The Orioles didn’t sink when middle fielder Cedric Mullins went on the injured listing, and the surprising slugging of Aaron Hicks and Ryan O’Hearn has largely been credited as the explanation — and rightfully so.
But that’s additionally as a result of the best way Austin Hays is taking part in is not a shock. With Mullins sidelined, Hays hit .343 with an outstanding .909 OPS — near his season averages. The 27-year-old leads the American League with a .318 batting common, and his .866 OPS is finest amongst Baltimore’s certified hitters.
“He’s been doing amazing,” Hicks stated about Hays. “I feel like every time I’m up to bat, he’s either on second or on first. It’s impressive.”
Despite his stellar first half, Hays got here nowhere near advancing to the second part of All-Star Game fan voting. He completed 14th amongst AL outfielders — greater than 400,000 votes away from being prime six and advancing. Now, Hays’ probability of constructing his first All-Star Game in his sixth large league season is as much as the gamers’ poll and the Commissioner’s Office, which collectively decide the competition’s reserves.
“I don’t know exactly why he didn’t get as much love and didn’t make it to the next round of the All-Star voting,” O’Hearn stated. “In my opinion, he absolutely deserves to be out there and be an All-Star.”
Mullins, who was having an All Star-worthy marketing campaign earlier than his harm, returned from the IL on Saturday in Baltimore’s 6-4 win, saying earlier than the sport that Hays “100%” deserves a spot on the AL’s roster.
“The results that he’s getting, it’s nothing that’s too much of a surprise to me,” Mullins stated.
Since the voting started, supervisor Brandon Hyde has been adamant that Hays deserves to be an All-Star. On Tuesday, when he was requested about Adley Rutschman main AL catchers in fan voting, Hyde later requested the place Hays ranked. Once he heard how low, Hyde responded, “That’s terrible.”
“Well, he’s on the All-Star team for me,” Hyde stated Friday. “He has had an unimaginable first half — offensively, defensively, simply what he brings daily for us, an on a regular basis participant simply completely producing in each side. Love the best way he’s utilizing the entire area, he hits with energy, he’s acquired velocity, he’s gotten some large RBI hits for us and to play left area protection right here will not be simple and he’s executed it one of the simplest ways you presumably can.
“I love to see our guys get recognized, and Austin should be recognized for what he’s done so far this half. … It’s been a special first half.”
A robust first half isn’t new for Hays. Last yr, he was maybe the Orioles’ finest hitter via the primary three months with an OPS over .800 and a batting common over .275. But he struggled within the second half, hitting .220 with a .622 OPS over the ultimate three months as he performed via a wrist harm he suffered in June.
Hays has typically stated that being wholesome for a full season is his overarching aim, trusting that good well being will produce constructive outcomes on the plate. Hyde agrees.
“He’s not playing banged up right now, and I think last year he definitely did the second half,” Hyde stated. “He’s showing everybody the kind of player he can be.”
Hays stated he hasn’t felt this good since 2017, when he was a promising prospect who dominated the minors to earn his first large league call-up in September.
“I think this is the most consistent I’ve been for a stretch of time since my 2017 season,” Hays stated. “But definitely in the big leagues, this is the most consistent stretch I’ve had of good mechanics, good health and getting good results.”
Hays, who normally bats within the No. 5 gap towards right-handers and the leadoff spot versus lefties, has but to undergo a noticeable stoop this season. His OPS has been above .800 daily since April 10 and his batting common above .300 since May 21. He additionally has one of many strongest outfield arms within the sport, evidenced by his 4 assists.
Hays has been Baltimore’s most beneficial participant by wins above substitute on FanGraphs, forward of Rutschman, who may begin the Midsummer Classic at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park if followers vote for him over Texas Rangers backstop Jonah Heim. Hays’ 2.0 WAR ranks ninth amongst AL outfielders.
Hays stated being named an All-Star can be a “bonus” to the success he and the Orioles (46-29) are having this yr.
“It’s not going to change how I feel about how I’ve played so far or what this team is doing, how many games we’re winning,” Hays stated. “We do have any person on the listing that’s getting lots of speak, and it’s trying like he has probability to start out proper now. I’m glad that any person’s getting lots of recognition, I’m glad the followers are getting considered one of us on there.
“It would be a huge honor,” he added. “It’s just an accolade that’s next to your name forever, and it’s something I’d be able to tell my kids one day if that is something that happens. It would mean a lot to me, but we’ll see what happens.”
There’s little on Hays’ stat web page that isn’t spectacular. According to Baseball Savant, he ranks within the prime 30% of MLB hitters in common exit velocity, anticipated batting common, anticipated slugging proportion and barrel proportion. He ranked within the backside 40% in every of these metrics final yr.
In 69 video games this season, Hays’ 22 barrels — the standard of contact Baseball Savant deems more than likely to provide a constructive outcome — is similar quantity he totaled in all of 2022. Entering Saturday, his chase charge was down 6.7 proportion factors, whereas his hard-hit charge was up 5.8 factors. Simply put, he’s swinging out of the zone much less typically and hitting pitches within the zone laborious extra typically.
“You look at his numbers, and he’s putting up a great year,” outfielder Ryan McKenna stated. “Every time I get to play with him, I see the work that he puts in and the knowledge that he has about the game. Just the way he approaches the game of baseball is very elite. He’s a very talented player, and I definitely think an opportunity for him at the All-Star Game would be deserving.”
O’Hearn theorized that Hays maybe didn’t get the popularity from MLB followers as a result of he’s not as flashy as most of the recreation’s stars, as a substitute praising his teammate’s dependability.
“The way the nature of the game is right now, maybe the flash is what people like and are attracted to,” O’Hearn stated. “But he’s been as good as it gets. He’s been an All-Star in my opinion, been the leader of this team and been such a big part of our offense and defense all season.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com