Secret workouts rigorous, beneficial for Giants' Wilson

<p>SAN FRANCISCO — A black leather chair sits in front of Brian Wilson’s locker, exactly the same as those in front of every locker in the Giants clubhouse. </p><p>Except for one thing. </p><p>Wilson’s chair doesn’t get much use. </p><p>Essentially, it’s that thing he kicks out of the way when he returns to his locker to change clothes between stages of his seemingly endless pregame workouts. </p><p>Wilson’s first full year in the majors has left quite an impression among his teammates, not only for the success he’s had on the mound, but for the rigorous workout routine that gets him there. </p><p>“He probably does the toughest workout I’ve ever seen a player go through, and he does it daily,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s in as good of shape as any player in the league.”</p><p>Ben Potenziano, the Giants strength and conditioning coach, estimated that Wilson spends about 50 percent more time on his conditioning than any other reliever. </p><p>“He works more than I’d want guys to, but it keeps him on the field and keeps him going,” Potenziano said. “He’s amazing to me. He’s pretty unique.”</p><p>You want to know just what he’s doing, where he got the idea. You want to know why. </p><p>You want to know if all of that has anything to do with a breakthrough season as a closer, one in which he’s now successfully converted 23 consecutive saves on his way to a league-leading 32. </p><p>So you wait by his locker. By that empty chair. </p><p>Occasionally, Wilson stops by, drenched in sweat, for a change of clothes. He says he has no time to talk. Maybe later. </p><p>A day passes. Then two. </p><p>Finally, just when you are about to give up, on Day Three, Wilson says he just doesn’t have time and, besides, he’s not interested in divulging the secrets of his workout “because then everyone will do it.” No chance. </p><p>Potenziano is the man entrusted with keeping all of the Giants in shape, and he said Wilson’s workout routine won’t soon be copied. </p><p>“Dan Ortmeier tried it with him,” Potenziano said, “and he got kicked around a little bit ...I don’t know if many of our other guys could be successful at it. I’m sure you could be successful at it if you try, but a lot of these other guys won’t do it because it’s not in their norm. Brian went outside the norm and did something that really works for him. You see what it’s done for him.”</p><p>Back before spring training, Wilson alluded to his new program. He said his workouts consisted of high-intensity cardio, in which he’d keep his heart rate at 160 for an hour. That’s what his heart rate would be during the ninth inning, he said, so he needed to train his body to operate at that level. </p><p>Potenziano, who admittedly isn’t sure of the exact details of Wilson’s regimen, said it involves constant motion with light weights and exercises that use his own body weight. The exercises themselves aren’t revolutionary. What makes Wilson unique is the volume he does. </p><p>“He’s truly taken it to a new extreme,” Potenziano said. </p><p>Potenziano said Wilson weighs about 204 pounds, which is similar to last year, but his body fat is down to eight percent. </p><p>By all accounts, Wilson was hardly a slacker before he started his new routine. Last year Tyler Walker worked out with him in Arizona when the two were both rehabbing, and Walker said he couldn’t keep up. </p><p>“He did lunges with 45 pounds in each hand, foul pole-to-foul pole,” Walker said. “I made it about a quarter of the way and my legs were Jell-O. It’s quite a feat to be able to lunge foul-pole-to-foul pole, in that heat too ... </p><p>“He takes great pride in his workouts, and rightfully so. They’re tough. I’ve seen what he does. I definitely don’t do it ...It’s definitely working for him. You can’t argue with it.”</p><p>No, can’t argue with an empty chair. </p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Jeff Fletcher at 521-5489 or jeff.fletcher@pressdemocrat.com.</p>