Carl Crawford Credits Athletes' Performance for his Success

September 22, 2009

(Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images)

Carl Crawford, the Tampa Bay Rays' left fielder, has had a strong career since joining the majors in 2002. He's lead the league in stolen bases four times, been selected to three All-Star teams, and was even selected as the MVP of the 2009 All-Star game.

Crawford told the Washington Post that training at Athletes' Performance in Arizona prior to 2002 helped him get to where he is today:

"It started clicking for me when I started training differently. I had all the ability to reach the big leagues, but I didn't understand a lot about the proper way to work out and condition my body for baseball. When I started training differently, that's when I became the player I am today."

Fourth among active players in career stolen bases, Crawford also says that his training helped develop season-long speed. (Note: He does not currently train with Athletes' Performance.)

"It was [before the 2002 season] that I started going out to [Athletes' Performance in Arizona]... It was all about speed, quickness, building up your legs, [learning] how to keep your body in shape over the course of a full, 162-game season. Once you get that in you, it changes you a little bit."

Read the full story at WashingtonPost.com.

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