At 33, many MLB players start slowing down.
But this spring, Xander Bogaerts looks reborn — and the Padres star says the transformation is about one thing only: winning in 2026.

💥 Xander Bogaerts Arrives at Padres Camp in Incredible Shape — But His Real Goal for 2026 Is Bigger Than Fitness

Inside the San Diego Padres’ spring training complex in Peoria, Arizona, teammates have noticed something different about Xander Bogaerts.

The veteran shortstop looks stronger.

Leaner.

Sharper.

During workouts, Bogaerts has even jokingly shown teammates his newly sculpted abs — proof of an offseason training regimen that left him in some of the best shape of his career.

Padres manager Craig Stammen noticed immediately.

“He’s a physical specimen,” Stammen joked.
“The first day I saw him this spring I told him, ‘Dang, Xander, you look pretty good.’”

Bogaerts laughed — and lifted his shirt to prove it.

But behind the humor lies a serious purpose.

Because for Bogaerts, this transformation isn’t about appearance.

It’s about redemption.

The Challenge of Baseball in Your 30s

At 33 years old, Bogaerts understands the reality of professional sports.

The body changes.

Recovery takes longer.

Maintaining peak athletic performance requires more discipline than ever before.

And losing weight? That’s become harder every year.

“To be honest, every year I notice how hard it is to lose weight,” Bogaerts admitted.
“Before, it was easy. Now I’m doing everything I can and sometimes it still feels like it’s not enough.”

That awareness has driven him to work even harder this offseason.

More conditioning.

More strength training.

More attention to every detail of his body.

But Bogaerts knows that physical shape alone won’t define his season.

In baseball, everything ultimately comes down to one thing.

Hitting elite pitching.

A Complicated Beginning in San Diego

When the Padres signed Bogaerts before the 2023 season, the expectation was clear.

He was supposed to anchor the middle of the lineup — the same way he had for years with the Boston Red Sox.

For much of his career, Bogaerts was one of the most consistent hitters in baseball.

But his first three seasons in San Diego have been complicated.

Compared to his Boston years:

His batting average declined
His on-base percentage dipped
His extra-base hits dropped

Yet those numbers don’t tell the entire story.

Because Bogaerts has often looked like two completely different players in the same season.

The Strange Pattern: Slow Starts, Strong Finishes

One of the biggest mysteries of Bogaerts’ Padres tenure has been his tendency to start seasons slowly — only to explode later.

2023

After early struggles and a wrist issue, Bogaerts received a cortisone injection that sparked a late-season surge.

Over his final 71 games:

.321 batting average
.857 OPS

2024

A shoulder fracture disrupted the early months.

After returning near the All-Star break:

.299 batting average
.770 OPS

2025

The pattern repeated again.

First 72 games:

.227 average
.617 OPS

Final 64 games:

.301 average
.831 OPS

Unfortunately, a broken foot ended that run prematurely.

Once again, the second half belonged to him.

But the slow starts shaped the narrative.

The Adjustment That Changed Everything

Last season, Bogaerts made a small but significant change.

He moved slightly farther back in the batter’s box.

Shortly after the adjustment, his performance improved dramatically.

Even Bogaerts admits he doesn’t fully understand why it worked.

“Sometimes I have answers for things,” he said.
“But that one I don’t.”

His best guess?

Facing pitchers throwing 97–98 mph, even a tiny change in timing can make a huge difference.

Just a fraction of a second.

And suddenly the game feels slower.

Injuries Have Been a Major Factor

Another challenge during Bogaerts’ Padres years has been health.

In Boston, he was incredibly durable — playing 144+ games in seven of eight seasons.

In San Diego, injuries have interrupted that rhythm:

2023: Wrist issues
2024: Shoulder fracture
2025: Shoulder discomfort and broken foot

Each setback disrupted his timing and consistency at the plate.

For Bogaerts, staying healthy may be the most important step toward delivering the full season he’s chasing.

Expectations Remain High

Even with the ups and downs, Bogaerts hasn’t been a poor performer.

His 107 wRC+ still places him above the league average offensively.

But Bogaerts himself knows that isn’t the standard he set for his career.

And it’s not what the Padres expected when they signed him to a $25 million-per-year contract.

“It’s not that bad,” Bogaerts admitted.
“But it’s not what I signed up for.”

The Padres signed him to be a star.

And they still believe he can be.

The Padres Still Believe

San Diego’s front office remains confident that Bogaerts’ best seasons are not behind him.

Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller believes the veteran shortstop could still transform the lineup.

“We’re a different team if we get the Bogaerts we’ve seen for most of his career.”

That version of Bogaerts is a complete player.

A hitter capable of batting anywhere from leadoff to cleanup, while contributing on both offense and defense.

If he delivers that season in 2026, San Diego’s lineup could look very different.

One Goal Above Everything

For Bogaerts, the mission heading into the season is simple.

Not just to look stronger.

Not just to feel healthier.

But to finally deliver a complete season that reflects the player he believes he still is.

“You still want to perform like you know you’re capable,” he said.

For the past few years, the second halves have shown flashes of that superstar.

Now the challenge is putting those flashes together into one full season.

If he succeeds, the Padres may finally see the elite Bogaerts they envisioned.

And he might prove something powerful.

Even in your 30s…

the best seasons can still be ahead.