Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak looked ready for a breakout year in the preseason, but he's had a tough time getting his footing — particularly at the plate.
That all may be changing, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Mariners blog, with the Stratford grad batting .500 against the Yankees during the recent series in New York.
He told 710 ESPN Seattle's Shannon Drayer this weekend that he's been working on "hitting the ball out of the pitcher's hand," or trying to get a jump on a pitch and recognizing it sooner. Maybe he's shortening up his long swing. Maybe it's just about confidence.
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MLB.com notes Smoak when 2-for-4 against Boston on Monday, another suggestion that he may be slowly turning things around.
"I'm encouraged by what we're seeing with him, because what we're seeing is real, with his approach and mindset," said manager Eric Wedge. "That's good."
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