Helmick bringing strength to the forefront

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) - Rob Helmick might not be sprinting the base paths or tracking fly balls through the outfield this summer in hopes of leading the C's to a victory, but he does understand the physical side of the game as well as any player. Now in his 6th season with the Blue Jays organization, Helmick joins the Canadians for his first year as Vancouver's Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Asked how he would describe his job "Awesome," Helmick replied, "fun, unique. I get to do a job that maybe five percent of people get to do."

Adding to the unique nature of his job is the opportunity to tailor his work specifically to baseball - another rarity for a strength and conditioning coach.

A graduate of Western Illinois University's Sport Sciences program, Rob worked within the athletics program at Bradley University before jumping at the chance to enter professional baseball - first with the Kansas City Royals before he found his way to the Blue Jays organization getting his first assignment with the Las Vegas 51's of the Pacific Coast League.

"It's all about specificity," Helmick added. "I try to design workouts for the guys to meet the challenges of their specific positions."

But even then, sometimes each Canadians' player presents circumstances that Helmick designs his work around.

"Part of the challenge is that the kids that you see at this level of ball are a mixed bag. Some of them have been in athletic programs in colleges where they've been lifting weights and building muscles for years. Others are right out of High School or just haven't done this kind of training before. That's why a lot of the time I try to tailor a program to each player's needs as well as the demands of their position."

It's this kind of specificity and passion for his work that has made Rob Helmick so sought after by organizations both at home and abroad.

In what little spare time he's had, Rob has also lent his expertise to MLB International's overseas development programs since 2005.

"It's been an amazing experience," said Helmick of his time spent overseas. "I've gotten to experience different ways of life, cultures, food. I've spent time in Italy where they have a huge academy as well as Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Austria and it's been amazing and very rewarding."

In fact, Helmick has spent a lot of his international time helping with the South African baseball program alongside former Canadians' Manager, Rick Magnante.

"Those kids over there, all they want to do is learn. They love the game and they're starving for the opportunity to develop." For so many European athletes who have chosen to pursue baseball, the biggest challenge is developing their skills enough to get noticed by scouts. This has to happen without the benefit of the extensive high school and college programs in the US. That is where Rob's work with MLB International has been so rewarding. "All these kids want is the chance to get drafted and play professional baseball in the States."

Asked to compare that to what he found most rewarding about his work in the Jays system, Helmick spoke about his time in Las Vegas. "To see these kids get called into an office and hear that they've been called up, some blow up, some cry. That's the best part, that's the reward in my work."

It's a kind of love for the game that fans wouldn't think about while cheering from their seat at Scotiabank Field and a perspective that few people ever get to appreciate. But for the young Canadians players who make a stop in Vancouver with hopes of one day playing on the turf at Rogers Centre, Rob Helmick's dedication to and passion for his work makes a world of difference.