While not quite a Best Shape of His Life tale, this weekend report from Larry Larue of the Tacoma News Tribune does profess Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak as having an improved physique:
“I gave up Mexican food – man, I could crush burritos,” Smoak told Larue. “And pizza. I could crush those, too. I gave up bread, ate almost entirely meat and vegetables – and working out two hours a day, four days a week didn’t hurt. My wife loved it, because she always ate well and worked out. I’ve been (in camp) three days, hitting in the cage. I don’t know that the ball is going any further when I hit it, but I know I’m in much better shape. This is how I was in college.”
Smoak, 25, registered a .234/.323/.396 batting line, 15 home runs and 55 RBI in 489 plate appearances last season. The Mariners are hoping that the former first-round pick of the Rangers can take a big step forward in 2012 and help cure some of Seattle’s chronic offensive ills.