Annually, baseball fields worldwide are crammed with 1000’s of younger, native phenoms seeking to be the following Manny Machado. On the similar time, professional scouts are tasked with scouring these similar world sandlots to select the handful of potential standouts who might—or might not—excel on the subsequent stage.
And whereas predicting an athlete’s future efficiency is on no account an actual science, it’s usually mentioned that in an effort to be the very best, expertise alone isn’t sufficient. Consultants can probably agree on this: Work ethic and dedication are oftentimes the nice separators between mid-level prospect and perennial All-Star.
At this time, in terms of who’s essentially 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. It’s also possible to 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 residence runs to his credit score, the 33-year-old is a well-rounded juggernaut, adequate to have change 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, below the watchful eye of tremendous coach Nick Soto, one of the vital well-rounded athletic coaches on the planet.
Soto’s method may very well be labeled unconventional, however after witnessing his star shopper’s efficiency for greater than a decade, it’s been confirmed efficient. The coach focuses on explosiveness, pace, and the type of general purposeful energy that helps his shoppers attain the highest of their sport.
Soto’s model doesn’t resemble the cookie-cutter method deployed by most athletic trainers—he builds applications with a deep understanding of his shopper’s strengths, musculature, vulnerabilities, psychological toughness, and an array of different components that maintain his elite athletes on the prime of their sport 12 months in and 12 months out. Machado isn’t any exception.
“I’ve been coaching with Nick for a very long time,” explains Machado. “His understanding of physiology and general efficiency has been a giant a part of my growth. Success on the sphere begins with what I’m doing within the gymnasium, away from the intense lights.”
Consistency Retains Manny Machado on the Prime of His Sport
Machado’s exercise routine by no means adjustments. The second the season ends, he and Soto will be discovered practically each day on the College of Miami’s baseball coaching facility. It’s no secret that South Florida is residence to a number of the most elite baseball expertise on the planet, a actuality that surrounds Soto with the very best of the very best, forcing him to continually up his sport as each a coach and as a frontrunner in his area. Soto additionally serves as energy & 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 with the ability to transfer and coordinate at optimum angles and with optimum timing, and eventually being resilient sufficient to deal with the stress of the motion patterns so we are able to mitigate accidents as a lot as attainable.”
In different phrases, Soto says, “I need to make athletes explosive, superior movers, who’re resilient in physique and thoughts.”
Machado was not too long ago named a starter on the Nationwide League All Star staff—it’s his seventh All-Star look. However on the similar time his affect has prolonged past the baseball area. He and together with his spouse Yainee are the mother and father of 1-year-old son. On the similar 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 vital now than it’s ever been. And he’s exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. His profession stats place him among the many finest lively gamers within the sport. Nonetheless, Machado realizes that baseball is a staff sport, and his major 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 each day.”
Olympia President Dan Solomon has adopted Machado’s baseball profession from the start. “Manny is completely different. His uncooked expertise speaks for itself, however what separates him is his depth, his fireplace. He’s actual. Not everybody understands his distinctive method 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 mentioned and executed, he’ll go down as among the best to ever play the sport.”
Soto research Machado’s efficiency at numerous factors through 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 taking part in 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 once they must take off on a dash? These are the issues I discover. An athlete ought to be striving for bodily enchancment because the season progresses, we would like them to be prepared when the stakes are the best.”
You’ll want to 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 method to coaching elite athlete athletes, go to the www.EliteUperformance.com