Houston Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez had a decent rookie season, compiling a .274/.319/.423 slash average with six home runs and 35 RBI in 226 plate appearances after joining the team in late July.
Though he's slated to be the Astros starting left fielder this season, Martinez wanted to be in great shape when he got to spring training. To achieve that, he wanted to be pushed hard. So hard that he'd leave his effort all over the training room. Literally.
According to Steve Campbell of the Houston Chronicle, Martinez was looking for something particular in a personal trainer. He made that requirement clear to the person recommended to him for the job.
“I told him, ‘If you don’t make me puke in the first week, I’m not going to come back,’” Martinez said.
One of Martinez's friends and former teammates referred him to trainer Nick Casazza, who was all too willing to fulfill Martinez's wishes. Within 10 minutes of their first workout, Martinez was vomiting.
“When he went outside and threw up, he was looking at me like I was the craziest person he ever met in his life,” Casazza said. “But you know what? The kid showed up the next day. He kept coming back. I said, ‘This guy is the real deal.’”
Martinez and Casazza have actually been working together since after the 2010 season. Their primary objective was for Martinez to add muscle and keep on weight through the long grind of a baseball season. Last year, he began the season at 225 pounds, but was down to 205 by the end of the year.
One would think Martinez would have an easier time keeping weight on if he wasn't puking it out all the time. However, he managed to pack on a good amount of muscle by the time he reported to spring training this year, weighing in at a lean, mean 235 pounds.
Someone get this guy on the cover of Men's Health magazine.
(via ESPN's Buster Olney)
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