Mets Outfielder Over Stomach Issues; Sets Goal Of Hitting "10 More Home Runs"


He's determined for a bounce-back year.

New York Mets outfielder Mark Canha revealed on Wednesday that he had been dealing with gastritis during the 2022 season, which made it difficult for him to maintain his weight.

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining that caused Canha to eat less than usual as he was afraid of getting a stomach ache. He started the season with a skinnier frame, which affected his performance.

The thirty-four-year-old said it made it hard for him "to get calories and be comfortable, so a lot of times I wouldn't eat very much because I was afraid of getting a stomach ache."

However, Canha's gastritis subsided, and he managed to put on some muscle mass during the offseason.

As a result, he is now feeling healthy again and has set a goal to hit 10 more home runs this season than the 13 he hit in 2022. Canha hopes that his improved body composition will help him achieve this goal.

Last season, Canha's performance was affected by his health issue as he recorded a .266/.367/.403 triple-slash line with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs in 140 games. With his gastritis now behind him, he is aiming to hit 20-25 home runs this year. Photo Credit:  Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports