Boston Red Sox designated hitter Hanley Ramirez is crediting Tom Brady's "TB12 Method" book for helping him drop 15 pounds since last season and get into better shape.
The 34-year-old Ramirez is beginning his 13th full major league season, reporting to the Red Sox's spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday.
"The TB12 Method" is the book that Brady, the 40-year-old New England Patriots quarterback, released last year detailing his mental, physical and nutritional approach.
"It's working for me," Ramirez told reporters, via MassLive.com. "If you sit down and see what he's saying in the book, it made a lot of sense."
Ramirez, a first baseman and DH, underwent left shoulder surgery during the offseason. He said he lifts weights less and works with exercise bands more.
"You get to that age, you cross 30, you've got to concentrate now on the little muscles," Ramirez said Friday at JetBlue Park. "Because you've got the power from the big muscles. So when you get hurt, most of the time those little muscles stop working. So you've just got to keep working on those little muscles. That's what the bands do. They give you more resistance. Keep the little muscles working."
Ramirez said his shoulders feel healthy and he has been throwing for a few weeks, adding he didn't want to give Brady too much credit for his fitness.
"I think we're giving too much credit to Tom Brady right now, huh," Ramirez joked. "The good thing about Brady is winning. It's about winning and making his team better. And when you've got a guy like that, it inspires other people to get better. And it shows to others that age is just a number when you do the little things right."
The slugger was asked about his chances of getting the 497 plate appearances that will trigger his $22 million vesting option for 2019.
"We're not thinking about contract. We're just trying to produce and win," said Ramirez, who hit .242 with 23 home runs and 62 RBI in 133 games - and 553 plate appearances - last season.
--Field Level Media
