Welcome to 'The Barn': Brendan Donovan's new at-home training grounds

[wkycards]

JUPITER, Fla. -- A self-professed “homebody” -- even though he had lots of different homes growing up in a military family -- Brendan Donovan wanted a new property that could meet his living and workout needs when he and his wife, Aly, decided to relocate from South Florida to South Alabama this past offseason.

The land Aly turned him onto was near their Alabama roots. It featured slightly less than 10,000 acres with no nearby neighbors, and it already had a perfectly sized home in place for their expanding family. However, it was the building out back, later named “The Barn” by the Donovans, that kick-started the creative juices for the Cardinals' versatile defensive stalwart.

“I appreciate it a ton when a guy like him takes it upon himself to have ownership of his career,” Marmol raved. “To go to that extent [of creating the facility], that’s another whole level, wanting to have everything in-house to give yourself the best chance of maximizing your abilities. That’s a good place to be … and for [Donovan] to do that, it’s meaningful.”

The link also has a 20 minute video, cool behind the scenes look.

https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/bren ... g-facility

[ggnoobs]

Matt Holliday made a similar setup for his boys to train as well in a pole barn.

This is the shocking thing to me: "It featured slightly less than 10,000 acres"

WOW!

[cardsfaninla]

I liked that story. Good push on the 'childhood dream' lever.

It sounds awesome. I know several that would have loved having that in their yard as kids.

Good for him. He is a team leader now. So good for us, too.

Go Cards

[An Old Friend]

Cardinals players building facilities but the team can’t stand a lab up. Can’t help but laugh.

[iowa blues fan]

I really enjoyed the information about him and his family. I wish they would do more of this.

[Basil Shabazz]

Thanks for sharing this. Great story.

[TheFantasyStud]

He so chill. What a cool guy.
Awesome video. My wife watched it with me and now he might be her favorite player. His avocado story won her over. Lol
Hope he stays healthy and has a huge year.

[ilcubuffs]

Donovan and NA have taken ownership of their careers by creating their personal training facility. Invested in themselves. Great story leading into the regular season. 10,000 acres dam!!

Go Cards.

[thetank2]

Cardinals players building facilities but the team can’t stand a lab up. Can’t help but laugh.

You only laugh when you post on CT.

[An Old Friend]

Cardinals players building facilities but the team can’t stand a lab up. Can’t help but laugh.

You only laugh when you post on CT.

I laugh quite frequently, tank. Life is good and full of laughs.

I’m imagining that you intended to say something insulting that made more sense… cause this one made none at all

[thetank2]

Cardinals players building facilities but the team can’t stand a lab up. Can’t help but laugh.

You only laugh when you post on CT.

I laugh quite frequently, tank. Life is good and full of laughs.

I’m imagining that you intended to say something insulting that made more sense… cause this one made none at all

I think you find some ideas or issues of the day like pitching labs to debase the Cardinals ownership or management. What a sport. You are influential.

[thetank2]

Cardinals players building facilities but the team can’t stand a lab up. Can’t help but laugh.

You only laugh when you post on CT.

I laugh quite frequently, tank. Life is good and full of laughs.

I’m imagining that you intended to say something insulting that made more sense… cause this one made none at all

I think you find some ideas or issues of the day like pitching labs to debase the Cardinals ownership or management. What a sport. You are influential.

[CommonSenseCard Fan]

That was a really good video and story. I hope they can keep him for awhile!