Chicago Cubs: Five reasons Kyle Schwarber will win the NL MVP

Chicago Cubs: Kyle Schwarber, not so hefty slugger?!?

Schwarber’s body has been on a roller coaster ride since 2016. Is he Babe Ruth, or is he a lean, mean, ball-shagging machine?

In 2016, Schwarber tore up his knee in the first series of the year in Arizona. After bestially rehabbing for the entire regular season, he miraculously came back to play, and play well, in the 2016 World Series.

What most people seem to forget, however, is that 2017 saw Schwarber start the season less than a year removed from that surgery. In coming back so quickly, and rehabbing the way he did, Schwarber may not have been physically ready for the grind of a 162 game season.

After being sent to the Minors in 2017 and hearing critics discuss his weaknesses in the field, Schwarber decided to get jacked and lose what seemed like 50 lbs. While that number might be hyperbole, the weight loss was glaring and noteworthy. Schwarber was faster and leaner in 2018, but it was his first year dealing with a different body.

Here we are in 2019, and Schwarber seems to be looking a bit more like his old self, or at least a healthy combination of 2015 and 2018. With his body healthy and, more importantly, his mind confident in that body, you can surely expect big things from the big(ger than 2018) guy.