David Wright’s Breakout Season

If baseball truly is a metaphor for life, prepare to hit a home run. Mets star David Wright reveals his secrets to help you transcend your physical and mental limits all day, every day

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Pier Nicola D'Amico

David Wright is modesty in a bottle. "There are so many players out there who are better than me talentwise," he says. "But I like to think I'll outwork all of them." His work seems to be paying off. Since entering the league in 2004, he's collected 1,020 hits, 148 home runs, 587 runs batted in, 2 Gold Glove Awards, 2 Silver Slugger Awards, and already holds the record for most doubles as a Met. He's also young and good-looking, and that makes him a breakout star in the Big Apple as well. Which means no one would be surprised if he became unbearable.

His secret: A 4-day-a-week practice formula, which you can apply to your job skills. Use Wright's tips for hitting a home run every time you step up to the plate.


Embrace Self-Doubt. Despite his stats, Wright doesn't see himself as having had a major breakout--and that fuels his motivation. "You drive in 116, but in the off-season you're thinking about the 20 RBIs that you left out there when you didn't get the job done. That's what pushes you."

Build The Illusion Of Great Speed. "I take pride in the fact that I can steal bases, or go from first to third on a single," he says. "But I take bigger pride in knowing I can do it even though I don't have great speed." So how does he do it? He studies the competition so that he knows which pitchers he can take a big lead on and which outfielders won't be able to throw him out at third. Start taking note of the tendencies of your boss, coworkers, and clients. Then cheat a step in the right direction yourself.


"I want to be known as a guy who can do everything above average," he says. His secret: the 4-day-a-week practice formula at right, which you can apply to your job skills—by reading related material, taking a class, or focusing your efforts on specific tasks. Fifteen minutes each day is all it takes to raise your performance.

Day 1: Basics Your task: Organize your office, and make a plan to manage the week's workload.

Day 2: Scoring Skills Your task: Improve your public speaking.

Day 3: Defensive Skills Your task: Upgrade your leadership and organizational abilities.

Day 4: Extremes Your task: Work on your biggest weakness and then your greatest strength.

The David Wright Workout: Build Explosive Power

Wright doesn't have time to mull over his options. "Third base is a reaction position," he says. "It's all instinct. If I think too much, I might take one off the face." Wright saves his mug by performing explosive exercises that match the moves he makes on the field. His program can help you build major league muscle, too—whether you're seeking the agility of Wright, the core strength of Joe Mauer, or the raw slugging power of Jim Thome.


Exercise: Side throw

Benefit: Helps you turn on a fastball

Muscles strengthened: Abdominals, hip flexors

Wright says: "You can do situps all day, but you won't get that full range of motion like you do with a medicine ball."

How to do it: Stand 3 feet from a solid wall, at a right angle to it, feet shoulder-width apart. Swing a medicine ball a bit to one side, then switch directions and throw it hard against the wall. Do two or three sets of four to eight repetitions, then switch sides and repeat.


Exercise: Romanian deadlift

Benefit: Helps you stay low to the ground

Muscles strengthened: Hamstrings, back

Wright says: "Strengthening your lower back and hamstrings is key for a 162-game season. These areas have the biggest injury rates."



Exercise: Standing jump and reach

Benefit: Helps you explode upward

Muscles and joints strengthened: Ankles, quads, hips

Wright says: "Exercises like this one that fans see us doing before a game--they aren't just to warm up. They actually make us play better."

How to do it: Squat slightly with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms at your sides. Then quickly explode upward, reaching both arms overhead. Be sure to land with soft knees. Do six to 10 repetitions.


Exercise: Side lunge

Benefit: Helps you move side to side

Muscles strengthened: Lower body

Wright says: "I need this explosiveness in my body to react to my left or right."

How to do it: Rest a barbell across your upper back. Take a long lunge step directly to one side, keeping your toes pointed straight ahead. Descend as you step so that your lunging thigh ends up parallel to the floor. Then push yourself back up to the starting position.

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