More at-bats can determine the performance for Ryan Ludwick
The Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ryan Ludwick said on Monday, March 19, that the performance cannot be evaluated until one has had enough at-bats in the Spring Training. He was responding to the questions pertaining to his batting average which stands at .222 in 12 games.
"If you start getting caught up in results the first couple of weeks of Spring Training, you throw yourself into a whirlwind," Ludwick said.
Ludwick is expected to charge up the Reds offence this season. Although .222 may not be an average to take pride in, Ludwick – with whom the Reds signed a $2.5 million contract in January, looks forward to the games ahead.
The Cincinnati Reds do indeed need a strong offence put in place this time if they want to excel in the fiercely competitive league. Ludwick could prove to be instrumental in this regard. But the player is still searching for the rhythm and timing.
"I felt like when I got to camp, I was really good early. Then games started, I searched for my timing," Ludwick said. "I got off to a slow start. I am mixing in a hit here and there pretty much every game the last five or six games. But I don't feel locked in by any means. I'm still kind of searching for that rhythm and timing.”
A one-time Silver slugger in 2008, Ludwick has so far played 790 games in his career with 2641 at-bats, having had an impressive average of .261 with 450 RBIs to his credit.
The past season his average stood at .237 in the 139 games that he had played, scoring 56 runs in the 490 at-bats that he had had with .363 slugging percentage.
As the regular season nears, the Reds will be closely looking at the performance of this player. Ludwick will have more at-bats in the coming Spring Training games prior to initiation of the regular season.
This right-handed left fielder will have a key role to play for the Reds offence with the years of experience that he has. He too hopes to have more at-bats to evince his form and fitness.
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