It was definitely a gradual process, said Ryan Holgate of changing his body. Holgate his just .240 as a freshman last year but had a .378 on-base percentage and drew 35 walks.
Postgame pizza is hard to resist.
But Ryan Holgate was determined to improve his body and, correspondingly, his game so he spurned those slices of sausage and pieces of pepperoni. His host family with the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League graciously provided him with healthier alternatives, such as chicken and rice.
Combined with a workout regimen that included lifting in the morning and extra running before and after games, Holgate transformed his physique last summer. The 6-foot-2 Arizona Wildcats right fielder weighed 232 pounds as a freshman last season. He recently checked in at 203.
I was kind of blown away, honestly, when he walked in the office after summer baseball, said UA coach Jay Johnson, whose team opens the 2020 season against Albany on Friday night at Hi Corbett Field. That Northwoods League is a tough grind. Theyre playing every day, and theyre on buses. Sometimes the nutritional component can be hard there. But he obviously has done a great job with that.
Holgate said he feels fitter, fresher, stronger and more mobile than a year ago and thats a scary thought for Arizona opponents.
Holgate, a prized recruit from Davis, California, had a good freshman season, at least by normal standards. He hit seven home runs, drew 35 walks and had a .378 on-base percentage.
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Arizona Wildcats slugger Ryan Holgate discovers the power of a healthier diet - Arizona Daily Star
