Josh Willingham hoping for a fruitful spring training session – MLB News
Joshua David Willingham produced some great performances for Oakland Athletics last season. Playing in left-field, he performed his duties efficiently in 2011. Although his .246 batting average was his career low since his rookie season, he hit 29 home-runs with 98 RBI’s last season. For his valiant efforts in left-field, he won the 2011 Catfish Hunter Award.
Willingham acknowledges that left-field is the best position for his style of play. Although the striker has started 33 games in right, he stated that he is more comfortable in left-field as that is the position he has played most since making his Major League Baseball debut.
"It is always difficult to play on the opposite end as the balls come with a slightly different trajectory," Willingham explained. Considering Willingham’s hitting abilities, he is likely to replicate Michael Cuddyer’s offence this season.
Although the Twins don’t play in a hitter-friendly Park, Willingham has shown in the past that he can hit the ball miles. The right handed striker is an extremely talented player. Signing a $21 million contract with Minnesota Twins this winter, he is looking to change the course of his career.
"Hopefully this spring I'll just get a lot of reps out there and get comfortable. That's the goal," he said. "Playing on the opposite end of the field, it's different, the way the balls come off the bat, so it'll just take a little bit of time to get used to."
"I don't know why, but I don't like playing shortstop in the Dominican," he said. "Maybe because the stadiums. I don't like the dirt in the stadium area. At second base, I can block it."
Willingham will be replacing Michael Cuddyer, whose primary role was right-field. Therefore, he is expected to play in right-field this season. He could also be asked to play first base occasionally. It will not be wrong to say that Willingham has a great opportunity to revive his career this season.
In the past, he has shown that he has the ability to perform under pressure. He will be looking to work hard the during the entire regular season to turn things to his advantage.
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