Jason Castro's Transformation

[Vanimal46]

Are you like me and wondering how in the hell is Jason Castro hitting like a madman? The dude's barrel rate is off the charts this year! 4 times his career level. Sustainable? Not sure. Fun? Yes.

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Interesting.

 

Sorting by "Brls/BBE %", it looks like Castro is 3rd in MLB. Gary Sanchez leads at 29.9%. Some other odd names near the top are Gordon Beckham and Brandon Dixon.

 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_leaderboard?year=2019&abs=25&player_type=resp_batter_id

 

Last year's leader was at 22.7%, with only 3 guys above 17.2%, so I'd expect it to come down? Austin was 11th in MLB with 15.8% last year, and Cave and Palka were 17th and 18th, respectively. Cruz was 25th last year, 21st this year.

[nicksaviking]

Yeah, and some bozo around here said he was washed up and should only be kept around on the bench so as to be able to allow Garver and Astudillo to play regularly! 

 

 

Is that the proper emoji to convey that I was the bozo?

[nicksaviking]

He's striking out well below his career low, which seems to be a trend on the team as well. Something good has fallen upon this clubhouse!

[Linus]

I’m shocked that their strikeout rate has fallen. I was predicting off the charts

[Platoon]

I assumed it's the hitting coach that turned light hitting players into bomb throwers. But when I thought about that for awhile. I wondered why the hitting coaches didn't do that ten years ago? Then I wondered if maybe it isn't the hitting coach? Maybe it's just a SSS of the first part of a season. Then I took a nap!

[Roaddog]

Gotta wonder if a change in Managers has really helped

[Linus]

I believe the split workload between 3 catchers has helped all 3. They are fresher and eager when they get in there

[Shaitan]

It's a contract year.

[gil4]

 

Yeah, and some bozo around here said he was washed up and should only be kept around on the bench so as to be able to allow Garver and Astudillo to play regularly! 

 

 

Is that the proper emoji to convey that I was the bozo?

There were a lot of us bozos who agreed with you. 

 

It's convenient for us that this hot streak overlapped injuries to Astudillo and Garver, but my guess is this is not even close to sustainable.  We might still be right.

[gil4]

 

I’m shocked that their strikeout rate has fallen. I was predicting off the charts

Sano is here to give it a boost.

 

[FlauerPauer]

 

Gotta wonder if a change in Managers has really helped

 

I feel like Rocco has had a bigger impact on this team than any of us will ever know. I was never a fan of Molitor and the way Baldelli conducts interviews, while overly positive sometimes, and the way he handles himself in the dugout just produces good vibes. Really impressed with what this coaching staff has done. Like some have worried on here, I hope that Wes Johnson doesn't get poached as a manager. It's been a transformation for many players, not just Castro. Garver didn't have this production last year. Schoop. Perez. Odorizzi. It's been awesome. Let's all hope it sustains! Go Twins!!

[Danchat]

 

It's a contract year.

Oh, so that's why Dozier was so good last year... wait.

[jkcarew]

I believe the split workload between 3 catchers has helped all 3. They are fresher and eager when they get in there

This. Castro has been healthy, plus rested, plus seeing almost exclusively right-handed pitching. He’ll regress some, but it’s a good formula for some level of sustainable improvement.