Major League Baseball and Gatorade announced on April 10 the launch of a new series, “Chasing 162,” which will follow All-Star center fielders Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs as they navigate a full baseball season.
The series aims to give fans an inside look at how professional athletes maintain their physical and mental health during the demands of a 162-game schedule. The first episode, released Thursday, highlights both players’ approaches to offseason preparation and recovery routines.
“You can’t really be playing center field night in and night out if you’re not well-prepared,” Rodríguez said. Crow-Armstrong added, “The goal for me is being available for 162, putting my body in the best place to go do that. Playing a premier position like center field, that’s a part of the job. I think there comes some responsibility with being a baseball player and putting your body in a position to play 162.”
Hydration plays an important role in both players’ daily recovery strategies. Crow-Armstrong described losing up to seven pounds during double-header games in July due to sweat loss. He learned about his high rate of perspiration from team hydration tests, noting he often wears long sleeves while playing. “I realized that hydration was big when I’d wake up in the morning feeling better after properly hydrating myself,” Crow-Armstrong said.
Rodríguez emphasized his preference for electrolytes, specifically Fruit Punch Gatorade. “I remember this trainer really told me about hydration, and he said, ‘It helps you clean up your system.’ Whenever he told me that, it kind of changed my perspective about hydration,” Rodríguez said.
Mental recovery is also addressed in “Chasing 162.” Crow-Armstrong relies on conversations with veteran teammates during challenging stretches and finds support from his parents—both former professional actors—when off the field. He prefers reading before bed over using his phone: “My eyes matter in my job, and I don’t want to be putting too much pressure on my eyes when I gotta go face 100 [mph pitches] anyways,” he said.
Both athletes focused their offseason regimens on specific areas: hip and shoulder mobility for Crow-Armstrong; strength and speed for Rodríguez. In the previous season they each achieved at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases while helping their teams reach postseason play.
Rodríguez summed up his approach by saying: “Talent gets you there, but preparation and work ethic maintains you there.”
As “Chasing 162” continues throughout the season, viewers will see more insights into how elite players manage performance under pressure.
