A photo has been posted to Twitter showing Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval looking rather portly heading into Spring Training.
This upcoming season is set to be a big year for Major League Baseball. Rob Manfred will be the MLB’s first new commissioner since Bud Selig took the helm back in 1992 (interim until 1998). Several franchises will look to move forward after an eventful off-season brought about a litany of free agency moves. Perhaps no club in baseball took a bigger step forward than the Boston Red Sox, who acquired shortstop Hanley Ramirez and third baseman Pablo Sandoval. The latter just recently capped off a post-season run that netted him his third World Series ring in five seasons. A recently published photo shows “Kung Fu Panda” with a little extra body weight heading into Spring Training though.
More from Boston Red Sox
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers reunite with familiar face in Red Sox deal
- MLB Rumors: Braves trade package, White Sox-Reds deal, Mets disaster
- Former Red Sox slugger has surprising criticism for Manny Ramirez’s son
- Alex Cora delivers trade deadline ultimatum for Red Sox front office
Should this be a cause for concern with Red Sox fans? Not really. Sandoval has a history of carrying a Prince Fielder type body structure. The five year $95 million deal Boston inked him to should come with the expectation that a little portliness tags along.
Despite his weight struggles, Sandoval is a .294 career hitter and remains one of the premier post-season players in the game today. That, after all, is what this signing was truly about. And if Boston can get the same kind of production that he is accustomed to pumping out, there is little reason to doubt the Red Sox will be contenders in the AL East in 2015.
Yes, we understand that a gut is always unsightly. But it also be helpful. In baseball, it might even be a good luck charm. Just ask Yankees fans. The team has experience in dealing with hefty lefties; specifically starting pitchers David Wells and C.C. Sabathia. Both players are 200 game winners who had far more success when sporting large guts.
As far as hitters go, there was a player by the name of Babe Ruth that accomplished quite a bit despite his sheer amount of flab. More recently, Fielder hit 50 home runs in 2007, becoming the youngest player in MLB history to do so at 23 years of age.
H/T Steve Silva
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle