NEW YORK YANKEES starting pitcher CC Sabathia has reported to spring training weighing almost 22 stone (138kg).
However, coming off the back of two underwhelming seasons, the 34-year old insists the weight gain is deliberate and designed to help his game.
“I lost a bunch of weight drastically, pretty quick, two years ago, and was kind of off-balance,” Sabathia told the New York Daily News.
“I didn’t know really how my body was working.”
And maybe he’s onto something. For example, his fastball – which once regularly peaked at 152 kph – ranged between 136 and 143 kph in the eight games he managed to play last season.
So remember, the next time your partner gets on to you about dipping into the chocolate biscuits, you’re not putting on weight, you’re improving your performance.