The 2018 MLB season should be seeing a leaner and meaner Kyle Schwarber.
The Chicago Cubs slugger recently told Jesse Rogers of ESPN that he has lost 17 to 20 pounds this offseason. Moreover, he doesn’t think he’s sacrificed any strength in order to drop the weight.
“It’s a lifestyle choice, and it’s a professional choice too,” said Schwarber, via Rogers’ video. “You’re only doing this to benefit yourself, your team, and your profession, so I’m happy with the progress and looking to keep going.
“This is all about putting yourself into a better baseball function,” he went on. “I’m already big and strong. Might as well try to get more explosive, faster, build up a stronger core, things like that just to benefit yourself out in the outfield, on the bases, and at the plate.”
The 24-year-old Schwarber, who was officially listed at 235 pounds last season, is coming off a year where he hit 30 home runs and 59 RBIs in 129 games. However, he did so on a meager .211./315/.467 slash line and was often a major liability for the Cubs in the field.
A slimmed-down, more versatile Schwarber could prove to be a major migraine for opponents next season though, particularly if he maintains his usual Paul Bunyan-esque strength like he believes that he has.
