Theo Epstein said he believes the Chicago Cubs coaching staff and players have done a "terrific job" of staying ready for a 2020 season.
And based on recent photos and videos, first baseman Anthony Rizzo appears to be in top form.
A new-look _ and shirtless _ Rizzo was photographed in an Instagram post by Tom Flynn of the Performance Edge Strength and Conditioning Sports Performance Center in Coral Springs, Fla.
According to Flynn, Rizzo and coach Mike Napoli each lost 25 pounds thanks to 12 weeks of training, six days a week. Rizzo was listed at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds in the Cubs' 2020 media guide.
The post also shows Rizzo performing agility drills, lifting weights and conducting running drills similar to running the bases.
Many Cubs players have posted snippets of their workouts on their social media accounts, including Ian Happ.
Happ and reliever Dakota Mekkes recently drove from Scottsdale, Ariz., to Chicago, raising expectations that Cubs team workouts were about to resume.
But Epstein, on a conference call Monday, said that Happ's lease in Arizona expired and that he returned to Chicago to seek lodging.
Epstein estimated it would take about a month, including three weeks of spring training and a week for players to report with the proper coronavirus protocols in place, for play to resume.
"I think the Cubs are well positioned, and I'm sure other teams have been staying flexible as well," Epstein said.
