This honor obviously can be split between Lipscomb and Ortega. Both were non contributors last year and have had incredible years.
Outside of those two Gilbert and Lipcius have progressed incredibly between last year and this year. Gilbert was frustrating to watch at times last year as he had a tendency to swing out of his shoes and struggled mightily against LHPs. This year he has appeared to have calmed down his approach at the plate and gotten his swing path more direct to the ball. What has this done? Turned him into a .350+ hitter and a first round draft pick.
Lipcius was one that I was frustrated with last year as he appeared to be an automatic out most of the time with his big loopy swing and could barely touch a left handed breaking ball. Like Gilbert he has shortened his path to the ball which has generated more consistent hard contact. He has changed his approach as well which has resulted in him creating harder contact up the middle and to the opposite field more often. This IMO has turned him from a guy that was destined to being an incredible slow pitch softball player this next year to being a draft pick.
The amount of progression these boys have seen at the plate has been super impressive. It will be interesting to see who all sees these types of improvements next year!
Outside of those two Gilbert and Lipcius have progressed incredibly between last year and this year. Gilbert was frustrating to watch at times last year as he had a tendency to swing out of his shoes and struggled mightily against LHPs. This year he has appeared to have calmed down his approach at the plate and gotten his swing path more direct to the ball. What has this done? Turned him into a .350+ hitter and a first round draft pick.
Lipcius was one that I was frustrated with last year as he appeared to be an automatic out most of the time with his big loopy swing and could barely touch a left handed breaking ball. Like Gilbert he has shortened his path to the ball which has generated more consistent hard contact. He has changed his approach as well which has resulted in him creating harder contact up the middle and to the opposite field more often. This IMO has turned him from a guy that was destined to being an incredible slow pitch softball player this next year to being a draft pick.
The amount of progression these boys have seen at the plate has been super impressive. It will be interesting to see who all sees these types of improvements next year!
