Wes Clarke, Brady Allen talk offseason prep ahead of spring training

Baseball is nearly an eight-month grind, if not longer. Many players begin spring training in mid-February, play regular season games until late September and then possibly see more action if their team makes the postseason.

When it comes time to rest, they do their best to take advantage of it. Former Gamecocks Wes Clarke and Brady Allen can attest to that. It was an offseason unlike any other for them, as they wrapped up their first full seasons as minor leaguers.

“As soon as the last out happens of the season, I don’t touch a baseball for like three weeks. Just go home, sleep and see my family, you know, be normal for once,” Clarke told GamecockCentral.

Allen shared the same sentiment as his former South Carolina teammate, who he played in Columbia with from 2019-21.

“The only thing I’ll probably do as the season ends is probably work out but I won’t hit or throw or anything like that until about a month,” Allen said.

Subscribe to Gamecock Central until Aug. 31 for only $29.99

Clarke spent last year between High-A and Double-A in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, while Allen played for the Miami Marlins with their Single-A and High-A clubs.

Clarke kicked off his offseason with an occasion that was meant to happen sooner.

“I got married in February last year and immediately had to go to spring training, and so my honeymoon got pushed back 10 months,” he said. “So I finally got to go to Mexico with my wife. That’s probably my favorite memory.”

While Allen didn’t get married or go on a honeymoon, he did make a life-changing choice shortly after the season ended. He proposed to his girlfriend in October.

Become a NIL supporter of your South Carolina Gamecocks!

They didn’t spend all their free time relaxing and making memories, though. They knew there was still a long season coming to get their bodies prepared for.

“You’ve got to prepare for what 122 games or something like that? It’s pretty much like two seasons of college,” Allen said. “Our bodies are, knock on wood, pretty durable. But I know I’ve done more running. It’s more of a job now. So maybe the stuff you didn’t want to do in college during the offseason, when you just didn’t do it. Now, it’s almost like I want to do it. I want to get better and move up. And so, you work just a little bit harder, I think.”

In addition to getting in shape, the offseason is also about working on the fundamentals. While both were solid hitters in college, adjusting to pro pitching requires a different work ethic.

“I’d say your top dogs in college is comparable. You see those guys every day,” Clarke said.

Clarke, who slashed .254/.328/.542 with 14 homers and 61 RBI in 2022, started his training a little earlier than usual.

“I’ve been here in Arizona since Jan. 8, I think,” he said. “So, I’ve been hitting, catching. I basically had an early spring training just working out here. So I feel really ready for this year.”

Subscribe (for free) to the Gamecock Central YouTube page!

Fortunately for them, the process of getting ready for a new season hasn’t been brutal. They credited South Carolina for preparing them the right way for what was to come.

“They were huge on the mental side of stuff at Carolina. Going into pro ball, they were reteaching stuff that we learned our freshman year,” Allen said. “To a lot of other people, it was new, but to us, it was all just refreshing.”

“The coaching staff at South Carolina did a great job,” Clarke added. “(Mark) Kingston, (Trip) Couch, (Stuart) Lake, (Mike) Current, (Skylar) Meade, all those guys. They had you ready.”

Get South Carolina baseball news and analysis via email

With players starting to report to spring training, the long offseason is nearing its end. Clarke and Allen are due to join their respective clubs in minor league camp.

Outside of their main priority being to win games, both are giving themselves lofty expectations for this season.

“My personal goal is 25 homers and .300 average. A lot but you’ve got to shoot high because I mean, if I miss that by 10 points and three homers, that’s still a good season,” Clarke said.

Allen, known for his speed, high average and power as a Gamecock, had a decent first year in pro ball. He batted .248/.344/.357 with eight homers, 56 RBI and six stolen bases. He’s looking to do much more with some experience now under his belt, though.

“(My personal goal) was actually 25 homers too and 25 stolen bases. I want to do 25-25,” Allen said.

Once spring camp concludes, all players, including Clarke and Allen, will break for the regular season. MiLB Opening Day is April 6.

Discuss South Carolina baseball on The Insiders Forum!