Lakeland, Fla. – Former Detroit Tigers catcher Lance Parrish used to drive manager Sparky Anderson loco every year with his offseason weight-lifting regimen. Parrish was part of the first wave of baseball players who lifted heavy weights to build muscle mass.
Anderson was from an older school of thought that believed too much muscle mass meant a slower, clunkier catcher with decreased bat speed.
He would be similarly displeased with James McCann this spring. If you’ve watched the Tigers at all, you’ve noticed McCann is significantly bulked-up, especially in his upper body.
“It wasn’t something I tried to do, to be honest,” he said.