David Dorsey on Alex Kirilloff

[Squirrel]

David Dorsey is a writer with the Fort Myers News-Press. Ive never read anything of his I didn’t like. Today he wrote an article on Kirilloff that I found to be no exception to how much I like his stories.

 

https://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2018/09/06/minnesota-twins-prospect-alex-kirilloff-leads-surging-fort-myers-miracle/1210227002/

 

“Alex Kirilloff hits in the day. He hits at night. He hits on the road. He hits at home. He hits against right-handed pitchers. He hits against lefties.

 

The outfield prospect for the Minnesota Twins hits about as often as Dr. Seuss wrote short, declarative sentences in his children’s books. Rarely does the Fort Myers Miracle’s leading producer of hits, doubles and batting average not hit.”

[ashbury]

Four score and seven days ago, Alex Kiriloff brought forth 1-for-5, with a double and an RBI. Now we are engaged in a great playoff series, testing whether that player can long endure. The smart money says he shall not perish from the earth.

[slash129]

Great article, Carole.  Thanks for posting.

[goulik]

Yes, Thank you... Even before I got to the sentence about short declarative Dr. Seuss sentences, I was thinking maybe his name should be changed from Alex to Sam I Am.

[Squirrel]

I thought the work and concepts his Dad taught him were interesting. And further thought, ‘Hmmm, I wonder if he could work with Sano and Buxton!’

[gunnarthor]

 

I thought the work and concepts his Dad taught him were interesting. And further thought, ‘Hmmm, I wonder if he could work with Sano and Buxton!’

It's possible. Cal Ripken jr changed his stance and swing as often as changed his shoes but he was a pretty good hitter. There probably is something to an argument that some people might learn better in a less rigid group think environment. But it's also worth mentioning that Alex credited the Twins coaches as well. So, I'm not sure.

 

I'm sure growing up with baseball all the time like Alex did had a huge positive effect, regardless of any "see ball, hit ball" teaching he got.

[Squirrel]

It's possible. Cal Ripken jr changed his stance and swing as often as changed his shoes but he was a pretty good hitter. There probably is something to an argument that some people might learn better in a less rigid group think environment. But it's also worth mentioning that Alex credited the Twins coaches as well. So, I'm not sure.

 

I'm sure growing up with baseball all the time like Alex did had a huge positive effect, regardless of any "see ball, hit ball" teaching he got.

I don’t disagree with that at all. I was just thinking more along the lines of ... whatever is being done now seems not to be working ... unless nothing will. What could it hurt? Except maybe putting too much stuff in their minds.

[jokin]

 

 But it's also worth mentioning that Alex credited the Twins coaches as well. So, I'm not sure.

 

 

 

Wow. He's even got the obligatory obsequiousness part of the interview process down, too???

Promote immediately!

[gunnarthor]

 

Wow. He's even got the obligatory obsequiousness part of the interview process down, too???

Promote immediately!

I mean, we can be snide but it does seem likely that minor league coaches know something. I remember Delmon Young used to rely on his father for hitting instruction b/c it worked when he was younger. Not sure we want our guys to rely on amateur coaches. Not sure we don't, either. But it's probably a step too far to say that the player is being honest when he credits group A but not being honest when he's crediting group B, without more.

[jokin]

 

I mean, we can be snide but it does seem likely that minor league coaches know something. I remember Delmon Young used to rely on his father for hitting instruction b/c it worked when he was younger. Not sure we want our guys to rely on amateur coaches. Not sure we don't, either. But it's probably a step too far to say that the player is being honest when he credits group A but not being honest when he's crediting group B, without more.

 

Check his background. His father has been grooming him since he was around 3 years old. Dad owns a professional baseball training facility. This appears to be a situation akin to Joe Mauer's training from early on by both father and grandfather- that made a wonderful athlete with 2 sports to choose from- inevitably choose baseball over football based on his very special, can't-miss, hitting talents.

 

No doubt, he has received good advice from Twins coaches, as well. But this kid missed a key year of development and yet, hasn't missed a beat. I suspect as he climbs the ladder next year, the scales of influence will start to turn towards the Twins instructors, hopefully for the better.... And hopefully as well, that they know enough not to mess around much with a special "can't miss" talent and nearly-finished product.

[Loosey]

He had a 19 game stretch where he hit .375, AND had a on 0-12 "slump" smack dab in the middle of it.   

[Platoon]

"Timed spatial awareness"? I can understand why he hasn't got a shot in MLB. . There is an old saying about hitters we used all the time. "He could get up on Chrismas morning and hit". Mauer was one of those. He likely would have ended up a MLB hitter, no matter what. As might Kiriloff. Hand eye coordination, depth perception, motor skills. Great hitters are not normal human beings. I am not belittling coaching, but I do think there are times it can be counter productive. It's so common to see players move around, or move up the ladder and encounter different coaches, with different practices and agendas. Leg kick, no leg kick. Hands high? Low? Back? Toe tap? Ugh. If you are trying to remember where to put your front leg, you aren't thinking of the baseball. Yes there are necessary basics. Short swing is likely the primary one. But there are as many hitting styles and stances as there are players. No one stance has ever been proven to be the best. Btw. I don't know if Mr. Kiriloff is onto something with timed spatial awareness, or if it's a marketing version of "see the ball, hit the ball"? But the sooner you focus on and pick up the baseball, the longer you have to use your elite physical abilities to hit it. With or without a leg kick.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm not sure what timed spatial awareness is supposed to mean, but this statement caught my eye.

 

 

 

Dave’s philosophy is quite unique,” O’Neill said. “It focuses on vision and timing. Not necessarily swing mechanics and bio-mechanics, which is what 99 percent of the other kids are driven by. This guy’s approach was really unique. I thought his stuff was pretty good. It was apparent watching the kid work out. He was kind of a major league-looking hitter. You always want to be careful as a scout comparing players to other players. But this guy looked like Todd Helton.

 

I'm just a bit surprised that vision and timing isn't a huge component to a good hitting approach. Seems to me that this is probably 90% of hitting.

[Old Twins Cap]

Baseball is a simple game at the end of the day.

 

See ball, hit ball.

 

See ball, catch ball.

 

Throw ball to your teammate.

 

Run.

 

Glad that Kiriloff breaks this down for young players.

 

Over-thinking things rarely helps in life.

[ashbury]

I'm not sure what timed spatial awareness is supposed to mean

Millions.

[USNMCPO]

I would like to see Buxton and Kepler try Alex's dad as an off season personal coach just to see what they could do.