Batter’s Box: A Higher Colin

Photo by Justin Berl/Icon Sportswire

With so many big offensive performances last night, I’m sure you’re wondering why I chose to highlight one as pedestrian as the 1-4, R, HR, RBI game Colin Moran put together yesterday. Well, it’s because there’s a lot to say about Moran. One, he looks like an ancient undead viking that was recently thawed out of a block of ice in the barren arctic climes of Greenland. Two, he’s physically incapable of smiling. Seriously, do an image search for “Colin Moran” and find me one picture where he’s smiling like a human. Not like a human being electrocuted. Not like Kratos after he’s been impaled by a spear. Like a regular human in a state of calm joy. I defy you to find one.

There’s a lot to say about Moran beyond his physical appearance too. You may have heard whispers about the swing change he implemented last year that unlocked his latent power, helping him set career-highs in home runs (18) and slugging percentage (.543) over just 79 AAA games in 2017. You may have even taken a flier on him in drafts this year, hoping for a big breakout. And to this point, he’s disappointed. Last night’s homer was just his fourth of the year, and he has been benched routinely against lefties.

I’m here to put your worries to bed, because I still think a breakout is coming. The contact ability is already there, as evidenced by his .285 average and 15.8% strikeout rate, which is backed by a .292 xAVG. But I think the power will be coming soon too. I think so because of his above-average 34.7% hard contact. I think so because of his improved 14.4 degree launch angle. I think so because he’s underperforming on his .472 xSLG, and because he’s hitting more line drives and flyballs than he did prior to his swing change, and because he needs this. Colin Moran needs this. Have you seen him try to smile? There is no joy in this man’s life.

Gleyber Torres (2B, New York Yankees): 2-4, R, HR, RBI – That’s the seventh homer of the year for Torres, and his fourth over the past four games. He’s now two away from tying his previous career-high of nine, and he’s just 88 at-bats into the season. So much for me getting to use the moniker “Baby Bombers” ironically anytime soon.

Willy Adames (SS, Tampa Bay Rays): 1-4, R, HR, RBI – Willy Adames wasn’t locked in here with Chris Sale, Chris Sale was locked in here with Willy Adames. The first hit of Adames’ major league career was a homer off one of the best pitchers in the game. The Rays have said Adames will be sent down in the next few days when Joey Wendle gets activated from the paternity list but, uh, YEAH RIGHT.

Austin Meadows (OF, Pittsburgh Pirates): 1-4, R, HR, RBI – Yo, what’s up brother, it’s Austin Meadows here. When I’m not hanging ten with my dudes I like to homer in back-to-back games, because I’m totally righteous and my surfer vibes are gnarly as heck. Well, catch you guys later, ’bout to go gnosh on some fish tacos with the local hodads.

Jose Ramirez (2B/3B, Cleveland Indians): 1-2, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB – Ramirez is practically hitting his weight over the past two weeks, batting .339 with six homers over that span. Ah, fat jokes, they never get old. Or maybe I just never get old. Mentally. Because I’m an idiot.

Bryce Harper (OF, Washington Nationals): 2-4, R, HR, RBI – Harper did his best Juan Soto impersonation yesterday, and it was his third homer of the week and 15th long ball of the season. The .238 average is uncharacteristic, but everything else has been there for him, and it’s only a matter of time before the hits start falling again.

Scooter Gennett (2B, Cincinnati Reds): 2-3, 2 R, HR, 2B, 6 RBI – Gennett is now 14th in baseball in batting average with a .324 mark, thanks in large part to a torrid run he’s been on over his last 15 games that has seen him hit .390 with six homers. His hard contact is up to 40%, a big increase from last season’s 34% rate, and his 14 degree launch angle and improved strikeout rate indicate last season’s breakout may not even be the ceiling for the 28-year-old.

Tony Kemp (OF, Houston Astros): 2-2, 5 RBI – Tony Kemp, father of Matt Kemp, is doing the unthinkable at 58 years old, attempting to break into the major leagues and prove that you’re only as old as you feel. Actually that’s all a lie, Tony’s 26 years old and unrelated to Matt. You should know better than to trust me at this point. Anyway, Kemp hit .329 with 10 homers and 24 steals in the minors last season, and may be worth a speculative add since the Astros seem hell-bent on hiding Kyle Tucker from the world at all costs.

Yonder Alonso (1B, Cleveland Indians): 3-4, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB – The gaps between Yonder Alonso’s average and slugging percentage and his xAVG and xSLG are some of the largest in baseball this season, so a big hot streak seems to be in the cards. His 15 degree launch angle indicates his swing changes from last year are sticking around, and it’s only a matter of time before he improves on his .227/.294/.435 slash line.

Mookie Betts (OF, Boston Red Sox): 2-4, R, HR, 3 RBI – Mookie Betts has a 214 wRC+ this year compared to Mike Trout’s 188. I’ll just leave that there for you to wrap your minds around.

Yairo Munoz (SS, St. Louis Cardinals): 4-4 – I actually time-travel every now and then, and just a heads up, yesterday’s performance by Munoz is the start of a long and storied Hall of Fame career that ends with the Cardinals building a new stadium shaped like his head in the year 2059. In all honesty, Munoz has shown good contact ability and double-digit power and speed in the minors, and may have some playing time coming his way with Paul DeJong on the DL.

Mark Trumbo (OF/DH, Baltimore Orioles): 4-4, 2 2B, RBI – Any of you guys see Trumbo? It’s a great movie about the life of Mark Trumbo, and Bryan Cranston is truly a tour de force in the role. I thought the romantic plotline about Trumbo’s forbidden romance with the Orioles’ mascot was a little strange, but otherwise it hit all the right notes. Okay, fine, I never saw Trumbo, and it has nothing to do with Mark Trumbo, but who wouldn’t watch the movie I just described?

J.T. Realmuto (C, Miami Marlins): 3-5, 2 RBI – Realmuto’s walk rate has been inching up since his debut in 2014, as has his hard contact, which is now at an incredible 41.4%. The 20% HR/FB is likely unsustainable, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him set a new career-high in homers considering he’s cut down on his groundballs and already has six on the season.

Alex Gordon (OF, Kansas City Royals): 3-4, R, HR, RBI – I wanted so badly to believe the hot streak Alex Gordon went on a few weeks back was real, but he’s gone right back to sucking butt lately, hitting .208 over the past 15 games. His hard contact has plummeted, and his groundball rate is up to 56%, but at least he had a nice night yesterday to ease his pain before he drifts off into death’s cold embrace.

Marcell Ozuna (OF, St. Louis Cardinals): 3-4, SB – There was some hope recently that Ozuna was breaking out of his slump, but he’s hitting just .233 with one homer over his last 15 games. His 50% groundball rate likely means the 23% HR/FB from last year is going to be a career outlier, so adjust your expectations.

Ozzie Albies (2B, Atlanta Braves): 2-4, 3 R, HR, RBI, BB – So far, Ozzie Albies’ season has been something out of a storybook. He’s hitting .346 over the past week, and is now up to 14 homers. His previous career-high in the minors was nine. He’s not selling out for power either, as his 9.5% whiff rate and 82% contact rate are both above average. On top of that, everything in his batted ball profile supports what he’s doing; he has 14 xHR and an 11.6% value hit rate. And he’s stealing bases. This man is a superstar in the making.