Archer looking for big league spot after off season work

MLB

Archer looking for big league spot after off season work

Feb 11, 2013

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Raleigh, N.C. — For Clayton native Chris Archer, there was very little off time in the off season.

After getting a taste of the big leagues last year with the Tampa Bay Rays, Archer spent much of the fall working out at Athletic Performance Center in Raleigh, looking for the edge to put him over the top this season.

“I definitely, in the course of the off season, made a lot of gains,” Archer said. “The specialized training has really helped me understand my body more. Where my instabilities are, where I need to strengthen, where I need to focus so I can be in the best direction to command and throw the fastball.”

“We’ve really been fine tuning and tweaking a lot of his movements to become more efficient,” said Athletic Performance Center specialist Will Parker.

Archer picked up his first big-league win last year and is hoping that the personalized training will pay big dividends and result in more wins in the future.

“I have got a taste of it and I want to continue to have that taste the rest of my life,” Archer said. “The person you are in most competition with is yourself. If you can out-do yourself mentally, that’s really when you are going to get optimal performance from yourself.”

“He’s a sponge,” said Athletic Performance Center manager Scott Pucek. “He’s bought into it because he’s seen the results of what we’re doing.”

The Rays pitchers and catchers report to camp in Port Charlotte, Fla., Tuesday with 21 pitchers on their active 40-man roster.

“It’s an awesome feeling knowing you are going to spring training surrounded by great guys,” Archer said. “If I make the team right out of camp, or I can help out a little down the road, I’m just excited that baseball season is right around the corner.”