Chicago Cubs: Kyle Schwarber transformed his body – and also his game

Kyle Schwarber went on a different type of vacation this offseason. The Chicago Cubs slugger changed his life – and potentially, his entire career.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber went on a different vacation this offseason. He threw away convention and decided to make a change. For Schwarber, his vacation meant hard work and perfecting himself. He used his precious, little vacation time to transform his life.

Schwarber’s lifestyle decision to use the offseason for shedding 20 pounds has been the talk of the town since Cubs Convention in January.

Last year, Schwarber didn’t hit rock bottom, he didn’t hit at all. The Chicago Cubs demoted him to Triple-A Iowa after a loss to the San Diego Padres. Schwarber went 0-for-3 that game and thereafter packed his bags. What happened to the dynamo hitter?

From injury to World Series hero

In 2016, Schwarber was already on his way to Chicago mythology. He came back from a serious knee injury suffered in the third game of the season. Schwarber-sighting became local pastime for newscasters following him around the country reporting on his progress with physical therapy.

The Cubs wrapped up their 2016 season and headed into the postseason. Schwarber emerged from the shadows healed, trained and ready to attain folk hero status. He went 7-for-17 with three walks, culminating in a .971 OPS.

The 2017 move to Triple-A Iowa seemed to have a huge effect on his outlook.  He seemed to want more out of the game. Schwarber came out of the experience thinking, I’m a baseball player and I want to be the best at it. This meant making drastic changes and coming to the realization that he had to change his lifestyle – permanently.

“Everyone is caught up in the weight-loss thing,” Schwarber told Jesse Rogers of ESPN. “I’m not. I’m training my body for 162 games times nine innings or maybe more. I want to be an MVP. I want to be a Gold Glover. I want to set my standards really high.”

A combination of speed and power?

Truth be told, if Schwarber hit 40 home runs this season, no one would care how fast he was in the outfield. His speed will not raise eyebrows in 2018 unless his bat can make Wrigley scream with excitement.

MLB.com reports Schwarber closed the 2017 season with 18 home runs over his last 65 games and finished the season with 30 home runs, 13th in the National League.

The 2018 version of Schwarber; the one that will remember Triple-A Iowa, that skipped his vacation, shed 20 pounds, got fast and ate chicken has certainly set the stage of expectation high.

Schwarber’s spring-ending .381 average is just the start. Look for a healthy, strong Schwarber to bat very well against lefties. Schwarber should have no difficulty hitting 35+ home runs this season. Look for Schwarber to increase his on base percentage and most importantly, help lead his team to the postseason.

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Schwarber’s outfield heroics fell short on opening day against the Marlins.  However, after a couple of errors in the outfield, Schwarber hit his first home run of the season.

For Schwarber, the hard work is ahead. After all, this season is going to be just like vacation.