George Brett May Have Reported to K.C. Camp in Too Good a Shape

Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett says he is in the best shape of his career, but that hasn’t helped his hitting this spring.

Brett, who had an extensive workout program during the off-season for the first time in an effort to avoid injuries this year, checked into the Royals camp at 193 pounds, down from 214 at the end of last season.

Now Brett is hearing suggestions he should gain weight after he complained that the ball is not coming off his bat like it has in the past.

“George does feel good, but he has expressed a little concern that he might not be strong enough,” said Manager Dick Howser. “As far as I’m concerned anywhere between 190 and 200 and he looks good to me.”

Brett says poor fundamentals may be to blame for the lack of power.

“The ball is not coming off my bat at all, it doesn’t even sound good,” said Brett. “I don’t think it is because of the weight, I think it is because of fundamentals. The last couple of days I have been seeing the ball decent, but I still don’t feel I am attacking it the way I used to.

“Sometimes you work on fundamentals so much that it takes a little away from your power. Once I get them down, the power will be there.”