A's spring training Day 14: Pilates helps Hendriks on mound

MESA, Ariz. –- The theory, and it’s a good one, says that converting from starting to relieving boosted the velocity on Liam Hendriks’ fastball.

Certainly that was a help. But Hendriks, who made his exhibition debut for the A’s with a scoreless inning Saturday, also credits some changes he made heading into the 2015 season, when he was still with Toronto, for helping his fastball jump from the low-90’s to the mid- to-high 90’s.

Notably, he began incorporating Pilates workouts in his offseason routine to improve his flexibility, his lower body strength and core strength. Hendriks credits his wife, Kristi, for getting him involved in that.

“She had done it, and she said, ‘You should come, you’d…