Sunshine State for Day 1 of early camp. The 3,750-square-foot Major League clubhouse has 72 custom, 8-foot-tall lockers. Really, it could accommodate about eight adults comfortably before backlogs began to form at various pieces of equipment. You have anything you need anything you could possibly think of, said Tyler Chatwood, a Blue Jays reliever who signed this off-season. Based on that, we have built what we believe is a facility that will drive a competitive advantage to help us bring World Series Championships back to Canada and to Blue Jays fans., MORE: Phoenix Suns Unveil A Practice Facility Using Technology In A Way No NBA Team Has Before. You get the picture. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! Paul Pogba Returns To Help Juventus Win Serie A Derby Against Torino, Monica Puig Joins Athleta's Tennis Movement, Part Of Larger The Power Of She Collective, Atletico Madrid Reportedly Offer To Sign Ferran Torres From FC Barcelona, FC Barcelona Make Lionel Messi Genius $100 Million Final Offer To Return To Club This Summer - Reports, Atlanta Braves Post Record Revenue, But Profit Falls, FC Barcelona Still Keen On Signing New Pedri Alberto Moleiro From Las Palmas - Reports, Big Apple Aces Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon Among MLBs Elite Slider Artists, NBA, Players Association Very Motivated To Reach New Labor Agreement By March 31 Opt-Out Deadline. If he was drafted by Toronto two years ago, likely beginning his minor-league career with Dunedin, his introduction to a professional environment wouldve represented a significant downgrade from what hed experienced as a student-athlete. Take 2020 first-round pick Austin Martin. All rights reserved. Intrasquad games are an obvious means, but the Blue Jays also utilized high-velocity pitching machines to make batting practice more challenging and turned routine fielding drills into mini competitions between players. General manager Ross Atkins deserves some credit for the buoyant mood, as he made some intriguing moves in the off-season to help improve run prevention, versatility and team depth. Presenting our new Player All rights reserved.Privacy PolicyAd ChoicesTerms of Service. Forgot your Jimmy Robbins and Sem Robberse could also be knocking on the door of the major-league level, adding to the organizations internal starting pitching depth. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. The two-story weight room in the new Toronto Blue Jays Player Development Complex includes 40,000 [+] pounds of weights. A modernized complex to house spring training is certainly a strong selling point when recruiting veteran MLB free agents such as George Springer and Marcus Semien. Its made it much easier, having this kind of facility for sure., Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Of the six fields, five come brand new and one has the same measurements as Torontos Rogers Centre. Arash Madani and Shi Davidi discuss the Blue Jays' new development complex. Just to see them in it and actually walk into it every day has been a pretty incredible moment for me., Isnt it beautiful? All are aided by sizeable drainage and irrigation systems and use Latitude 36 Bermuda grass from Sarasota, Fla. One of the teams outdoor fields, Field 2, has full turf and identical measurements to the Rogers Centre where the team usually plays its home regular-season and playoff games. Toronto unveiled the Player Development Complex on the same site of the former Bobby Mattick Training Center at Englebert Complex, a new indoor-outdoor facility that will serve as the 365-days-a-year base of operations for the team. It blew me away the first time I came in here. TORONTO Closer Liam Hendriks, the top reliever available in free agency, was seen Monday visiting the Toronto Blue Jays new complex in Dunedin, Fla., according to a source.. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. To order And those were all major accomplishments. "I'm excited to get going.". Here are two ways to find out everything you need to know about Rogers Centre! Its something that Im cognizant of when we talk to players and agents, Shapiro said. You may opt-out by. So, when you bring it back to a place like this that has a lot of space, a lot of facilities and a lot of equipment I don't want to say it's easier, but it certainly is a lot smoother to plan and program for individuals.". The Blue Jays avoided arbitration with Bichette last week when the two sides agreed to terms on a three-year contract. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. [], The man accused of molesting the 4 year-old son of former UFC Heavyweight [], Stackin the NBA gives you an unique perspective on each NBA match-up on []. In a funny way, pandemic baseball served to push some of these evolutions along. Watch: Pirates, Orioles play bottom of 9th inning without umpires, Dodgers dealt major blow with loss of SS Gavin Lux, Arrest warrant out for potential No. Next, select your favourite teams and leagues and well show you their latest news and scores in the My Favourites section of the home page. And considering the advanced high school and college programs those athletes are emerging from, theyre expecting it themselves. 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