Yankees Newest Workout Tool: ‘Mount Krause’

The Yankees get set to embark on an uphill battle for the franchise’s 28th World Series win, but first, they have an uphill battle with Mount Krause, literally.

Named after team trainer Matt Krause, the Yankees built a 10-foot grass incline in left field of Field 3 at George M. Steinbrenner Field, designed to build strength in the lower body.

Atop of the hill is what Krause described as about 85% clay with dirt mixed in. It took about a month to build this off season after Hal Steinbrenner approved to fund it.

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Krause first used a hill when he was at the University of Central Florida, and again when he was the Cincinnati Reds’ strength and conditioning coach. The Yankees have 14 strength coaches on the organization’s staff, but Krause considers the hill his 15th strength coach.

All the players at camp participate in running the hill. CC Sabathia and his bum knee did work on it in an individualized program that was set up specifically for the lefty. Brian McCann embraces the hill and hopes it could help his durability at the leg-bearing position of catcher.

The program for most players is to run a mile on the hill under 7 minutes and 30 seconds.

With health being a constant problem from New York, does the hill put those who are injury-prone at risk? Manager Joe Girardi doesn’t think so.

When asked the question, he referred to legendary running back Walter Payton’s famous hill workouts. “You could argue he was the greatest running back of all time and that’s how he trained,” Girardi said.

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When position players report this upcoming week, they will have to run up the hill as well. If Walter Payton was able to build a football career as a running back while training with hill workouts, it’ll be interesting to see if speedsters Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury could benefit.