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The 2020 ‘Best Shape of His Life’ Log

Written by: Ray Butler

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With the start of Spring Training right around the corner, we’ve arrived at one of the most exciting times of the year.

No, I’m not talking about the Super Bowl. I’m not talking about the crack of the bat or the pop of the glove we’re beginning to hear more frequently in videos posted on Twitter and elsewhere as players begin to really rev up their preseason training regimen.

Instead, I’m obviously talking about the vaunted quotes we’re beginning to see pop-up on our timelines. You know the ones. “________________________ says he lost _____ pounds this offseason. ___________ says he’s focused on being more athletic in the field and on the base paths while maintaining his power at the plate.”

Ah, yes. It’s ‘he’s in the best shape of his life’ time!

To commemorate this wondrous time, I’ve decided to created a lighthearted log of players/prospects who meet this criteria this winter and spring. Tweets from a beat writer? Add it to the log! Pictorial proof? Even better! I NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS! Please feel free to keep your eyes peeled and tag me (@Prospects365) when a new report/picture of a slimmed-up, muscled-up player surfaces! There’s also an already-existing Twitter account dedicated to tracking #BSOHL players. Make sure you’re following @BSOHLTracker if this phenomenon interests you in any way, shape, form or fashion. Let’s have fun with this! 

Below is a live, chronological log of every player and prospect who appears to have put in a little extra work this offseason #BSOHL:

  • There’s no denying Vladimir Guerrero Jr. put in the work this offseason. He looked slim in a video posted on the Team Guerrero Instagram a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. (November 14th)
  • Gary Sanchez appears to be a bit slimmer and in better shape entering Spring Training. A more athletic Sanchez is a scary thought for opposing teams opposing fantasy players. Joe Randazzo of the Bronx Pinstripe Crew had the pictorial proof. (January 19th)
  • Nicky Lopez committed himself to the Whit Merrifield 2015 offseason workout regimen this winter, and he’ll enter Spring Training ~20 pounds stronger than his playing weight from 2019. MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan had the news. (January 23rd)
  • Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star reported Salvador Perez lost 22 pounds this offseason while preparing for the upcoming season at his offseason Miami home. (January 25th)
  • Mike Puma of the New York Post reported Mets reliever Jeurys Familia lost thirty pounds this offseason in a bid to benefit from a bounceback campaign in 2020. (January 30th)
  • @Tiger_Lifer noted Daniel Norris appears to have hit the weights hard this offseason. (January 31st)
  • MLB.com’s Jake Crouse says Will Craig dropped 25 pounds this offseason in hopes of claiming an everyday spot in the Pirates’ lowly lineup. (January 31st)
  • The Athletic’s Zack Meisel reported Franmil Reyes slimmed up a bit this offseason. (February 1st)
  • Luke Voit is in the best shape of his life, according to NBC Sports’ Craig Calcaterra (February 3rd)
  • I, uh. I don’t know if Yoenis Cespedes is in the best shape of his life, but this video is absolute must-include material on a log like this. (February 6th)
  • Much like his fellow first baseman Luke Voit, Jesus Aguilar will enter Spring Training in the best shape of his life. The new Miami Marlin lost 20 pounds this offseason. (February 7th)
  • Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times had this—interesting—quote from Angels GM Billy Eppler on the new and improved Justin Upton. (February 11th)
  • So the Phillies posted some pictures of their players arriving at Spring Training, and GOOD GOD SCOTT KINGERY. (February 11th)
  • It’s spring and everything can be spun into a positive light, so I’ll just leave this as ‘everyone on the Rays‘. Hat tip here to Josh Tolentino. (February 12th)
  •  Specifically, I found this anecdote from Marc Topkin on Yonny Chirinos interesting. One of my perennial, favorite end-game SP targets might kick it up a notch in 2020. (February 12th)
  • 90% of the content in this article will probably be meaningless throughout the 2020 season, but I think this nugget from Alex Speier on Andrew Benintendi could be important. In my opinion, the 25-year-old overbulked last season in hopes of maxing out his power potential, and the outcome was overwhelmingly disappointing. Benintendi is a prime bounce-back candidate this season. (February 13th)
  • Dave O’Brien tweeted a video of Johan Camargo, stating the utility player lost 18 pounds this offseason as he prepares to do-battle with Austin Riley for the Braves’ third base job. For what it’s worth, Camargo looks much thinner than he did last summer when I witnessed a Braves batting practice from behind home plate. 

 LET’S LEAVE NO STONE LEFT UNTURNED! TAG US IN TWEETS! LET ME KNOW WHEN I NEED TO #UPDATETHELOG!

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Featured image courtesy of photographer Kevin C. Cox and Getty Images

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