New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton has something to prove in 2024, and he arrived at the club's spring training site in Tampa, Fl. on Monday looking the part of someone ready to do just that.
After enduring one of the worst years of his career as a professional baseball player, Stanton clearly worked even harder than usual this offseason, as he showed up looking significantly leaner.
This new, slimmed-down version of Stanton left stunned MLB fans taking to X, formerly Twitter, to share their reactions to the Yankees star's new look.
They weren’t kidding when they said Giancarlo Stanton slimmed down
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) February 19, 2024
(via @GJoyce9) pic.twitter.com/ClVodP6cvU
This MLB fan joked that Stanton, who stands 6'6", also grew shorter during the offseason.
Wow that’s crazy it looks like he got shorter too
— Kelvin⚡️ (@K_Guappo) February 19, 2024
Another fan simply could not believe that the picture was real.
that’s not real right
— Matt (@blazersburnerac) February 19, 2024
There were plenty of jokes to be made about Stanton’s new look.
Giancarlo Stanton came back looking like a middle infielder. https://t.co/ZbuYxauRYc
— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) February 19, 2024
Lot of good candidates at this year’s Best Shape of My Life Pageant. https://t.co/23vVJeNz3q
— Ben Ennis (@SportsnetBen) February 19, 2024
That has to be an optical illusion https://t.co/thA9PahtFm
— Josh Kail (@THATJoshKail) February 19, 2024
This is actually bonkers https://t.co/pLiF4Hfz8q
— Max Mannis (@MaxMannis) February 19, 2024
In all seriousness, Stanton, who posted the lowest OPS of his 14-year career in 2023, looks to be in great shape.
Perhaps Yankees general manager Brian Cashman lit a fire under the star slugger when he told reporters that injuries "seem to be a part of his game," during a brutally honest media session in November.
The Yankees will have to hope so, as they owe Stanton $98 million over the next four seasons.