James Baker
James Baker graduated from Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, MA in 2002. There, he played varsity baseball and basketball and received the Coach's Award and Scholar Athlete Award in both sports. James also was named to the Cape Ann League All League Team, Cape Ann League All Star Game and the Agganis Shriners All Star Game.
James graduated from Wheaton College in Norton, MA in 2006. There, he played baseball for four years and was the captain his senior year while playing in the 2006 National Championship game in the Division 3 College World Series in Appleton, WI. Also in 2006, James was named to the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All League Team, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) All League Team, the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-League Team, NEIBA All Star Game held at Fenway Park and the All New England Team. At Wheaton, James was 10-1 in his college career with 10 saves (he became a full-time pitcher his Junior Year). As a senior he was 4-0 with 10 saves and carried a 1.80 ERA. He also played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) in 2005 for the Mill City All-Americans.
After graduation, James was signed by the Nashua Pride, a professional baseball team in the Can-Am League. With Nashua, James went 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA. After one professional season, James signed with the San Diego Padres and went to minor league spring training in 2007. James has also pitched for the North Shore Spirit of the Can-Am League where he posted a 4-1 record and a 1.37 ERA, the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League for two seasons, the York Revolution of the Atlantic League and the Gary South Shore Railcats of the American Association for two seasons. In 2011, James went 3-1 in 42 appearances with 68 strikeouts and a 2.57 ERA in 49 innings. James finished his career with the Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association in 2012 after compiling a 2.49 ERA and helping the “Nuts” to the League Championship Series.
Outside of baseball, James graduated from the National Personal Training Institute in 2008 as a certified trainer and nutritional consultant. There, James completed hours of study in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, nutrition and program development. As a performance training coach, James specializes in functional group training and personal training, athlete training, functional baseball training, corrective exercise and educating clients on proper movement patterns that reduce the chance of injury. James is also a strength and conditioning consultant for the Wheaton College baseball team.
James is the Co-founder, Manager and Performance Training Coach of North Shore Performance Training, located inside the Route One SportsPlex building in Danvers, Ma. This gym accommodates athletes, non-athletes, beginners to performance training and workout enthusiasts of all ages and abilities in both individual and group training settings. James enjoys working with clients from ALL backgrounds and takes pride in having personal, rewarding relationships with each client. He stresses proper technique and the use of the latest functional training and corrective exercise methods in all of the strength and conditioning and group training packages.
In addition to training and managing at NSPT, James spends his time coaching, motivating and developing baseball players in the Northeast, especially pitchers, from Little League to the professional level. James helps young athletes understand the game of baseball by developing and sharpening their physical, mental and emotional frameworks as prospective athletes. He is currently a baseball coach at St. John's Prep in Danvers, MA.
James is also a pitching coordinator for The North Shore Freedom baseball program. His pitching lessons focus on the universal fundamentals of pitching, the mental side of the game, situational awareness and biomechanics that create less stress on a pitcher's arm to create the greatest force in delivering the baseball while also reducing the risk of injury. James is biomechanics certified by the National Pitching Association (NPA).
Please contact James with any questions or comments regarding future training possibilities. Thank you! Email: james@nsperformancetraining.com