Today's Spring Training Best Shape Of Their Life Winner: Skinny Giancarlo Stanton

New York Yankees. Getty Images.

It's best shape of your life season in Major League Baseball and today's headliner is none other than Giancarlo Stanton. Ready to overreact to a few pictures, videos, and quotes? Cool, me too. 

The 34 year old is coming off by far the worst season of his life after hitting .191 with a sub .700 OPS in 2023. Sure he still managed to hit 24 homers in 101 games, but my god was he a complete shell of himself out there. It was honestly pretty depressing to watch. 

Things got so bad that we were led to believe that this was the fastest he could run on the bases without risking injury…

When that happened in real time I for sure thought Stanton tore his ACL or fucked up his back getting a jump off second. Nope, just a dude whose body was no longer built to play baseball at a competent level. Not exactly what happened over the years and if it was just his obsession with having a body builder physique, but we'd reached a breaking point. Something had to change and heading into the offseason he hinted that he would revamp his diet and training routine. Well, he didn't lie. 

Seriously, did Stanton lose 25+ pounds in the winter? Can we even call him by his nickname Big G anymore? Credit to him for getting in the lab and reworking his body. 

Opposite to someone like Anthony Rendon, Stanton actually gives a shit. You can say whatever you want about his time in New York, but he's always said the right things and held himself accountable. Here was his quote today that I loved. 

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“I don’t get paid to be a standup guy, say the right things. I’m here to produce and help us win a championship and that hasn’t happened. It needs to be done. I don’t listen to noise. I understand the facts.”

Don't get me wrong, my expectations are very low for what's to come. Based off the body of work here, whether it be his inability to stay on the field or his lack of consistent production, I don't know what's reasonable to expect. What I do know is that with the addition of Juan Soto there's going to be less pressure on Giancarlo to carry the team. He'll probably be hitting in the 5 or 6 hole with a healthy lineup going out there. 

Maybe playing at this new weight and the tweaking of his swing can lead to an OPS above .800? If you get me that with 110+ games played I'll sign up for that in blood right now. Yankees fans are dying for Stanton to give them something this year. We want him to succeed so fucking badly. I hope skinny Stanton is the answer, otherwise his career is going to end on a really sad note. 

Runner up best shape of their life: Carlos Rodon.