It was 2016, and the Chicago Cubs were in the middle of a season that felt like a fever dream. Right at the center of that North Side magic was a guy who looked like he’d been chiseled out of granite. Jake Arrieta wasn’t just good; he was terrifying. Then, suddenly, the sports world woke up to images of Jake Arrieta pitching naked.
Well, mostly naked. He had a glove.
The photos were for ESPN The Magazine’s annual Body Issue. Looking back a decade later, it’s easy to dismiss it as just another athlete showing off. But for Arrieta, those shots captured the exact moment he reached the peak of a physical transformation that literally changed the trajectory of the Cubs franchise.
The Mechanics of a "Moving Renaissance Painting"
Honestly, the reactions at the time were hilarious. One fan on Reddit famously called the shoot a "moving Renaissance painting." It’s a bit dramatic, sure, but it wasn't far off. Arrieta was 30 years old, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, and arguably the most physically fit pitcher to ever step on a mound.
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Most pitchers are "pitcher fit"—meaning they have a strong lower half but might carry a little extra around the middle. Arrieta was different. He was 6'4", 225 pounds of lean muscle.
When he did the shoot, he wasn't just standing there. He went through his full delivery. You could see every single muscle fiber in his back and legs firing as he went through his motion.
- The Lead Leg: His quad looked like a tree trunk anchoring him to the ground.
- The Torso: The torque he generated came from a core that he obsessively trained.
- The Follow-through: Even without clothes, his mechanics were identical to what hitters saw every five days.
He told ESPN during the interview that he expects to beat everybody. That wasn't just talk. He had the physical "armor" to back it up.
How Pilates Saved His Career
People forget that before he was a Greek god in Chicago, Arrieta was a "bust" in Baltimore. He had a 5.46 ERA with the Orioles. He was inconsistent. He was frustrated. Basically, his body and his mind weren't talking to each other.
The secret to that physique in the "pitching naked" photos? Pilates.
It sounds soft to some old-school baseball guys, but Arrieta became a total junkie for it. He even convinced the Cubs to put a Reformer machine in the clubhouse. He credited the discipline with his ability to repeat his delivery 100 times a game without his mechanics breaking down.
"Pilates gets my body into a position where I'm activated, I'm loose, and I'm ready to go as soon as I step out onto the field," Arrieta said.
He spent years trying to do the splits. It took him two full off-seasons to get there, but once he did, his hip mobility exploded. That's why he could stride so far toward the plate, making his 95-mph sinker feel like 100 mph to a hitter.
The Mental Side of Baring It All
There’s a weird vulnerability to those photos. Arrieta admitted in the interview that while he looked composed on the outside, there were times on the mound where he felt like he was "losing his mind."
The 2016 season was high-pressure. The Cubs were trying to break a 108-year curse. Every move was scrutinized. Doing a nude photo shoot in the middle of that might seem like a distraction, but for Arrieta, it was a statement of confidence.
He was the only MLB player in the 2016 issue. He stood alongside stars like Dwyane Wade and Conor McGregor. It wasn't just about vanity; it was about showing the work.
Why It Still Matters Today
We’ve seen plenty of athletes do the Body Issue since then, but Arrieta’s remains iconic because of the timing. He was at the absolute zenith of his powers. A few months after those photos dropped, he was winning Game 2 and Game 6 of the World Series.
He proved that a pitcher could—and maybe should—train like a world-class sprinter or gymnast.
Lessons for Modern Training
If you're a young pitcher or just someone interested in high-level fitness, Arrieta's approach offers a few real-world takeaways:
- Mobility > Bulk: Arrieta was ripped, but he was flexible. If you can’t move through a full range of motion, your strength is useless on the mound.
- The Core is Everything: Everything he did started in his midsection. That’s where the "pitching naked" photos showed the most definition—because that’s where the power lived.
- Innovate Your Routine: Don't be afraid to do the "weird" stuff like Pilates if it helps you understand how your muscles actually work.
Jake Arrieta's career eventually slowed down as injuries took their toll, but that 2016 snapshot remains a testament to what happens when a player finally figures out how to master his own body.
Next Steps for Your Training:
- Research Reformative Pilates specifically for rotational athletes to improve hip and spine mobility.
- Focus on unilateral leg strength (lunges, single-leg deadlifts) to build the stability Arrieta showcased in his delivery.
- Track your recovery metrics just as closely as your strength gains to ensure you aren't overtraining the "show" muscles at the expense of your performance.