Fireflies Strength and Conditioning Coach Alex Tavarez Selected to Prestigious Arizona Fall League
COLUMBIA, SC - The Arizona Fall League announced that Alex Tavarez was selected to serve as strength and conditioning coach of the Scottsdale Scorpions this fall. Tavarez was one of six strength and conditioning coaches - and the first from the New York Mets organization - chosen around Major and Minor League Baseball to work in the star-studded league that runs from October 11-November 19. According to the league, nearly 60% of all Arizona Fall League players have made it to the majors, including 212 All-Stars.
"This is a huge opportunity for me," Tavarez said. "It's exciting, this experience opens up doors to so many other things. There are [General Managers] there, there are [MLB] owners there. We're working with the top prospects in Minor League Baseball. I'm excited to learn from so many people."
Five major league clubs are assigned to each of the six Arizona Fall League teams. Each Major League Baseball team sends six top prospects to the AFL - mainly players from the double and triple-A levels. The Scottsdale Scorpions will be comprised of prospects from the Mets, Angels, Giants, Phillies and Yankees organizations. The Scorpions will play their games at Scottsdale Stadium, the spring training home of the Giants.
This fall will mark the 25th season of the Arizona Fall League. Many New York Mets, past and present, have appeared in the AFL including Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza, and All-Stars David Wright and Jeurys Familia.
On a daily basis, Tavarez prepares the Fireflies from a mental and physical standpoint through stretching, cardio and aerobic work and weightlifting. The 26-year-old from Davie, Florida, is in his third season with the Mets. He spent the previous two years as strength and conditioning coach of the Gulf Coast League Mets. In 2013, the Florida Atlantic University graduate served the same role at St. Leo University in Florida.
Tavarez and the Fireflies are at Spirit Communications Park for the final four home games of the season. Columbia faces the Charleston RiverDogs (New York Yankees) from Saturday through Monday to finish the 2016 season. You can purchase your seats at FirefliesTickets.com.