Detroit Tigers Jhonny Peralta confident ahead of 2013 Spring Training – MLB News
Detroit Tigers Jhonny Peralta is looking very confident and optimistic ahead of 2013 Spring Training. The shortstop made a great impact on the game last season, helping his side emerge victorious in several important encounters.
Not only Peralta is one of the best shortstops in the game today but he also has the ability to up his game in pressure situations. It will not be wrong to say that right now he is the “go to guy” for Manager Jim Leyland.
"From the beginning," he said, "I've never had big range. I've never been quick, but I know how to play this game."
"I don't like it when people talk about my range," he said. "I know it's important, and I know I can be better, but I think I've done a really good job at shortstop.
Some baseball analysts were concerned about Peralta putting on a lot of weight last year. Additionally, his offensive numbers were not as good as the Tigers were expecting. A 60 point drop in his batting average and a slow slugging percentage suggests that
there is a lot of room for improvement in Peralta’s game play.
"It's good," Peralta said. "I've never been at this weight since I've been with Detroit. I finished last season at 236. I'm at 218 now."
"Dombrowski and everybody wanted me working on my range," he said. "That's why I tried to get lighter. So I can be quicker."
However, Peralta managed to ride the wave of winter trades and he is still the Tigers’ shortstop. Skipper Leyland sees things differently though. Last week, he made some very positive comments about Tigers’ prospects in 2013 season. At no point, he talked
about Peralta as the weaker link in the team.
Of course, the Tigers wanted him to work on his health and fitness. Peralta was quick to respond as according to sources, he has lost 18 pounds over the last six months. The shortstop is also working hard on his hitting technique to enhance the range. It
will be interesting to see if Peralta can ride the wave of criticism and turn things around in the next season.
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