Ian Desmond starts showing power to opposite field after struggling in this area - MLB Update
From day one, Washington Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson is concerned over short-stop Ian Desmond’s inability to strike hits in the opposite field area. He has been working on it with him since the start of Spring Training.
Finally, his efforts have borne fruit as Desmond smashed a home-run toward this direction the other day.
It is not to say that Desmond has never hit in this territory. Only he has been struggling to make big connections. It was like he was shy to make an effort whenever he was confronted with an opportunity to manipulate the pitches toward this area. More often
than not, he contended with half-hearted attempts and never tried to smash the ball.
“Before, he was taking balls and trying to guide it to right field,” Johnson said. “Even inside pitches, he was trying to serve it over there. He understands dropping the head on it, with a little something on it, and hitting it hard where it’s pitched.
That’s the kind of hitter he is.”
As he has managed a home-run to right-field, now his confidence will be high. There are more chances that he will be more willing to hit in this area in future. This is going to diversify his repertoire of offensive skills.
Desmond is one of the All-Stars from the Nationals. Despite the fact right-field has not been his favourite area as he has managed a commendable batting average in the season. He is hitting .279, along with 15 home-runs and 48 RBIs.
He is one of those players who sustained the Nationals’ offence when some of their quality hitters were injured.
With Michael Morse out from the line-up and Jayson Werth getting his wrist broken, a flow of hits from his bat was one of the rare sources for run-production.
Meanwhile, it is perhaps a result of the confidence gained from solid performances in the season that he has started improvising on the plate now. The gradual improvements are going to make him one of the most reliable hitters in the years to come.
However, his ability to continue the progress will decide largely as to where he is going to land as a hitter eventually.
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