The Cleveland Guardians are known for their high-contact hitters who hardly ever strike out. How did they manage to support their pitching staff? It’s no secret – they stole the third-most bases and made aggressive plays on the base paths. But their secret weapon lies in hoarding players who are just really good at hitting the ball, without sacrificing sound hitting for the sake of power.
Enter Josh Bell, who signed a two-year, $33 million deal with the Guardians during the winter. While Cleveland may be known for their contact hitters, Bell’s pop proved to be a necessary addition to their team. But don’t worry, he’s not the type to swing out of his shoes just to hit homers. He’s a solid hitter who can add a little bit of slug to their game.
Terry Francona, Cleveland’s veteran manager, explained that they were looking to “thicken out” their order, especially against lefties. With Bell behind José Ramírez, pitchers will either have to pitch to him or face the consequences. But what sets Cleveland apart is their batters’ remarkable contact percentage – last season, three Guardians ranked in the top 15 in contact percentage, with Steven Kwan connecting with 95.4% of the pitches he swung at in the zone.
So, how does Bell compare? His contact rate fits right in with the team’s average, but he does strike out a little bit more. However, he’s not the only hitter in the team with that tendency. But what sets Cleveland apart is their ability to make solid contact consistently, with players like Kwan and Ramírez racking up doubles and hits.
The Guardians’ acquisition model favors players who rarely strike out, like Alex Call, who was eventually traded for Yonder Alonso. While Call initially struggled with high-spin four-seamers, he eventually committed to emphasizing contact and it paid off. Coaches were impressed with his improved strikeout rate and his ability to still hit homers.
Lastly, Cleveland’s minor league system is sure to keep churning out the same type of hitter, with players like Richie Palacios hitting .322 through 15 games in Class AAA Columbus Clippers. It will be Bell’s job to knock them in and force pitchers to throw more strikes to Ramírez. And who knows, this might lead to a long shot push for the pennant!
Serious News: washingtonpost
