JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -Hanley Ramirez worked harder this offseason and ate better. Five days a week, his routine included a 2 1/2-hour gym workout, a one-hour swim in his pool at home and a nice dinner.
“I spend $100 a night in the restaurant,” the Florida Marlins’ All-Star shortstop says with a grin. “I used to spend $5 at Wendy’s.”
With a fat new contract, the 6-foot-3 Ramirez says he increased his weight 25 pounds to 225, but the calories didn’t go to his waist. Instead he’s thicker in the chest, shoulders and legs, which he expects to help his durability.
While Ramirez missed only 17 games the past two seasons, a left shoulder injury required surgery in October 2007 and bothered him again late last season.
“I went home and said, `I’m tired of that,”’ the Dominican says. “That was the first thing – get my shoulder stronger.”
Ramirez had never worked out much in the winter but created his own program. He laughs when asked if he found it on the Internet.
s why I don’t like personal trainers.”
Even at a svelte 200 pounds, his listed weight in last year’s postseason guide, Ramirez was the Marlins’ biggest star. He has by far the most lucrative contract on baseball’s thriftiest team, a $70 million, six-year deal beginning this season that will pay him $5.5 million in 2009.
That’s an increase from the $439,000 he made last year – hence the $100 dinners.
Ramirez appears to be a good investment. He’s a .308 career hitter with 137 stolen bases and has increased his home run total in his first three season from 17 to 29 to 33.
He was a lanky prospect when the Marlins acquired him in the trade three years ago that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Boston Red Sox. Ramirez won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2006 and has only improved since.
He reported for spring training early and will join the Marlins’ first full-squad workout Tuesday, looking stronger than ever.
“I don’t think he’s overweight,” manager Fredi Gonzalez says. “The guy’s a specimen. The Dolphins could recruit him as a defensive back.”
The new physique coincides with a likely change in Ramirez’s role. Batting mostly leadoff, he scored 369 runs the past three seasons, most in the majors, and stole 137 bases.
But with the offseason departure of Mike Jacobs and Josh Willingham, who combined for 47 homers last year, Ramirez expects to be dropped to third in the order. Rookie center field Cameron Maybin is the leading candidate to hit first.
Ramirez has struggled as a run-producer in the past. His career on-base plus slugging percentage is .777 in 55 games batting third, compared with .931 batting leadoff. He says teams pitched him differently when he batted third, throwing him offspeed pitches in fastball situations.
Gonzalez figures Ramirez now has enough experience to adjust to any role.
“Wherever he hits, he shouldn’t change his game or his approach,” Gonzalez says.
Despite the added bulk, Ramirez says his focus is on his batting average, not his home-run total.
“It’s not about power,” he says. “I don’t think about home runs. Never.”
While Ramirez has been the Marlins’ offensive catalyst, he also has contributed to a woeful defense. Florida was third-worst in the majors in fielding last year, and Ramirez led all shortstops with 22 errors.
He says stronger legs will help his defense. He expects to be down to 210 pounds by opening day, and even at 225, he says his mobility remains the same.
“I don’t feel heavy,” he says. “I feel good. I feel strong in my whole body.”
Ramirez wants to play all 162 games. At age 25, he says he also wants to assume more of a leadership role to help the Marlins reach the playoffs.
He set a good example in the offseason with his rigorous regimen.
“When you’ve got a couple of years in the big leagues,” Ramirez says, “you learn to be a good teammate.”
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