Finally ready for pop charts?
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — If spring training is a time for big dreams, nobody should fault the Giants for believing they finally have their Big Mac.
After working this winter with the same private hitting instructor who made such a difference with the Dodgers’ Justin Turner, outfielder Mac Williamson has reworked his swing and become a slugging machine in the Cactus League.
The Giants are crossing their fingers that their endless quest for more pop could lead them to a player who has disappointed them — and himself — since he first reached the majors in 2015.
“I’m so happy for him,” bench coach Hensley Meulens said Sunday. “He’s finally given us hope that he can be that power hitter like he’s shown this spring. It’s a huge difference. For two weeks straight, we’ve seen this guy drive balls like we’ve hoped he would when he first came up.”
All the standard caveats about spring numbers apply. Pitchers are not snapping off their best breaking pitches. Balls soar in the thin desert air. Williamson also has seen a lot of minor-league pitchers. He has not faced a Clayton Richard, much less a Clayton Kershaw.
Still, 14 hits, including two doubles, two triples and four homers in 34 at-bats is hard to ignore anywhere. Saturday’s homer against the Angels cleared the batter’s eye at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Williamson might not be on the cusp of supplanting Hunter Pence as the left fielder. But Pence, who turns 35 in April, is not guaranteed 500 at-bats.The Giants need youthful options in the outfield. At 27, Williamson is bidding to be one, and Pence is on board.
“I love it,” Pence said. “He’s such a strong athlete. Now he’s got kind of a foundation where he can trust his swing, and it’s been proven with a lot of these hitters (who make this adjustment). They’ve come out and hit a lot of homers in a season. I think it’s very special and going to be hopefully a strength for us.”
The Giants’ optimism is rooted in the direction the ball travels off his bat — in the air — with backspin that creates carry.
For years, Giants coaches have adjusted Williamson’s swing, hoping he could hit like a 6-foot-4, 240-pound outfielder should and drive balls into gaps and over fences, rather than playing pepper with the shortstop when not striking out.
“As frustrating as it has been for you guys, the coaches and management, it’s been twice as frustrating for me,” Williamson said. “I made some adjustments here or there. Some things worked a little bit. Some things were the start of a solution and I couldn’t get through the finish line.”
Williamson was inspired to approach private coach Doug Latta after watching former teammate Tim Federowicz swing the bat in September. Federowicz also worked with Latta.
“I loved his approach and his swing,” Williamson said. “I loved how quiet he was at the plate and how mature his approach and swing seemed to be. In September, he mentioned he had just gone and seen Latta that morning. I said, ‘Hook me up. I want to know what you know, what he knows, what he’s talking about.’ ”
Latta knew he needed to lower Williamson’s hands and eliminate what Meulens described as a “double trigger” in his swing. The result is a shorter swing on a more level plane, rather than a downward chop.
His swings this spring have been on time, not late.
Even Williamson cautions that his swing is not totally “fixed,” that he is not on a direct path toward a 20-homer season in the majors.
“By no means am I a finished product,” he said. “After 20 years of swinging, the habits you develop as a kid, swinging that way tens of thousands of times, it’s not going to change overnight. Once you get into a game, muscle memory takes over and your old swing tries to creep back in there.”