The St. Louis Cardinals acquired extra than simply the 2023 Texas League MVP once they acquired Thomas Saggese from the Rangers as a part of the five-player Jordan Montgomery deal ultimately yr’s commerce deadline. In addition they acquired a younger hitter who’s attuned to the mechanics of his craft. For Saggese — Texas’ fifth spherical choose within the 2020 draft out of Carlsbad Excessive Faculty in California — getting on airplane with a pitch and driving it’s the purpose. The way during which he positions his physique in area is what permits him to do this.
A center infielder listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 kilos, Saggese doesn’t look the a part of a participant who went deep 26 instances in 2023 and one other 21 instances this previous season. However no matter his look, the pop is there, as is what our lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen has described as a “really feel to hit [that] has been the lynchpin of his prospectdom since highschool.” Furthermore, Saggese has youth on his facet. Whereas his slash line with Triple-A Memphis was a humble .253/.313/.438, these numbers got here at age 22 (he received’t flip 23 till April). The Cardinals clearly acknowledge his upside. Saggese acquired a giant league call-up in September and logged 10 hits, together with his first large league house run, in 52 journeys to the plate.
Saggese — at present suiting up with the Glendale Desert Canines — talked hitting following an Arizona Fall League sport earlier this week.
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David Laurila: How do you are feeling that you simply profile as a hitter? Taking a look at your numbers, I see extra house runs than I might need anticipated.
Thomas Saggese: “I feel my greatest swings simply occur to be balls within the air. I really feel like I get the ball within the air fairly properly and may hit some homers. I don’t suppose it’s going to be something loopy, however I want to hit 20 a yr — .300 with 20 homers yearly. That’s form of my purpose.”
Laurila: Have you ever at all times hit the ball within the air?
Saggese: “It form of acquired like that beginning in highschool. I hit my first house run, then simply began hitting homers. For no matter motive, I began getting balls within the air.”
Laurila: How would you describe the mechanics of your swing?
Saggese: “For me, it’s extra in regards to the place I get in with my physique. I’m a giant believer that the place I’m in with my physique, whether or not I’m hunched over, or wherever I’m in area, dictates my bat path. If I’m standing upright, I’m at all times swinging round my backbone. If I’m hunched over somewhat bit, I’m nonetheless swinging round my backbone, nevertheless it’s going create somewhat extra loft. So, it’s about stepping into that place to create good swings, good line drive swings, and a few loft.”
Laurila: What’s your thought course of with the swing itself?
Saggese: “I’m attempting to form of go down on the ball and virtually catch it with my prime hand. Get that ‘down’ really feel. In the event you rotate into your again facet and your load, after which get this really feel being right down to the ball along with your backbone hunched over, along with your head nearer to the strike zone on the entrance facet of your toes, you find yourself swinging up, although it feels such as you’re swinging down.
“In the event you get that form of hunch along with your torso… Tony Gwynn was within the field along with his head manner down low in direction of the zone. That’s form of the concept. You get into that place and you are feeling the down transfer from there. However once more, whereas it appears like a down transfer to begin, the barrel comes up and it finally ends up being form of an uppercut swing.”
Laurila: You’re on airplane with the ball, which is what you need…
Saggese: “Precisely.”
Laurila: Do you concentrate on that quite a bit within the cage?
Saggese: “Yeah. A bunch. Within the cage, I’m at all times attempting to get my place. The place am I at? The place are my fingers at? How is my load feeling? I take into consideration my load quite a bit, so how is my rhythm and timing going into my load? Then, how am I holding my place — the place of my physique — by way of the place it’s in area? How is that all through my swing? Ideally, if it’s proper I ought to have the ability to deal with every part, each pitch, within the cage. I ought to have the ability to hit it with backspin on a line.”
Laurila: When did you start adopting that manner of hitting?
Saggese: “The previous couple of years. I began hitting with Marlon Byrd within the offseason. He’s very into mechanics, and he is aware of his stuff. So, it’s been working with him, after which once I get out right here [on the field], it’s, ‘OK, what am I in search of by way of the pitch?’”
Laurila: Talking of “out right here,” why are you taking part in within the Arizona Fall League?
Saggese: “The Cardinals requested me to return earlier than I acquired known as up. They wished to see me get extra at-bats and play extra second base. I’m blissful to be right here. I’m taking part in baseball.”
Laurila: How a lot did you discuss to the veteran hitters when you had been with the large league membership?
Saggese: “I’ve talked to them quite a bit. I used to be in large league camp in spring coaching, which gave me numerous alternatives to speak to Nado [Nolan Arenado], Paul Goldschmidt, Matt Carpenter, all of these guys. It doesn’t take quite a bit to select their brains somewhat bit. They’re excellent folks. All the folks up there are very prepared to present you their two cents, which is clearly very useful.”
Laurila: Circling again to working with Marlon Byrd, hitting coaches and swing coaches will be very completely different. I assume Marlon could be extra within the hitting coach class?
Saggese: “He’s positively extra so a hitting coach. He understands the sport. He understands what we’re attempting to do and the way we’re attempting to do it. He was ‘a hitter.’ He performed. So, positively extra of a coach, and I prefer to suppose I’m that manner as properly. I’m not likely too into the analytics of it. I’m extra into getting right into a place, stepping into my spot that I do know I’m profitable in. If I try this, the analytics will fall into place.”
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Earlier “Talks Hitting” interviews can discovered by way of these hyperlinks: Jo Adell, Jeff Albert, Greg Allen, Nolan Arenado, Aaron Bates, Jacob Berry, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Justice Bigbie, Cavan Biggio, Charlie Blackmon, JJ Bleday, Bobby Bradley, Will Brennan, Jay Bruce, Triston Casas, Matt Chapman, Michael Chavis, Garrett Cooper, Gavin Cross, Jacob Cruz, Nelson Cruz, Paul DeJong, Josh Donaldson, Brendan Donovan, Donnie Ecker, Rick Eckstein, Drew Ferguson, Justin Foscue, Michael Fransoso, Ryan Fuller, Joey Gallo, Paul Goldschmidt, Devlin Granberg, Matt Hague, Andy Haines, Mitch Haniger, Robert Hassell III, Austin Hays, Nico Hoerner, Jackson Holliday, Spencer Horwitz, Rhys Hoskins, Eric Hosmer, Jacob Hurtubise, Tim Hyers, Connor Joe, Jace Jung, Josh Jung, Jimmy Kerr, Heston Kjerstad, Steven Kwan, Trevor Larnach, Doug Latta, Royce Lewis, Evan Longoria, Joey Loperfido, Michael Lorenzen, Gavin Lux, Dave Magadan, Trey Mancini, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Marcelo Mayer, Hunter Mense, Owen Miller, Colson Montgomery, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Daniel Murphy, Lars Nootbaar, Logan O’Hoppe, Vinnie Pasquantino, Graham Pauley, David Peralta, Luke Raley, Julio Rodríguez, Brent Rooker, Anthony Santander, Drew Saylor, Nolan Schanuel, Marcus Semien, Giancarlo Stanton, Spencer Steer, Trevor Story, Fernando Tatis Jr., Spencer Torkelson, Mark Trumbo, Brice Turang, Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Josh VanMeter, Robert Van Scoyoc, Chris Valaika, Zac Veen, Alex Verdugo, Mark Vientos, Matt Vierling, Luke Voit, Anthony Volpe, Joey Votto, Christian Walker, Jared Walsh, Jordan Westburg, Jesse Winker, Bobby Witt Jr. Mike Yastrzemski, Nick Yorke, Kevin Youkilis
