'Dodger recruit Alex Call now deemed MLB's most challenging bat to face, given his tenacity'
In a remarkable turnaround, 24-year-old outfielder Alex Call has become one of the toughest outs in Major League Baseball (MLB) after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.
Call, who was acquired from the Washington Nationals in exchange for two pitching prospects, had a dismal 2019 season with the Akron RubberDucks, batting just .205 with a .266 on-base percentage and hitting only five home runs. However, the Dodgers saw potential in Call and decided to bring him on board as a trade deadline addition.
With the Dodgers, Call has transformed his game, thanks to a series of strategic changes. He focused on improving his ability to hit fastballs up in the strike zone, which was a specific hole in his swing. This adjustment has helped him improve contact and consistency, making him a more formidable hitter.
Call also adopted a confident mental approach, deciding to be productive whether he had two strikes or no strikes. This mindset has helped him become adaptable and comfortable in every count and situation at the plate, determined to put the ball in play regardless of the strike count.
To further hone his skills, Call invested in virtual reality hitting goggles by Win Reality. This advanced training technology has helped him practice recognizing pitches and refining his plate discipline in a data-driven, immersive environment.
Call's dedication to his craft has paid off. In the 2021 season, he had a productive season with the Dodgers, hitting .310, drawing 21 walks, and cutting his strikeout rate in half, punching out only 26 times. He has also shown a knack for performing when it matters most, as evidenced by his first standout game with the Dodgers on Wednesday, where he recorded a single, double, and made a spectacular catch while crashing into the left-field wall to save an extra-base hit.
Since the start of last season, Call's .297 batting average ranks eighth among MLB hitters with at least 350 plate appearances. He is one of only four players with at least 200 plate appearances this season who strikes out less than 15% of the time, chases less than 20% of the time, and whiffs less than 20% of the time.
General manager Brandon Gomes has praised Call, describing him as a "straight grinder" who consistently puts together some of the better at-bats in all the sport. As Call continues to make an impact on the Dodgers, he is aiming to take his career to the next level, becoming an impactful player on a title-contending club in Los Angeles.
- Despite his struggles in 2019 with the Akron RubberDucks, Alex Call's performance with the Los Angeles Dodgers has improved significantly, making him one of the toughest outs in sports today.
- In a bid to enhance his skills, Alex Call invested in advanced technology, specifically virtual reality hitting goggles by Win Reality, to help him practice and improve his plate discipline.
- The Dodgers, based in Los Angeles, California, saw potential in Call and acquired him from the Washington Nationals, where he had a disappointing 2019 season.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has not deterred the MLB, with Alex Call still making a name for himself on the field, despite the challenges posed by the global health crisis.
- Alex Call's dedication to his craft has positively impacted the Dodgers, with his .310 batting average in the 2021 season earning him praise from general manager Brandon Gomes, who commended him as a hardworking and skilled player.
