Lorenzen's WorkMode app a 'tool for kids' to learn fitness from a Major Leaguer

This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers’ Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

One of the first things Royals players will bring up about their teammate Michael Lorenzen is his work ethic and how the right-hander is always in the gym or the video room working on ways to perfect his craft.

“He works out a ton,” infielder Jonathan India said. “As you can see.”

Back in 2023, when Lorenzen was preparing for another season, he came up with an idea to share what he’s passionate about -- baseball and keeping in shape for baseball -- with others.

The idea was a fitness app called WorkMode. Now free for everyone who creates an account, the app was created by Lorenzen to help young players properly prepare their bodies with workout programs and exercises -- all demonstrated by Lorenzen and sorted based on the user’s level (foundation, progression or master) and position (pitcher, catcher, corner infielder, middle infielder, outfielder or two-way player).

“It’s all of my workout programs, strength programs, throwing programs, some hitting stuff as well,” Lorenzen said. “It’s just a tool for kids who don’t know what to do. A tool for them to get more information from someone who has been through a lot. I’ve had a career where I’ve had to learn and adapt. It’s all of my knowledge in an app. That’s what I’d like for it to be.”

The app includes three sets of tutorials, including conditioning, which develops stamina, mobility and injury prevention; strength, which builds muscle and boosts power; and skills, which demonstrates exercises for both hitting and throwing.

A strength coach in Detroit, where Lorenzen spent the first half of 2023, helped build out the strength programs. But the app’s library also includes recovery exercises, including arm care, that Lorenzen uses himself.

“All of the shoulder programs, pitching, arm care stuff is just from experience,” Lorenzen said. “I’ve had two shoulder strains. I’ve had a UCL strain. It sucks, but you can accumulate a lot of information on how to take care of your arm.”

Lorenzen, 33, is a former first-round Draft pick and has now played parts of 11 Major League seasons. He’s hit. He’s pitched. He’s done both in the same game. And for the past four years, he’s been a full-time starter.

He created WorkMode to streamline all the information he’s accumulated over the years -- in the training room, weight room and on the field -- to help young players prepare and progress.

“There’s so much information out there, and no one really knows what’s right,” Lorenzen said. “With my experience, [I can] at least give these kids a foundation of good information that they can rely on. That’s kind of how it started. I love teaching. It’s a way for me to give back to the game and have an impact on the next generation of baseball players.”

Lorenzen has had current Major League players ask him for advice on what exercises he would recommend doing to help with aches and soreness in certain areas, such as the shoulders.

And all the drills he advises them on can be found right on WorkMode.

“Just flip through the slides, and it’s all there,” Lorenzen said.

Lorenzen has more time to update and connect with the app in the offseason, and his hope is to grow it by collaborating with more players. For now, there are videos shot at Lorenzen’s home in Southern California, where he’s building his own independent facility, complete with an MLB-caliber bullpen with technology like the Edgertronic and Trackman systems. Over time, Lorenzen would like to build out a full motion capture lap for other players in the area.

Lorenzen hit 10 years of service time earlier this month, a milestone that doesn’t go unnoticed by those around the game. And while Lorenzen feels he’s just getting started, his experience has given him perspective about how he wants to grow the game.

“I don’t want to be done playing any time soon,” Lorenzen said. “But I want to have an impact on the next generation of players. I want them to be able to learn from me.

“... I love this game. I love it so much because my dad taught me to love it. Before anything, I was just a fan of baseball. A game was always on in my house, I was always hearing stories about different Major League Baseball players. I just think back to, ‘Why did I love the game so much? Why did I fall in love with it, and how can I recreate that for the next generation?' That's really what it comes down to for me.”

Since launching his app, Lorenzen has had numerous encounters with young fans and their parents about the exercises and what they’re learning.

That it can be somewhat of a bonding experience is a bonus.

“I’ll have a lot of dads that are obviously willing to do whatever they can for their kid, and they’ll send me videos of their kids doing the workouts,” Lorenzen said. “It’s a learning experience for them, too. To know, ‘Hey, you’re watching a Major Leaguer do it, we know who he is, he’s going to play on your TV tonight, and we’re going to do his workout today together.’ That’s pretty cool.”