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Alex Call bats against the Houston Astros on July 28 as a member of the Washington Nationals.” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” src=”https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3a1897b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3300×2277+0+0/resize/2000×1380!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F15%2F2b%2F1eda0b6f4b3b97fcda0ce0ead05d%2Fnationals-astros-baseball-67105.jpg” width=”2000″ height=”1380″>
Alex Call bats against the Houston Astros on July 28 as a member of the washington Nationals.
(Karen Warren / Associated press)
LOS ANGELES – In a swift addition to their roster, the Los Angeles dodgers are seeing immediate returns from outfielder Alex Call, who has impressed early in his tenure with the team. Call, acquired from the Washington Nationals on July 26, 2024, for minor league pitcher Jose Rodriguez, has quickly become a factor in the dodgers’ lineup.
Call’s journey to becoming a reliable major leaguer is a testament to dedication and a data-driven approach to hitting.While he possesses power, his focus has been on refining his plate discipline and maximizing opportunities to reach base.In 439 plate appearances during the 2023 season, he maintained an 18% strikeout rate, striking out 78 times, while also earning 53 walks. This commitment to contact is bolstered by extensive use of virtual reality (VR) training, where he simulates facing over 54,000 pitches annually – equivalent to roughly 25 full seasons of at-bats – utilizing technology from Trajekt Arc, as detailed in a recent Washington Post article.
This focused training has translated into tangible results. Following a prosperous return to the majors late in 2024, Call is currently enjoying his moast productive season. He emphasizes the importance of hitting the ball at advantageous angles to consistently get on base, rather than solely relying on home run power.
Statistically, Call stands out among players with at least 200 plate appearances this season. He is one of only four – alongside Kyle Tucker (Houston Astros), Gleyber Torres (New York Yankees), and geraldo Perdomo (Arizona Diamondbacks) – who strike out less than 15% of the time, chase pitches outside the strike zone less than 20% of the time, and have a whiff rate below 20%. He also boasts a .236 batting average with two strikes, exceeding all other Dodgers players except Hyeseong Kim.
Call made an immediate impact in his debut with the Dodgers, recording a single, a double, and a impressive catch in left field – preventing an extra-base hit – during Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Through his first eight at-bats as a Dodger, entering Friday’s contest against the Colorado Rockies, he has
