Jays’ prospect Addison Barger transforming game for potential MLB jump
It’s been laborious to miss Addison Barger’s spring coaching with the Toronto Blue Jays thus far, and it’s not simply because he’s 6-foot and 210-pounds of largely muscle.
The power-hitting infielder was elevated to Toronto’s 40-man roster in November, and in spring coaching – batting .273 in 22 at-bats with a towering homerun – seems to be to belong amongst the Blue Jays’ massive boys.
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On Friday, Barger mentioned the modifications he made in his recreation and physique to get thus far in an interview on Blair and Barker.
“I just wanted to come here and do what I know how to do,” stated Barger about his objectives for spring coaching. “I do know what I’m able to doing, and if I’m doing that, can’t ask for rather more out of myself.
The Jays’ sixth-ranked prospect in line with MLB.com slashed .308 for 26 homers and 91 RBIs within the minors final season, although most of his at-bats got here at high-A stage.
Things modified for Barger after his 2021 season within the minors, the place he distinguished himself as a tantalizing power-hitting lefty prospect with 18 residence runs.
“The big thing was that I gained 50 pounds from the last season I played … I was three times stronger than I was before,” stated Barger about his 2021 marketing campaign. “I decided I wanted to be a power hitter, so I went from 160 to 220.”
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It wasn’t the primary main transformation that Barger, 23, underwent.
“I decided when I was probably seven or eight, I’m going to start taking swings and BP left-handed,” stated the pure righty. “I wanted to hit left-handed because I really liked Ichiro (Suzuki).”
The Bellvue, Washington native mimicked the swing type of his baseball idol as a baby, however – extra just lately – has began taking reps at Ichiro’s place within the outfield.
“I’ve never really done it before,” stated Barger on enjoying the outfield in spring coaching. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with (Kevin) Kiermaier and (Daulton) Varsho out there, and they’ve helped me a lot in the little things I need to know and do.”
With Matt Chapman locking down third base for the Jays – Barger’s major place – the lefty’s poise within the batting field thrown in with positional versatility on defence reveals there’s a path to getting reps within the massive leagues.
Though the way more probably state of affairs is that Barger can be an on a regular basis participant in AAA ball, via his bodily and psychological transformations, the 23-year-old has willed himself into the combo for a spot on the highest stage.
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