Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts: Read and react to pitches
Bogaerts' slump during the second half of 2016 was partially due to him making a decision where he wanted to hit the ball before the pitch reached him, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports.
Analysis:
Bogaerts hit just .253/.317/.412/.729 after the All-Star break, though within that stretch there were pockets of a better approach, something that assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez pointed out to the shortstop. "You just have to start up the middle," Bogaerts said. "If you start up the middle, you can hit in and away. Sometimes I think too much away, and when they throw me in, all I can do is a little jam shot. If you think middle and keep your body straight, you see it and recognize -- and boom." As much as the 24-year-old shortstop has developed since entering the majors, the last bit of potential that remains untapped is avoiding those annoying prolonged slumps. That will come when he consistently stays back and reacts accordingly to the pitch delivered to him.
HEADLINES
- Yankees score 15 vs. Brewers in consecutive games to win series
- Crew chief: Judge should've been called for interference on slide during rally
- Twins win 7th straight with rout of struggling Angels
- Tucker leads Astros to second win over Rockies in Mexico City
- MLB's most unlikely breakout, 8 more observations