Padres’ Blanks reports 15 pounds lighter
February 26, 2010
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP)—The San Diego Padres presented Kyle Blanks(notes) with anopportunity and he wanted to take advantage.
So he went out and dropped 15 pounds this offseason through a combination ofdieting and working out.
“It’s something I wanted to do regardless,” Blanks said. “Could it havean effect? I hope so. I hope being in better shape overall just helps withinjury. I feel like I put myself in the best possible position for success.”
Blanks hit .250 with 10 homers and 22 RBIs in 148 at-bats last season. He isexpected to be the Padres’ everyday left fielder this year now that ChaseHeadley(notes) has moved to his natural position following the trade of third basemanKevin Kouzmanoff(notes) to Oakland.
After finishing the 2009 season weighing 288 pounds, Blanks—who missed thefinal five weeks with a strained arch in his right foot—weighed in at 273pounds when he came to camp.
Strength and conditioning coach Jim Malone was excited when Blanks waspromoted from Triple-A Portland on June 19. Having had the opportunity to workwith Blanks during spring training the three previous years, Malone was eager toget the 6-foot-6 athlete into better shape.
Once Blanks was in the big leagues, Malone went to work trying to convincethe big man on how to better prepare himself during the offseason.
“We talked a lot about his diet and eating and he bought into that,”Malone said. “Just in the last few years he’s not come to accept that workingout is a necessity but to enjoy it. As a younger guy it wasn’t something he wasinto. Gradually we found some middle ground.”
Beginning with packaged meals in October, Blanks and Tampa Bay Rays prospectMatt Moore began dieting and working out on a daily basis. Blanks said he andMoore provided a system of checks and balances as they pushed one another tocontinually go to the gym and stay on track.
“You don’t want a younger player to shift dramatically,” manager Bud Blacksaid. “He is still finding his way but he looks to be in a good spot.”
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