This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.
CINCINNATI — Throughout his rise to the Majors, Ke’Bryan Hayes’ offseason hitting classes would normally final for about 250 swings. 4 classes per week, that’s 1,000 swings per week.
Some hitters choose to do their work in high-tech amenities, monitoring the trivia of their motion. Hayes retains it “old-school,” swinging off of a tee and flips.
“With my again, that’s in all probability not the neatest factor to do,” Hayes mentioned on the prospect of going to a facility like Driveline. “… It’s form of how I all the time labored.”
This winter, these tons of of swings he did in prep for the season had an outlined purpose: implementing a two-handed end. It was a change to attempt to stop massive whiffs that might take a toll on his again. Well being is paramount, and it’s a change that might assist him keep on the sphere.
That wasn’t the one change to Hayes’ swing this winter, although. He has a extra compact stroke now.
Going by Baseball Savant information, Hayes’ swing has shortened from 6.9 toes final season to six.7 toes this season. Whereas a distinction of 0.2 toes might not appear drastic, Baseball Savant has swing path information on 185 hitters, and Hayes’ change ranks nineteenth by way of decreases. His common swing pace has additionally decreased, going from 72.1 mph to 70.7 mph.
A shorter and slower swing might sound like a nasty factor on paper, however the trade-off is a few potential energy for extra barrel management. If you wish to get the bat to the ball and get the contact level out in entrance, it is a good method to do it.
“When your swing’s shorter, you are positively going to get the advantage of that,” supervisor Derek Shelton mentioned. “As Secret’s more healthy, that shorter and extra aggressive swing is unquestionably going to be useful.”
Hayes didn’t got down to utterly retool his swing this winter, however he wished to verify his again aspect was extra engaged when his swing was taking him ahead. His again points final 12 months impacted all sides of his recreation, however maybe most on the plate. After battling again points all all through 2022, he appeared to take a giant step ahead within the second half of 2023 (.874 OPS in 49 video games after All-Star break) earlier than having his worst season on the plate in 2024 (.573 OPS over 96 video games).
Hayes is a really kinetic learner in relation to his swing. When his physique isn’t transferring the best way it must, he can fall out of sync. All it takes is one unhealthy movement to result in a misfire, or doubtlessly worse for Hayes, a flare-up of his again. The purpose is to be behind the ball extra and get the contact level out in entrance, and the movement he has now with a shorter swing is placing him in a greater place to try this, he feels.
“After I’m in a position to fireplace this appropriately,” Hayes mentioned, taking a step whereas pantomiming his swing earlier than lunging his arms ahead, “as a substitute of being right here, that’s going to let the barrel play as a substitute of being out right here after which making an attempt to arm swing. That’s going to let the barrel play a bit extra out entrance. Get the contact level out in entrance so the ball’s going to get within the air.”
It could be higher illustrated by really watching two swings in movement. The swing on the left is him in August of final 12 months, not partaking his again aspect in his swing. The swing on the precise is from Friday in Cincinnati, a ball that was blistered 99.2 mph. It could have been an out, however it’s a great swing:
Time will inform if a extra compact stroke will serve Hayes within the long-term, however what’s most necessary proper now could be discovering a repeatable movement and one which helps him keep on the sphere.
“I feel greater than the whole lot, simply ensuring my physique is wholesome [is key],” Hayes mentioned. “Each time I really feel wholesome, I transfer the precise manner within the field, get the barrel out a bit extra in entrance to get the contact level out entrance to get the ball within the air and hit line drives.”
