Former MLB Star Jonathan Lucroy Challenges Kelce Brothers' Views on Baseball Training
Former Major League Baseball catcher Jonathan Lucroy has issued a sharp response to comments made by NFL stars Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce regarding baseball players' training methods. The exchange began after the Kelce brothers discussed baseball workouts on their popular "New Heights" podcast, questioning the necessity of cardio for baseball athletes.
The Podcast Comments That Sparked the Debate
During their podcast episode, Jason Kelce made the controversial statement that "There's zero cardio necessary to be a good baseball player." His brother Travis Kelce supported this view by recalling his own high school baseball experience, noting he only ran from foul pole to foul pole during practice sessions.
Lucroy, who played 12 seasons in MLB with teams including the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers, took to social media platform X on April 1 to directly address these comments. "Baseball is not easy," Lucroy emphasized, "and it demands something very different from football."
Lucroy's Detailed Rebuttal of Baseball Training Methods
The former All-Star catcher provided specific examples to counter the Kelce brothers' assertions about baseball conditioning:
- Pitcher Conditioning: Lucroy explained that pitchers run poles specifically to build endurance for longer outings, citing legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan as an example. "Nolan Ryan did them everyday," Lucroy noted, pointing to Ryan's remarkable longevity and ability to throw fastballs at age 40.
- Position Player Training: For everyday players, Lucroy described how base running serves as conditioning during Spring Training. During the regular season, he explained, "we don't do much conditioning as an everyday player. Why? Because we play almost EVERYDAY." The game itself becomes the primary workout due to the relentless schedule.
The Grueling Reality of MLB's 162-Game Season
Lucroy highlighted the fundamental difference between MLB and NFL schedules as central to understanding baseball's unique training demands. While NFL teams play 17 regular season games, MLB teams endure a marathon 162-game schedule spanning seven months.
"NFL players suit up once a week, but MLB players step on the field almost every day for months," Lucroy stated. "That difference changes everything about how players train, recover, and perform over a long season."
To illustrate the physical toll, Lucroy shared statistics from his catching career: "That means I did at least 200 squats every game." Over 120 games, this translated to approximately 24,000 squats per season, not including pre-game warmups.
Respect for Football While Defending Baseball's Demands
Lucroy made sure to acknowledge the physical intensity of football, stating clearly: "NFL games are brutally violent, and I'm not understating that." However, he argued that baseball presents different challenges that require specialized training approaches.
"Our game is more about endurance and longevity over a 7 month season of daily attrition," Lucroy wrote. He concluded his message with the succinct summary: "It is a marathon, not a sprint."
The exchange between the professional athletes has sparked broader conversations about cross-sport comparisons and the specific physical demands of different professional sports. Lucroy's detailed response provides insider perspective on why baseball training differs significantly from football preparation, despite superficial similarities in athletic requirements.
