Let's talk about Yohandy Morales, the Washington Nationals' corner infielder who's been tearing it up in the farm system this season. His stats are impressive: a .303 batting average, 21 homers, and a .930 OPS in AAA. But why hasn't he been called up to the big leagues yet?
Paul Toboni, the team's decision-maker, has been hesitant. The data suggests that Morales' contact rate within the strike zone is low, and he's been hitting the ball on the ground over 50% of the time. This profile, while producing impressive numbers, might not translate well to the MLB.
However, I believe the time has come for Morales' promotion. He's making adjustments: striking out less and elevating the ball more. His ground ball rate, which was over 50% for most of the season, is now down to 49.3%. This improvement is significant and shows that Morales is adapting his approach.
In July, Morales has been on fire, with only 6 strikeouts in 30 at-bats. He's also mashing homers, adding to his impressive power numbers. What's intriguing is that Morales' power isn't just a pull-happy approach; he's a 6'3
