I'm really looking at Middle infielders but this could be applied to other positions.

Middle infielders are generally some of the fastest and most agile on the baseball field. The average middle infielder is about 6'0 185lbs. Now obvisouly baseball players need to stay quick and agile, but why is it professional running backs are about the same height, but weigh another 20-40lbs more? Without a doubt running backs are generally some of the fastest and most agile on the football field.

Is it possible to maintain flexibility, agility, and speed by bulking up into the 200-225lbs range? If it is, why do players (middle infielders) stay around 185lbs?

Baseball 165 + games

Football 17 + games

for every rule, there's an exception. Everytime people talk about velocity....Maddux (or some other command pitcher) enters the conversation.

So, for MIF:

Full Name: Miguel Odalis Tejada
Born: 05/25/1976
Height: 5'9" Weight: 215

BTW, this guy wasn't too shabby either:

Alexander Enmanuel Rodriguez
Born: 07/27/1975
Height: 6'3" Weight: 225

quote:

Is it possible to maintain flexibility, agility, and speed by bulking up into the 200-225lbs range?

Yes, if your body structure allows it without sacrificing skills needed to play middle infield.

If it is, why do players (middle infielders) stay around 185lbs?

It has more to do about genetics than anything else. Most middle infielders, albeit a few freaks, were skinny growing up. Their weight in HS was around 150-160. Their build is most suitable for middle infield therefore that is the position they have palyed since a young age in most cases.

A natural gain of 20-25 pounds with age and weight training puts them in the 185 pound range that you mentioned. At this weight they are strong and powerful, yet still able to maintains their quickness and agility.

If they were to bulk up another 20-40 pounds their skills would diminish and they would break down (I think we all know a few middle infielders who broke down before they had to).

Add in the wear and tear an additional 20 pounds can have on the body over the course of a 162 game season is dramatic.

The only middle infielders who get to the 215-230 range are those who are taller in stature and carry muscle in the lower body.