Yonder Alonso doesn't take weight loss lightly

Yonder Alonso showed up for a promotion of Redsfest, the team's annual fan expo, noticeably thinner.

Alonso vowed to come to spring training lighter and quicker to help with the shift from first base to left field. He hired a personal chef and tailored his workouts toward being an outfielder.

The result? He's 18 pounds lighter than the 240 pounds he played at this season.

"That's part of being a professional," he said. "You do what you've got to do to play and get ready for the season. I've been doing that."

Alonso hit .330/.398/.545 in 98 at-bats this season. But he is blocked at first base by Joey Votto.

Alonso started 14 games in left field. He struggled badly at times.

He will never be even an average runner. But the lost weight has to help when playing the outfield.

Alonso, of course, has been subject of lots of trade talk.

"I take for it for what it is," he said. "Obviously, I'm a Cincinnati Red. I'm not looking forward to playing for another team."


(foxsportsohio.com)