Andrelton Simmons is back in one of his home-run binges – he’s hit three home runs in four games, including two in a row before Sunday’s finale against the Phillies. His game-tying two-run shot off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon Saturday night got him into some elite company.
Simmons has 15 home runs on the season, the fifth most among shortstops in the major leagues. He’s also tied with Alex Gonzalez (15 in 2011) and Rafael Furcal (15 in 2003) for the most homers hit by a Braves shortstop since Jeff Blauser hit 17 in 1997.
(The Braves club record for home runs by a shortstop is 20 by Denis Menke in 1964.)
Not bad for a player who’s still somewhat of an unknown quantity offensively.
“How good offensively is to be determined, but if talent and work ethic have anything to do with it, then he’s going to do really good,” Braves hitting coach Greg Walker said. “Because he’s talented and he works like crazy.”
Walker said Simmons’ natural tendency is to come around the ball, which gets him a lot of groundballs to the left side. But when he’s focusing on hitting through the ball, that’s when he gets results like those of late. It’s something Walker said Simmons has worked on “tirelessly” throughout the season. Simmons said lately he’s been able to take that work to the batter’s box.
“I’ve finally been seeing it and feeling it while I’m doing it,” Simmons said. “I’ve had flashes where it was going well and then it would go away and then I would get it again and it would last for a little longer. I’m hoping this time it stays.”
Simmons had hit only six home runs in his three minor league seasons and three home runs in 49 games last year in Atlanta. Now he trails only J.J. Hardy (25), Troy Tulowitzki (22), Ian Desmond (20) and Hanley Ramirez (16) among major league shortstops.
He’s just scratching the surface.
“My game is still not defined,” Simmons said. “I still have room to grow. I still have a lot to learn. I’m going to get stronger. I’m going to get smarter. And I’m going to learn a lot of tricks from this game still, so just got to stay healthy and only God knows what’s to come.”
