Pablo Sandoval arrived at spring training in February significantly overweight. Now two months later, the World Baseball Classic and a sore elbow has kept him at just over 260 pounds.
“I’ve got this year and next year to change all the things,” Sandoval told Jeff Passan of Yahoo. “”It’s going to take me a while, but I can do it. I know I can do it.”
Sandoval told reporters that he felt good and that his weight was not an issue in late February. However, he now has a two-year weight-loss goal.
The contradicting statements about his fitness come from Sandoval’s sudden realization that he is closer to 30 than 20, and his weight will eventually catch up with him.
“If they haven’t made a major commitment to correct their bad habits, they won’t succeed,” said Patrick Blackford, a strength and conditioning coach working in Buffalo, N.Y. “A trainer can only point people in the right direction.”
The Panda has become one of the most feared hitters in the league all while being overweight. Breaking bad habits is hard enough; they’re even harder to break while enjoying the success Sandoval has had.
When he was over 270 pounds in 2010, Sandoval lacked a base level of strength and could not do a pull-up.
Lat pull-downs and band-assisted exercises that mimic the motion of pull-ups can develop the correct muscles, said Blackford.
Despite Sandoval’s large belly in 2010, his trainers were able to make him stronger. By the end of his training, he was doing multiple sets of 10 pull-ups. His physical strength is not known now.
It’s obvious Pablo has the ability to become fit.
In fact, “It’s easy to build strength in overweight athletes,” said Blackford. “Many strength movements can be done in a variety of positions, which makes it easy.”
Bruce Bochy and the Giants have expressed frustration with his weight numerous times over the past few years. With Sandoval’s athletic prowess, a two-year weight-loss goal is definitely attainable.
