The numbers aren’t showing the full extent of the progress B.J. Upton has made at the plate lately, but the flight of balls off his bat have, and what they’re telling hitting coach Greg Walker is that this week is the best Upton has been as a Brave.
“This is by far the best stretch he’s had since he’s been in a Braves uniform,” Walker said. “He might have got more production here and there, but as far as consistently barreling up balls and putting the ball in play hard, it ain’t even close. So we’re excited. I’m happy for him, a lot of hard work.”
Upton arrived in Atlanta last year, fresh off signing a five-year $75.25 million contract, got off to a miserable start and couldn’t stop it. He hit a career-worst .184 on the season with only nine home runs and 26 RBIs.
“I think he’s a lot more comfortable this year being here,” Walker said. “Last year he got frustrated early and wanted to do big things early. Classic free agent - come over and want to get off to a great start. His brother got off to a great start, hitting home runs, and just a lot of things factored into it, but ultimately, he’s a talented guy that works. And those guys usually figure it out.”
Walker points to work Upton did with his father over the winter to simplify his footwork.
Then after a four-strikeout game May 17 in St. Louis, Upton came to Turner Field two days later and told Walker he wanted to quiet his bat waggle. The results have been marked.
“He came in on Monday and said ‘I’m going to change my hand move,’ and we felt like that was the last piece of the puzzle,” Walker said. “Getting it less violent, get it over with earlier. His swing plane has changed because of it. It’s closer to flat than under, which he’s been for over a year. And when he’s direct to the ball and he’s got a flat swing plane, he’s got amazing bat speed.”
Upton entered Tuesday night, 7-for-28 (.250) with two doubles and a home run since he made that adjustment. He and his brother Justin were still tied for the major league lead with 60 strikeouts apiece entering Tuesday night, but B.J. had struck out just four times in his previous eight games, while walking five times.
“I like where I’m at,” Upton said. “I’m comfortable right now. Hopefully I’ll keep doing what I’m doing, they’ll fall eventually.”
Upton has hit so many balls hard, and had them caught on the run, or on the warning track, that even his teammates are getting upset on his behalf.
“He’s smoked balls,” Chris Johnson said. “He’s hit balls better than anybody on the team, and he’s not getting any hits out of them. It’s frustrating for us to see that because we know how hard he works. And you know what he’s been through the last year, so when he starts hitting balls like that it’s, I’m getting mad. But just got to keep grinding it out and keep swinging the bat the way he is, they’ll start falling.
