Matt Downs looking forward to making to the Opening Day roster
The Houston Astros pinch hitter Matt Downs is looking for a bigger role in the team, eyeing Opening Day game. The player who is fast becoming a personification of perfection with his powerful hits said on Wednesday, March 21, that he wants to make to the
roster.
"There's a big difference between the big leagues and going to Triple-A," Downs said. "It is nerve-wracking, and everybody wants to make the team. Nerves are on the edge right now, I guess, because we are getting down to the end. You want to do a little
something else to impress."
There is nothing that he lacks when it comes to make that impression. The past year’s performance has been singularly awesome. If the stats are analyzed, he comes across as someone who is capable of hitting a homer every 19.9 at-bats.
Similarly, even though he could only make appearance in 35 games, he was impressive enough to catch the attention of all and sundry. But he was the leading one in pinch hitters in many aspects. Take for example his RBIs which were 15 with the base percentage
of .462 and three homers to his credit.
He had an average of .349 as pinch hitter, the slugging percentage stood at .674. With such a show that he put, among others, the team general manager is also deeply impressed.
"Our staff fully believes, and I concur, that he was one of the best pinch-hitters in the National League last year, and we're going to need some guys that are able to come off the bench and be able to spot start here and there," general manager Jeff Luhnow
said.
There is a lot that will be on display once the season kicks off. Houston Astros are undergoing a transition phase whereby the combination of experienced and relatively young players will have a decisive role to play in helping the team elevate.
Downs will figure prominently in it given the record he enjoys. It will have to be seen if he will be able to strike the way he did the past year to rise to glory.
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