Westburg talks hitting

[Frobby]

Great piece here.  David Laurila is a treasure.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/orioles-2020-first-rounder-jordan-westburg-talks-hitting/

[Ohfan67]

Neat interview. 

[ChuckS]

"I’ll take the on-base percentage over strikeouts any day."  My favorite quote of the article in reference to to taking a HBP with two strikes.  Just shows you where his head is at.   Doesn't like to chase pitches.  We need more of those types in our lineup. 

What a breath of fresh air.  Seems like a very mature kid. 

[Can_of_corn]

4 minutes ago, ChuckS said:

"I’ll take the on-base percentage over strikeouts any day."  My favorite quote of the article in reference to to taking a HBP with two strikes.  Just shows you where his head is at.   Doesn't like to chase pitches.  We need more of those types in our lineup. 

What a breath of fresh air.  Seems like a very mature kid. 

I preferred this one.

Quote

I don’t like chasing, so taking a pitch like that and almost leaving it up to the umpire is okay with me.

 

[Frobby]

More from Laurila:

Left on the cutting room floor from my recent conversation with Jordan Westburg were his thoughts on positional versatility. The 22-year-old Baltimore Orioles prospect has started 11 games at third base this season, and another eight at shortstop. Westburg has no qualms with moving around the infield. 

“The Orioles have preached to me being versatile,” said Westburg, who is beginning his professional career with low-A Delmarva. “I’ve embraced that, playing third, playing short, and we shift so much that a lot of times I’ll even find myself on the other side of second base. It’s a new challenge. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll even learn some outfield. The more positions you have in your pocket, the more equipped you are to play every day in the big leagues.”

I asked the 30th overall pick in last year’s draft if there are any positions he couldn’t play.

“Maybe catcher,” replied Westburg, who matriculated from Mississippi State University. “I haven’t caught since Little League. That would be a little bit ugly, me behind the plate.”

What about toe the rubber? Could he “Ohtani”?

“I wish I could Ohtani,” said Westburg, “I haven’t pitched since I was a freshman in high school, so I don’t think you want me on the mound, either.”

He can definitely handle the batter’s box. In 87 plate appearances with the Shorebirds, Westburg is slashing .358/.483/.582.

[seak05]

On 5/21/2021 at 9:36 AM, Can_of_corn said:

 

I don’t like chasing, so taking a pitch like that and almost leaving it up to the umpire is okay with me.

I thought this one was interesting as well. It speaks to an overall culture shift from years ago when you swung at anything close with two strikes to attempt to avoid striking out. Clearly in baseball the value of a walk has increased, and people aren't looking to avoid SO as much. Adley is another one who seems to take a lot of called third strikes (as a percentage of his SO).