Marco Luciano admitted he was “completely misplaced” within the batter’s field last season.
He by no means turned the Giants’ beginning shortstop. He by no means caught within the majors, interval. A yr after being Brandon Crawford’s inheritor obvious, Luciano involves coaching camp making an attempt to earn a spot on the bench, as an outfielder.
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Luciano to check out a brand new place
Luciano is in a brand new place, defensively and organizationally. He has accepted his new actuality. Over the following six weeks, he might be tasked with proving that he deserves a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster.
“My psychological course of for that is: I must do what I’ve to do,” Luciano stated via group interpreter Erwin Higueros. “They’ve the ultimate say. They’ll select the most effective participant they really feel goes to assist the group. The one factor I can management is my efficiency in apply and proceed to develop right here.”
The 23-year-old’s emphasis this spring might be on getting comfy with left and proper subject, two positions he has by no means performed within the majors or minors. Based on supervisor Bob Melvin, Luciano’s reps might be predominantly within the outfield. Luciano stated he has performed within the outfield prior to now, however as an expert, he has but to play a place apart from shortstop or second base.
Luciano, who confirmed his outfielder’s glove to reporters, admitted that he felt “just a little uncomfortable” enjoying within the outfield initially of the offseason, however felt extra comfy as he obtained extra repetitions. After working within the outfield with a coach within the Dominican Republic this winter, Luciano stated he plans to be taught from his fellow outfielders in camp by making observations and asking questions.
“Mentally, I simply have to simply accept it and transfer on and do what’s finest for the group,” Luciano stated. “I used to be instructed that altering positions was going to assist the group, so that is what I am doing.”
Luciano is at a serious drawback within the competitors for the fourth outfield spot as a result of Luis Matos and Grant McCray, who’re additionally competing for the spot, have been outfielders all through their careers. Given Luciano’s defensive inexperience, there’s a good probability he’ll start this season with Triple-A Sacramento; Oracle Park will not be precisely the best place to be taught to play left or proper subject.
On condition that Matos and McCray have the defensive edge, Lucaino’s finest wager to distinguish himself from the remainder is along with his bat.
Luciano and his enterprise card
Luciano’s calling card as a prospect was his uncooked energy (in addition to his bat pace), however he has but to unleash that energy within the majors. In 41 profession video games, Luciano has a .217 batting common, a .304 slugging proportion and no house runs. Luciano believes his incapacity to hit for energy final yr was a product of not being himself.
“I used to be doing issues I wasn’t usually used to doing,” Luciano stated. “It took me some time to determine what I used to be doing, so I labored on that. I believe this yr goes to be totally different as a result of now I perceive what I used to be doing flawed.”
In 384 plate appearances with Triple-A Sacramento final season, Luciano pulled the ball solely 43.5% of the balls he put in play. Within the majors, in contrast, Luciano pulled the ball solely 20.8% of the time. When requested about his strategy to the alternative subject, Luciano stated he believes he was prioritizing contact due to his struggles moderately than making an attempt to hit for energy.
Batters usually have extra success after they pull the ball (a .360 batting common final season) than after they push it to the alternative subject (.291).
Curiously, Luciano has been extra profitable in his main league profession when he pushes the ball (batting common of .500, common exit velocity of 90.4 mph) in comparison with when he pulls it (batting common of .375, common exit velocity of 87.3 mph). Given the small pattern measurement, Luciano’s early success with an opposite-field strategy needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Luciano didn’t modify his swing through the offseason, however he did share that he made some changes to verify he pulls the ball. When requested what particular modifications he made, Luciano laughed and stated he needs to drag the ball and ensure he hits it.
“What I labored on was looking for myself, discover my swing and discover myself,” Luciano stated.
“He obtained just a little bit extra of a possibility to play on daily basis, and he did properly. He follows the ball. He hits the ball laborious on the alternative aspect. There’s most likely just a little bit extra attraction to his sport when he performs on daily basis, however he by no means obtained the prospect with us,” Melvin stated. “I do not know if we might modify his swing or something like that. Clearly, we would prefer to see just a little extra energy, however when you do not play fairly often, it is laborious to try this within the huge leagues.”
In concept, winter ball may have offered Luciano with the chance to develop his sport on each side of the ball. Matos, who arguably has the most effective probability of securing the fourth outfield spot, gained Rookie of the 12 months honors within the Venezuelan Skilled Baseball League, batting .300 with 10 house runs and 41 RBIs in 55 video games.
Nevertheless, he didn’t imagine he was mentally ready to play within the winter.
“I simply wished to disconnect just a little bit, work on my physique, get in form and primarily spend time with the household and deal with what I had to do that yr,” Luciano stated.
