Are you doing beach workouts?
I like the beach, but in Aruba, you can only go if its for workouts. No one can go to chill. Makes the beach a little more boring. But I do some running drills that strengthen your legs and lower body.
Have you been watching anything lately to pass the time?
I just watched a documentary on Pablo Escobar, I watched Money Heist, and I saw that movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger about eating plant-based.
Oh yeah, The Game Changers. Do you eat a plant-based diet?
No, no, no. But I was surprised that these guys still have so much energy, or even more energy, without eating meat. It was kind of crazy to hear. Lately Ive been eating a lot of rice and chicken, ribs, and home-cooked meals that I dont get to eat during the season. During the season I only cook for myself on the off-days. I can make a good curry chicken. Im actually going to eat it now, but my mom made this one.
Is the curry chicken your cheat meal?
No, I like french fries, man. I dont know what my obsession with them is, but thats it. Not a huge dipping sauce guy, though. Maybe just ketchup.
During the season, when the team provides many of your meals, what does your diet typically look like?
I definitely eat a lot of eggs in the morning, drink some coffee or tea, and then once youre at the stadium, they have everything you need. Theyre trying to keep us healthy. Ill have a ham-and-cheese sandwich after workouts, and then usually have a protein shake before a game as a snack. Dinner is pretty late at night.
You had a career year last season, with a big uptick in homers. Were there any changes you made to your workouts or diet to achieve that?
Not really, Im eating the same stuff. I think its just more experience, and the year prior, we had some coaching changes that helped unpack some stuff that I had hidden. It made me become a much better player. All of my hitting coaches have had good, different philosophies, but this one kind of took me to another level.
Wheres your head at about a baseball season happening? Are you feeling hopeful or pessimistic?
I want to play for sure, but its such a tough time and I know were dealing with a very serious situation. To be honest, its hard to do workouts because youre like, are we even going to play? In the off-season, you work out and look forward to February reporting day. You know you have to be ready for that specific day. Now, you dont have anything like that. Well have to wait and see when the experts say its the right time to play.
Are you open to the idea of all MLB games being played one city, as has been suggested?
I saw thatsomething in Arizona? Ive been away from my family for all the years Ive been playing baseball, but [playing all games in one city] would be tougher on the American guys whove never experienced it. The guys from the Latin countries are more used to that. But thats going to be hard. I dont know how they would do that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity
Real-Life Diet is a series in which GQ talks to athletes, celebrities, and everyone in-between about their diets and exercise routines: what's worked, what hasn't, and where they're still improving. Keep in mind, what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.
Jefferson dishes on working out with Coach O and predicts the final score of a one-on-one basketball game against LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
