Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez made a mechanical tweak to his swing and approach in the box, leading to an absolute tear for the veteran.
Hernandez cited last year’s adductor muscle injury and this year’s hamstring injuries as two different points where he needed to change his mechanics.
“Last year, I used it before I had the injury. That’s the way I was hitting,” Hernandez said. “Then when I came back, I was doing the same thing, but I was feeling it (in his injured leg), so that’s why I stopped.
“This year when I got my hamstring issue, I had to get rid of it because it was putting so much pressure on the hamstring.
“Little little things that people barely notice or realize – it can change the swing and the results in games.”
Now, Hernandez is in a spot where everything feels good mechanically.
“It’s great. Everything is clicking,” he said. “The timing is good. The swing is good. I’m seeing the ball better so better decisions, better contact, better at-bats. Everything is the way it should be.”
What changed for Teoscar Hernandez mechanically?
Hernandez told the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett that he uses three different stances throughout the season, each with its own little twists.
His primary one involves opening his front foot, then doing a slight toe-tap and leg kick.
He goes to the other two if something physical comes up during the season, which brings 162 games of possible variables, along with the postseason.
Results-wise, he has really ticked up in September. He has a .483 average and a 1.330 OPS, with a 260 wRC+ and an impressive .556 wOBA.
In August, Hernandez was at an 89 wRC+ with a .301 wOBA.
Even more than the actual production, the left fielder has a much better process. His fast-swing rate is up from 24.3% in August to 46.4% in September thus far, showing more conviction in his swing and resulting in much more hard contact.
As a result, his average bat speed is up 1.7 mph. If he can keep reading the plate this well and swinging at this rate, Hernandez will put together a great September that sets him up as an X-factor in the playoffs.
