Holy Crap, Jesus Montero Is In Shape

Hardball Talk has a running gag where they chronicle every instance of a player getting described as being in the "best shape of his life." In the case of Seattle's former wunderprospect Jesus Montero, this might be the first time that it's no exaggeration.

Montero showed up to last year's spring training 40 pounds overweight. He blamed his offseason eating regimen, but had never once, since joining the Mariners before the 2012 season, been anywhere his target weight. He finished that season by getting hurt, then getting suspended for fighting a scout.

Well, Montero reported to Mariners camp today. And hot damn:

Montero's story remains incredible. Once among the best hitting prospects in baseball, he was moved by the Yankees in a shock trade, ate his way into a DH-only role, seemed near to washing out of the majors, got heckled by a minor-league scout for being overweight, threw an ice cream sandwich at the scout, and now, just six months later, is a goddamned human specimen. The most intriguing part? He's just 25 years old. He can still be good at this!