PHOENIX –– Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham remembers what the exit velocity of his swing over a particular series was. He tweets about launch angle. He goes over defensive metrics and tracks numbers like catch probability.
As he broke down a disappointing start to the season in May, Pham used some of that information to make minor adjustments to his swing.
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“With the way things are looking this year, it looks like I’ll have to barrel up balls (to left field) more just to get hits,” Pham said on May 23. “When I barrel balls to center and right field, they’re getting caught. I’ve got to figure something out.”
Three weeks later, Pham hit the game-deciding home run down the left field line as the Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. As he expected, Pham has had his most success this season when hitting the ball down the left field line.
All year, Pham has hit the ball as hard as anyone in MLB. He still ranks in the 94th percentile in average exit velocity, which is a sign of the quality contact he’s making. On May 23, however, Pham was only hitting .221 on the season.
Pham entered Monday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a much-improved .247 average. He’s following the plan he described earlier in the season.
Pham has 16 extra-base hits this season, and 13 of them have been to the left side of the field.
“My swing, we’ve been working on something with (the hitting coaches) to help me be more consistent at being consistent,” Pham said. “It’s an everyday battle in this game. I’m still working on some things and cleaning up some things to be more consistent.”
When Pham had the best stretches as a power hitter in his career before this season, he said he hit about half of his home runs to right field. This season, that style as a power hitter hasn’t worked, but he has caught up with a few recent adjustments.
“The (opposite field) home run is down in this league this year,” Pham said. “They’re making it harder for us. I’m a guy who usually hits half of my homers (opposite field) or to center field, so I’m just trying to adapt in this game.”
Reiver Sanmartin has new role with Cincinnati Reds
NEW ROLE: The last time before Sunday that Reiver Sanmartin was in the Reds clubhouse, he was a struggling starting pitcher who admitted he was lacking in confidence. On Sunday, Sanmartin returned as a relief pitcher who believes he has his confidence back.
“It was many people that called me, gave me a confidence boost and told me you’ve been that type of person before and that pitcher before,” Sanmartin said via interpreter Jorge Merlos. “You can go back on the mound and do that same thing. Those people really helped me get my confidence again.”
The Reds called up Sanmartin from Triple-A and added him to the taxi squad. The expectation is that he’ll contribute out of the Reds bullpen in Arizona. Sanmartin joined the Reds following two scoreless relief appearances with the Louisville Bats where he struck out seven batters in 2 ⅓ combined innings.
“You can see it in his face,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He definitely has his smile back. He has been pitching well and has his confidence back. That’s so important. He has everything else he needs.”
Nick Lodolo nearing return from injury
ON WAY BACK: Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo has been out since April 28 with a lower right back injury, but he’s making significant progress this week.
Following a recent live bullpen session, Lodolo was scheduled to pitch in a rehab game in rookie ball on Monday before joining the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate to continue his rehab assignment.
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