Royals teammates share stories of Alex Gordon’s incredible dietary discipline
Royals strength and conditioning coach Ryan Stoneberg has a personal tradition that may belie his profession.
“I love ice cream,” Stoneberg said. “Every time we win a game, that’s my thing; I have an ice cream bar. So the team, if they win, that’s my reward. And I’ll eat 100 ice cream bars each year if the boys go out there and do it. And some of these last few years I haven’t had a lot of ice cream, but I’m cool with it. That’s just my thing.”
Stoneberg has been with the Royals for 19 seasons, the last nine in his current position. During that time, he has attempted to share his love of ice cream with left fielder Alex Gordon.
Hey, if the strength and conditioning coach can splurge on ice cream, certainly Gordon could, even if it’s just once, right? Nope.
“Alex Gordon, I’ve tried so many times just to see him eat one ice cream bar,” Stoneberg said, “and he won’t do it because that’s not what Alex Gordon does.”
Gordon’s diet has been the stuff of legends for years. He’s known to have grilled chicken or fish with a side of broccoli for most dinners.
“I don’t know if I eat to really enjoy food,” Gordon told The Star in 2014. “I think I eat just to be successful out here and maintain my weight.”
At that time, Gordon said he sometimes had pizza and an infrequent drink. But he steadfastly avoids things like sugary sweets.
Royals outfielder Whit Merrifield saw that dietary discipline first hand.
“The guy is so committed and so dedicated to what he does and to sacrifice so much that it’s just astonishing. I mean, it really is,” Merrifield said. “(On Tuesday), we had birthday cake for (manager Mike) Matheny, and we’re down there and we’re joking ... because we knew he was going to retire a couple days ago, and said, ‘Hey Gordo, go and get your piece of cake.’
“And he wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t do it, and not because he didn’t want to, but it just shows you the dedication that he continues to have. Because he said, ‘I’ll do it Sunday, I’ll do it Sunday night.’ He is finishing his career to the very end.”
That end is near.
On Sunday afternoon, Gordon will pull of his No. 4 Royals jersey for the last time. And he already knows one of the first things he’ll do.
“Probably Minsky’s pizza on the last day of the year,” Gordon said. “My kids have been begging me, so I’ll probably binge a little bit of that on Sunday.”
He’s earned it.
