FORT MYERS, Fla. — There was little Pablo Sandoval could have said Sunday that would have improved his standing the eyes of Red Sox fans disappointed in how he played last season.

That he didn’t at least try made the situation even worse.

A surprisingly unrepentant Sandoval arrived at spring training claiming he had nothing to prove after his disastrous first season with the team. Only when asked a second time did he admit the need for improvement.

The subject of his physical condition also created some confusing moments, putting manager John Farrell in a position to defend his third baseman before he even stepped on the practice field.

Only six weeks of spring training left. Hold on tight.

“No, I don’t got nothing to prove. I just prepare myself to perform well, support my teammates, and play and try to get to the World Series,’’ Sandoval said after arriving in the clubhouse at JetBlue Park.

After being signed for five years and $95 million, Sandoval hit .245 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs. A .658 OPS was the lowest of his career. Sandoval also graded out far below average defensively and missed 36 games with various injuries and illnesses.

Surely he wants to play better?

“Yeah, I want to prove to the fans and prove to my teammates that I can be better defensive player and better offensive player to win games,’’ Sandoval said. “I have to work hard to get to that moment. Keep working hard and keep your head on.’’

The Red Sox sent Sandoval into the offseason with orders to return in better condition. Torey Lovullo, then the interim manager, said on Oct. 4 that Hanley Ramirez was asked to lose 15-20 pounds and that “similar instructions’’ were given to Sandoval.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski expressed the same sentiments Nov. 9 at the General Managers Meetings in Florida. The Red Sox then sent Farrell to Miami in mid-January to check on Sandoval’s condition. Team athletic trainers also made regular visits.

Yet Sandoval denied he was asked to lose weight and even claimed he had not weighed himself in the offseason.

“I don’t weigh-in at all. I just do my work. Try and do everything I can. I don’t weigh-in all offseason. Just try to get better, be an athlete,’’ he said.

Said Farrell: “I can’t tell you if he got on the scale or not. I can tell you that visiting him in January, it looked like he was in better condition. I will say when we met with every player at the end of last season, each player was given a specific plan, a workout routine.’’

According to Farrell, Sandoval was not told a specific number of pounds to lose, unlike Ramirez was.

“We outlined he needed to come back in better condition. Along with that you anticipate the potential for weight to be dropped is there. There wasn’t a specific number given,’’ Farrell said.

Sandoval does appear to be thinner than he was at the end of last season, roughly the same as he was at the start of spring training a year ago.

“We feel like he’s in better condition when he walked in here,’’ Farrell said.

Sandoval took batting practice, and his righthanded swing was noticeably better than last season, when he gave up switch-hitting. Sandoval was more balanced and able to make a smoother pass at the ball.

Sandoval said he took only righthanded swings all winter and that abandoning that side of the plate was a result of losing confidence after poor results.

Sandoval has hit .172 from the right side the last two years and last season was 2 for 41. Prior to that he hit .290 righthanded.

Sandoval also took ground balls from infield instructor Brian Butterfield and made several plays from difficult angles that had fans at Fenway South applauding him.

Sandoval said last season, as bad as it was, was not a disappointment to him.

“It’s baseball. It’s a surprise. You’re not going to have all seasons great,’’ he said. “You’re going to have ups and downs, and you have to prepare yourself to be ready for the down moments, shake it off, and keep working hard.’’

Sandoval said the pressure of his new contract and playing in a new market were not to blame.

“Tough year for me, but it’s in the past. Now I prepare myself to be better,’’ he said.

Said Farrell: “He just has to go out and play. I think living it for a year will serve him well.’’

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @peteabe.