PHOENIX —
Of all the tools at the disposal of the Dodgers’ player performance department, a small rectangular machine called 1080 Sprint is one of their preferred methods for improving quickness and speed.
A portable resistance training device, 1080 Sprint attaches a motorized wire to a harness strapped around a player’s waist, slowing them down as they practice straight-line sprints and quick-twitch movements.
It’s like a modern version of running with a parachute tied to your back. The machine applies mechanical resistance to a player as they run. The hope is it will efficiently strengthen their stride, improve their acceleration and — in baseball — make them a higher-speed threat in the field and on the bases.