In spring training, teams often create narratives about players being in the 'best shape of their lives' to boost morale and expectations. Despite exciting reports about a player's physique, studies show little correlation between these narratives and actual performance results. Ben Rice, a 26-year-old player who gained 10 pounds of muscle, experienced such hype. Despite his improved physicality and a strong spring performance, caution remains, with many recognizing the unpredictability of how spring indicators translate during the season.
"I think the ball's coming off the bat harder, for sure. Putting more mass on the ball, so it's going to come off harder."
"Now, he's just physically even that much stronger. He's hitting the ball as hard as anyone you'll see - consistently hard."
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