Ed Yong begins his fifth season with the Spokane Indians after spending 2008 as the strength and conditioning coordinator for the Chinese Olympic Baseball Team, in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. From 2004-2007, Yong served as a minor league strength and conditioning coach in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, serving in A, AA and AAA levels. Yong earned a B.S. from Arizona State University in 2000, and later received a masters degree in human movemtn from A.T. Still University at Arizona School of Health Sciences in 2008. He has certifications from both the National Strength and Conditioning Association, National Academy of Sports Medicine and USA-Weightlifting. He is also pursing a certification in Pilates with Balanced Body.
Ed, thanks for taking some time.
Thank you, Norm, for inviting me for the interview!
Please tell us more about yourself.
I grew up in Phoenix, AZ and split my time there and the Bay Area of California in the off-season (and of course, Spokane, WA!)
You served as the strength and conditioning coordinator for the Chinese Olympic baseball team. What was that experience like?
Words alone cannot describe that experience. It was truly a once and a lifetime experience. The Team China project was funded by Major League Baseball when they found out that they would be hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. Since they were the host country, they needed to form a baseball team. Not to be confused, mainland China is not known for it’s baseball skills. It’s Chinese Taipei (aka Taiwan) that people often confuse it with.
We played in the Arizona Fall League in 2007, then did training in Guangzhou and Beijing, China, extended spring training in Arizona and played games in the Golden Baseball League and the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2008 to prepare for the Olympics. I got to work along side great people such as Barry Larkin, Jim Lefebvre, Tom Lawless and Steve Ontiveros. And to top it off, I got to met President George W. Bush during a private scrimmage between China and USA in Beijing. Also got to sneak away to see other Olympic events with my beautiful wife, Tammie.
You have traveled a lot in the offseason. In fact I believe you have hit all the continents now. What was your favorite trip?
Haha, yes, Norm. Tammie and I have been to all 7 continents. I did a lot of travelling during college, spending a semester abroad in Spain and working a summer in Ireland. It was Tammie that decided to think “outside the box” and come up with destinations that I never would have imagined! I thought of places such as Paris, Athens, Rome, Greece, Australia and New Zealand. She gets all the credit for our African safari “honeymoon” and Antarctica trip. And I will admit, although Africa was my favorite trip, Tammie had to convince me to go! Working in baseball, we dedicate the months of February-September (and sometimes October) to the job, 24/7. The off-season allows us time to” recharge our batteries” and reconnect with our loved ones.
What has been the best moment of your career so far?
Tough question. This is my 10th year in baseball and there are many others that have been in this game 2-3 times longer than I have. Obviously my experience in 2008 Summer Olympics and meeting President Bush ranks up there at the top. Advancing to the Northwest League Championship in 2010 was a fun time with a great group of guys, two of whom are already in the Majors. Being fortunate enough to be a part of a great organization such as the Texas Rangers and attending two World Series was another unbelievable experience. I’ve truly been blessed in this game and never take anything for granted.
I’m going to name a few players, please describe them.
That’s a GREAT list of young and exciting players! I remember seeing a lot of talent when I was at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, but to see some of these guys in Short-season A and seeing them mature within a matter of months is amazing.
1. Mike Zunino-
We were fortunate enough to play against him during his brief stay in the NWL, right before he got called up to double-A. Great power and definitely an above average defensive catcher.
2. Mike Olt-
A true professional in every aspect of the game. Easy to get along with and fun guy to have in the clubhouse. Great team-player. Defensively, one of the best 3rd basemen I have ever seen. Every time he runs up to bare-hand a softly hit ground ball, 99.9% of the time, he’ll make that perfect off-balanced throw to 1st for the out.
3. Jurickson Profar-
This guy has made plays that I have never, ever seen before nor could even imagine. I’ve worked with guys that have been Big League shortstops, but he outperforms all of them, hands down. He was only 17 years old when I had him, but on the field, he played as big as a Major League All-Star. Excellent range.
4. Joey Gallo-
During the 2012 season in Spokane, we would read the stat sheet for our AZL Rookie League team and this guy seemed to hit a homerun in every game. He was transferred to us in late-August after breaking the AZL homerun record and met us in Yakima. During his first round of BP, he must have hit 10 out of 15 balls out. The ball jumps off his bat. Moon shots! Tremendous power and a smooth swing.
5. Joe Panik-
We played against him in 2011 and every time he came to the plate, you knew he was going to put the ball in play. We would talk in the dugout and say, “Does this guy ever strike out?” A pure hitter with a very good glove at shortstop.
What advice would you give young players on the strength and conditioning aspect of the game? Are there certain supplements a player should be using or stay away from them all together?
Focus on getting stronger throughout your whole body. Don’t just focus on your upper body. A lot of your power comes from your lower half, no matter if your throwing or hitting. “Core training” is an term that is usually misused. Core isn’t your “six pack”, it’s the deep muscles you cant see that surround your spine. Work on your posture and don’t sit around all day in a slouched position with your head leaned forward while looking at something on your smart phone. Posture impacts how your body moves on the field. Don’t underestimate the importance of flexibility through massage, active stretching, static stretching, etc. Mix-in other aspects of fitness such as Pilates and Yoga. And last but not least, don’t forget about recovery! Take the time to soak in a hot tub, or do a hot/cold contrast bath. You only get one body, challenge it, push it to it’s limits, but also give it time to rest. As far as supplementation, I won’t get into that because certain players have individual needs. In professional baseball, products must be NSF-Certified to ensure purity, period. You should be able to get everything you need from your daily food intake. If it doesn’t, speak with a nutritionist or registered dietitian for advice.
Ed, thanks for taking the time for us. We’ll see you this summer.