Cleveland Guardians Install SwimEx Therapy Pool, Expand Hydrotherapy for Daily Recovery

The Cleveland Guardians installed a SwimEx 1000 T therapy pool as part of a $200 million clubhouse renovation, expanding hydrotherapy from occasional use into an integrated daily system for preparation, recovery and rehabilitation. The renovated space doubled its footprint and was reorganized around shower-to-hydrotherapy access to speed player rotations during busy game and practice days.

SwimEx announced the installation on January 26, 2026, and said the new hydrotherapy room is designed to support daily needs over an MLB season. The space includes dedicated hot and cold plunges, with hot plunge capacity for about six athletes and cold plunge capacity for about four to five. Overall capacity and design allow between eight and 14 athletes to use the room at once, giving trainers flexibility for group protocols and staggered rotations.

Guardians medical staff will use the SwimEx pool and the plunges for decompression, underwater running, agility work, and contrast protocols. Reorganizing the space around direct shower-to-hydrotherapy flow reduces downtime between treatments and helps training staff move players through warm-ups, rehab sessions and post-activity recovery more efficiently. SwimEx coordinated installation and training with the Guardians, emphasizing making hydrotherapy a dependable day-to-day tool rather than an occasional amenity.

For athletes and performance staff, the practical value is immediate: a SwimEx 1000 T provides a controlled environment for low-impact conditioning such as underwater running, while contrast therapy and dedicated plunge capacities let trainers sequence hot and cold exposures without creating bottlenecks. The layout and capacity figures matter when planning shift work for a 26-man active roster, plus rehabilitation cases and pitchers who require repeated short sessions.

For the broader ice bath and hydrotherapy community, the Guardians’ setup highlights two design priorities: circulation and reliability. Shower-to-plunge circulation keeps athletes warm or cold as needed, and on-site training from the equipment provider helps staff adopt consistent protocols. Facilities that want to support daily athlete needs should weigh pool capacity, dedicated plunge counts and workflow when designing or upgrading rooms.

This installation signals a trend toward embedding hydrotherapy into everyday training cycles rather than reserving it for high-profile injuries or postseason recovery. Expect the Guardians to use underwater running and contrast routines through spring training and the regular season, and watch how capacity and workflow choices pay off when rapid player turnovers and in-season rehabs demand consistent access to hot and cold treatments.