While you’ve been staying home to stay healthy, so have your favorite baseball players. With games on hold, we caught up with current and former Tacoma Rainiers to learn what exercises they’re doing to stay in shape, what games they’re playing to stay entertained, and what dishes they’re cooking up to keep their bodies in tip top shape while in shelter.
First up? 2018-19 pitcher Darren McCaughan. Darren is a 24-year-old from Downey, California, and the 2017 Draft pick filled us in on what he’s been up to while he waits for the return of baseball.
Darren McCaughan pitching vs. the Iowa Cubs on Aug. 3, 2019 (Jeff Halstead)
Q: How are you staying in shape for the return of baseball?
A: I feel like with everything in the world closed down, I really haven’t missed a beat in terms of preparation… I’ve got a park in my backyard and a bag of about 35 baseballs that I throw into the fence, then pick ‘em up and do it over again. In terms of weights and stuff, I’ve had to get creative by throwing an assortment of garage items into suitcases and doing some jail yard workouts in the driveway. Although not an ideal situation, I think we can find ways to stay in shape during quarantine by using our imagination a little bit.
Q: What games have you been playing?
A: I’ve been on Call of Duty: Warzone a bunch and keeping my baseball IQ sharp with MLB The Show. Recently, my mom has been kicking my butt in Backgammon so I think the competitive side makes me want to keep coming back for more… even though she’s too dominant.
Q: What’s been your go-to meal to cook at home?
A: Chicken, rice, and veggies
Q: What’s your message to high school and college seniors who missed out on their last season?
A: Try to make the best of the situation in some way. It sucks for everyone, but it could be a time to reflect on things you’re thankful for, and things you can get better at. Life is all about perspective and right now the world is doing what we need to do to get through this together and sometimes it shows you that there are bigger things out there than baseball.
About the Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers, Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Tacoma has been a member of the Pacific Coast League since Cheney Stadium opened in 1960, and has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the Rainiers moniker in 1995.
The most up-to-date news and notes about the Tacoma Rainiers and Cheney Stadium can be found at WeRTacoma.com, or by following the Rainiers on Twitter (@RainiersLand), Instagram (@tacomarainiers) and liking the team on Facebook.
COVID-19 Information
More information on social distancing and how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 can be found at Tacoma-Pierce County Health. The most up-to-date information on how COVID-19 is affecting events at Cheney Stadium can be found here.
March 25, 2023