Dillon Lawson waited for the appropriate time, even with the clock ticking. Gleyber Torres and Aaron Judge confirmed up on the participant improvement advanced in Tampa in mid-October. They labored within the cages and the soon-to-be new hitting coach watched them work. He checked out video of Torres’ swing and did his homework and with the potential for a lockout hanging over them, Lawson waited for Torres to ask.
“Hey, what do you got,” the infielder coming off two down seasons lastly requested.
Lawson had drilled down on how and why Torres had modified his swing from 2018-2021. He had a brief video to point out the modifications after which they talked about tips on how to get him again to himself.
“There were really slow changes from 2018. It goes with him trying to be a complete hitter, which these guys want to do. They want to be able to hit for average and for power,” Lawson mentioned. “In 2018 he definitely was doing that and used it for power and power in 2019, but he was trying to get back to average and then basically kind of got himself out of sorts, out of good habits while trying to get into some other good things.”
This season, Torres has rediscovered some good habits and realized tips on how to modify all through the season. Tuesday night time, in a stunning 4-3 loss to the Reds on the Stadium, Torres went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and a stroll. In 77 video games this season, the 25-year-old is hitting .275/.332/.494 with a .827 OPS, 13 dwelling runs, 18 doubles and 37 RBI.
It’s been a dramatic turnaround. After hitting 38 homers and slashing .278/.337/.535 in 2019, Torres hit simply 12 dwelling runs within the 169 video games he performed over the 2020 and 2021 seasons. That coincided with the Yankees attempting him out as their on a regular basis shortstop, the place he struggled defensively and a few consider that carried over to the plate.
Torres has been again at second base since final September and has performed properly there. He has additionally rediscovered a swing that works for him — and improved on it.
“I feel like I did in 2018-19, but better,” Torres mentioned of his All-Star rookie season. “I understand more. I have that experience and I know how the swing works.”
The leg kick and coil that Torres thought he needed to do away with to be a extra skilled hitter was one thing Lawson noticed as useful for him. Torres was mainly altering his swing to drag for energy and pushing to the other discipline for common. Lawson and Torres labored on his bat path, maintaining the swing the identical and catching the ball deeper to generate extra energy and consistency.
“So he didn’t have to try and force it to the opposite field for batting average, and then cheat to try to pull it. In that case, he’s basically been trying to use two different swings,” Lawson mentioned. “Now, he’s using one. In 2018 he used one. Now he uses one and it’s just able to cover batting average and it’s able to cover power and it’s in fastballs and changeups and sliders and curveballs and righties and lefties. It’s just that one swing that he’s really honed in.”
And he’s taking what the sport offers him. Since June 3, when he had a cortisone shot in his wrist to cope with nagging discomfort, Torres has been a extra constant hitter. Over his final 10 video games, Torres has slashed .415/.489/.537 with a 1.026 OPS.
Torres has been hitting the ball properly because the cortisone shot, however not as far. The second baseman has not hit a house run since June 19, however is contributing along with his consistency.
“I love where he’s at,” Aaron Boone mentioned Tuesday. “I feel like since he’s come back from those couple days, he’s gotten really consistent and putting it in play with authority. But it’s more of the same. He’s been solid since the jump and continues to give us real good at-bats.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com