Voit’s red-hot since he switched to lighter bat
PHOENIX — Luke Voit needed to drop some weight. He began the season feeling sluggish — and behind at the plate — after hitting .213 with four homers and 15 RBI in his first 17 games. Since he lost the weight, he’s been on fire. In fact on Monday, he was named the American League Player of the Week.
In his mind, it’s all thanks to the fact he lost an ounce.
“I’m swinging a lighter bat,” said Voit, who switched to Miguel Andujar’s bat. “I just felt like my timing was off with a heavier bat. … At the beginning of the year, I had my hands on my shoulders for the first couple of weeks. Now I’m staying back on my approach. I watched video last year of what I was having success with. I’ve had success staying in the middle (of the field) and going to right-center and if they make a mistake inside, I
make them pay for it, too. So it’s just kind of being loose. Not being so tight and make sure I’m staying back.”
That change came in the Bronx, right before the Yankees headed out on this West Coast trip. With Voit on fire, the Yankees — despite injuries to their biggest stars — have also taken off. They have won three straight after sweeping the Giants last weekend and have won six out of seven so far on this trip. They have won nine of their last 10 and positioned themselves for an interesting showdown with the firstplace Rays early next month.
He brings a 39-game onbase streak into this twogame series against the Diamondbacks, but Voit has conquered the West. He has hit .433 with four homers and 10 RBI and an outrageous 1.394 OPS. So far, Voit has knocked in 25 runs in 28 games, fifth best in the majors and a team-leading eight home runs, tied with Gary Sanchez.
“It’s good. It’s a tribute to our team and guys getting on base. I’m just driving them in in clutch situations,” Voit said of his RBI total. “That’s part of it when you hit in a spot in the middle of the order. You’ve got to drive them in when it comes.”
When he took off after being acquired by the Yankees last July, many in baseball whispered it was probably a fluke, but the Yankees are not surprised by his ability to hit. Their scouts liked his swing and approach at the plate, their analytics department liked his ability to lift the ball to right and right center field.
“He’s a really good hitter. Obviously he’s really caught fire on this West Coast trip,” Yankee manager Aaron Boone said. “The power, he’s getting off his A swing a lot, but really controlling the strike zone. Look, it’s what we believe him to be. Not surprising at all.”
What may be surprising, though, is how easily Voit has stepped into a bigger role than expected this season. On a team that has been decimated by injuries, where the injured list has more marquee names than the daily lineup, Voit has been hitting in the No. 2 spot on this trip.
He’s also taken on a role of leader and role model on a club that is full of kids and second-chance players.
Voit is not shy about sharing his story. Always a good hitter, he got to the big leagues with his hometown St. Louis Cardinals, but a raw defensive first baseman, Voit could never stick. He got jammed up behind Matt Carpenter and Jose Martinez in their system. He is also not shy about sharing the advice of the Cardinals’ coaches that got him through that period.
“You are always playing for someone,” Voit said he was told. “I tell these guys that. Because you never know. You might not get that chance with the Yankees. Guys are coming back and some of these guys might not get that chance again here.
“But look at what happened with me,” Voit added. “We may need a starting pitcher in July and the way these guys have played, they are going to have teams looking for them in that trade. You may get your chance with Cincinnati or someplace else.
“It happened for me,” Voit said. “They know it can happen for them.”