LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – By age 39, most longtime major league catchers have shuffled into retirement, coaching or a designated hitter role. Not A.J. Pierzynski, who continues to strap on the catcher’s gear and squat behind home plate. And rake. Yes, the man still can hit, as evident by a .300 average, nine homers and .769 OPS last season.
So how does he do it? How has Pierzynski avoided debilitating injuries and simple wear-and-tear of the position and keep plugging away after nearly 1,800 career starts behind the plate in 18 seasons, including 104 starts and 100 complete games at the catching position in 2015?
“God definitely gifted him with some nice joints, bones and cartilage, apparently,” said Braves catcher Tyler Flowers, 30, who spent parts of four seasons as Pierzynski’s backup with the White Sox through 2012, and will now split the Braves catching duties with him.
“I haven’t been catching that long and I battle a few things already. Again, I think he got dealt a good hand but he also is a guy that doesn’t take anything for granted. He always worked hard and he continues to work hard to this day,” Flowers said. “He’s one of the most consistent, hardest workers I’ve ever been around. I think he’s definitely earned everything he’s gotten, he’s earned the longevity of his career.”
Pierzynski has a precise schedule that includes his workout regimen and pregame preparation, going over a scouting report by himself and with his starting pitcher that night.
“I’ve always done that. I’m a big believer in a routine, especially in a baseball season,” Pierzynski said. “It’s so long, there’s so many ups and downs. But if you have your routine to fall back on, you kind of know everything’s going to be alright. You have a bad game, you come in and do the same thing the next day. You have a good game, you come in and do the same thing the next day.
“Just keeps you level-headed and even. It’s just something I’ve always done. It’s not that I’m superstitious, it’s just one of those things that, because this game is so hard, it keeps you sane.”
“That definitely doesn’t hurt, but there definitely is some work involved in it,” Pierzynski said. “It’s not like we just show up and play. There’s definitely a lot more to it. But I have been lucky; I don’t look like Eddie (Perez, the bullpen coach and former Braves catcher who was walking past Pierzynski’s locker at that moment), so that’s a good sign. There’s also a lot of work involved every day in being able to run out there every day at my age. I’ve also avoided a lot of injuries, and I enjoy the work, which is one of the biggest things.”
During spring training, his routine begins well before the crack of dawn, because Pierzynski is at the ballpark ready to begin his weight room workout at 7 a.m., at least 2 ½ hours before the team’s on-field workout.
“He’s not in there doing he-man lifts or anything, but he’s extremely consistent about the work that he knows he needs to do,” Flowers said. “He’s in there every day. You can see him in there at the same time, doing his routine, doing what he knows is going to get him ready. He has that experience over the years knowing what he needs to do and what he needs to stay away from. He’s extremely consistent. You’ve got to respect that.”
He doesn’t hang out in the weight room and chat. He’s there to work. Get in, get out.
“I’m not in there a long time,” Pierzynski said. “Just come in and get my workout in every day. Twenty, 30 or 40 minutes, whatever it is that day, move on. It’s the first thing I do. Kind of look forward to it now, gets everything kind of loosened up, moving around. It’s just become what I do every day.
“I get here at 7 and then go right at it after that. Get it over with, go to the (batting) cage, then we usually have a meeting, then ready to take the field. Spring training is a little different because of the timing issues, but still got to get it done.”
