Forsythe has excelled in his leadoff role to date in 2016, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reports.
Analysis:
The 29-year-old has validated manager Kevin Cash's decision to place him at the top of the lineup, leading the Rays with a .337 average, and hitting .364 during the first inning. Forsythe had adjusted to the nuances of being the first man up against the opposing pitcher by making his warm-up process more efficient. "The routine is actually the big thing," he said. "I've been able to shorten it up. Make sure my body's ready. Get a couple of more swings before I step in for that first at-bat of the game. It's going well right now. I want to continue to grow on it, try to get better in early counts." The five-year veteran sees his presence at the top of the order as somewhat of a break from the norm, given that leadoff men have traditionally been profiled as low-power speed merchants. "There seems like there's more and more contact guys, guys who can put the ball in play. Very good with pitch-recognition," he said. "They give you that quality at-bat. I've noticed it not necessarily being that speedster. (It's) maybe even a power guy."
