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Gary Sanchez has always been a big dude, with the New York Yankees‘ catcher boasting an intimidating 6’2″, 230-pound frame that has helped him bash an average of about 26 homers over his first four full seasons in the majors. While that’s impressive — and has led Sanchez to two All-Star Game appearances during that time — the slugger showed up to the team’s spring training complex early looking like a totally different dude.
Upon walking onto the diamond, onlookers couldn’t help but notice the significant difference in Sanchez’s physique, with his shirt looking a little tighter, his muscles looking a little more prominent and his entire frame looking a helluva lot leaner. In fact, Gary Sanchez’s body transformation was so wild that people couldn’t help but think he trained with a superhero this offseason to get ready for the 2020 MLB season.
Spring is in the air. pic.twitter.com/GTXANxPVZX
— Gary Sanchez (@ElGarySanchez) January 20, 2020
When compared to the lead image above, it’s easy to see the difference in Sanchez’s frame, as that small pudge around his chest and waist appear to be gone, and the muscles fully out as he stepped into the batter’s box. Naturally, once pics of the catcher hit the Internet, Yankee fans on social media couldn’t help but weigh in on the lost weight of the dude.
https://twitter.com/deflategator/status/1218953642377646081?s=20
I’ve always wanted to be Gary Sanchez fat. https://t.co/BM5CEHuO9w
— Ryan Lee (@Ryan_Lee31) January 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/bklynsportsguy/status/1219263856817725448?s=20
Bearded Gary Sanchez would hit 50 homeruns a year pic.twitter.com/LnYSXPvL2E
— Haakon Meland (@HaakonMeland14) January 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/anonymo40818417/status/1219363560679100417?s=20
Imagine calling Gary Sanchez fat and lazy https://t.co/azWx2orUvt
— Bronx Bomber Ball (@BronxBomberBall) January 20, 2020
Gary Sanchez looks pretty shredded right now 👀#NYY pic.twitter.com/AId2eqfJ3a
— Mike Wimmers (@mikey_dubbsny) January 20, 2020
It’s scary because I think and I believe most Yankee fans believe Sanchez can be much better. With that said, Gary Sanchez is not a problem and his ceiling is incredibly high
— Eric (@Medic968) January 20, 2020
Obviously, the verdict will still be out on what the added bulk means for Gary Sanchez and the Yankees once the season starts — as the guy has been known to crush in the first half of the season before fading late — but if he’s in shape and stays this way over the course of the 162-game regular season, plus (possibly) the playoffs, the middle of the Yanks’ lineup will again be dangerous AF. That’s got to keep more than just a handful of opposing pitchers up at night as teams head to spring training.