PEORIA, Ariz. -- Colin Rea didn't need to go over a chart of his pitches or check his velocity from his first start Friday to validate that he feels like a different pitcher.
His body affirmed as much for him.
"Last night after [the game] I went in the weight room and I noticed that my legs were a little more fatigued than normal," Rea said. "I hope that means I'm using my lower body more than I have in the past. If I do that, it will take some stress off my arm."
Rea's body rebuild this spring -- he's 23 pounds heavier than he was at the end of the regular season -- is already producing big gains.