What MLB's Extreme Heat Playbook Can Teach Us
From personalized hydration to proactive cooling, discover how top-tier sports are innovating to overcome the summer's biggest challenge.
As July kicks into gear, Major League Baseball finds itself in a unique position among major sports: playing the heart of its season under the summer sun, which is steadily getting hotter. A recent New York Times article ("Sweat science: MLB players, teams devise methods to stay cool as temperatures rise," July 1, 2025) details how players and teams are developing sophisticated strategies to combat the extreme heat and prevent performance-debilitating issues like cramping and vomiting.
The impact of heat is already visible this season, with incidents like a Cincinnati Reds shortstop vomiting on a 96-degree day and a Detroit Tigers pitcher exiting due to cramps. In response, MLB teams are moving beyond simple hydration to implement advanced, science-backed routines:
Intensive Hydration: Players are significantly increasing their fluid intake, us…
