Port St. Lucy – Brett Batty has returned to the same mindset.
He tries to make everything as simple as possible.
“To be honest, I'm just focused on swinging on strike and making the ball easiest,” Batty told the Post during the Mets' 8-5 spring training loss on Tuesday. “I adjusted a lot of swings in the offseason. The biggest thing for me is keep it simple. When I do that, I tend to succeed. That's my approach right now. Swing on a strike to take the ball and make it as simple as possible.”
Butty hit the first home run of the spring, crushing the sweeper into the right field in three innings.
He also added singles to five innings.
He had a hot start to the spring, moving on to 5-8 on the plate with Homer in a double.
“There's a lot I love right now from Brett,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after the match. “It starts with his new set up, rhythm. So there's rhythm. He's swinging on strike – this is the guy who controls the strike zone and he's doing it. He's pitched He's getting his hands on, he doesn't miss them. Staying behind baseball, another purpose for him, is just staying behind and putting the barrel on the ball.
“He's getting results, but once again, it starts in the rhythm, controls the strike zone and stays behind the baseball.”
However, the Mets have seen a strong spring from Baty before.
Translating that success into the regular season at the major league level has evaded the former Herald prospect, who was once 25 years old.
This time, what are those swing adjustments and new setups?
“It's a little more athletic in the setup,” Batty said. “It's not closed. I'm focused on putting my hands on the bat for a really strong top hand. Just those simple things. The bigger things I've worked on this offseason are, I'm It's an approach and I think it simplified. These guys here are incredible, so I think it's where I need to be, swinging on strike and taking the ball. That's for me I'll go back to being very simple.”
He worked across the infield this spring at multiple spots, but was in the natural 3 base on Tuesday.
Beyond the first homer of spring, Tuesday's explosion marked Baty's first wear with the Mets.
He gave up number 22 to Juan Soto. Juan Soto thanked him for giving him a new Chevrolet Tahoe. It was Bati's dream car.
“I love that number and I love cars even more,” Baty said. “I think that number looks sick. I love having single digits. I think it's pretty cool. And the car is incredible. I drove here today.
Unlike his approach with plates, the new car is not that simple.
“No, it's not even close,” Baty said. “It's lunch and lunchtime [from his old car]. Since getting my car in 2016, I have not driven anything that smooth or that technology. ”
