Some hitters thrive by swinging at the first pitch.
The approach makes sense: pitchers want to jump ahead in the count and often pound the strike zone early.
However, other batters prefer to be more patient and wait for the best pitch to hit, or work the count to get a more favorable pitch (a 2-0 or a 3-1 count).
Cleveland Guardians slugger Jose Ramirez belongs to the second group.
He likes to get to know the pitcher’s stuff, sequencing, tendencies, and command.
That’s what makes him a great hitter: his physical gifts are outstanding, but his determination, baseball IQ, and resilience are top-notch.
Ramirez, as a result, performs really well in long at-bats.
“In it for the long haul… The longer an at-bat goes for José Ramírez, the better he becomes for the @CleGuardians,” Bally Sports Cleveland tweeted.
In it for the long haul…
The longer an at-bat goes for José Ramírez, the better he becomes for the @CleGuardians.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/BzYlfyEmBV
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) May 7, 2024
In 40 plate appearances in which he sees at least 10 pitches in his career, Ramirez has hit .424 with five home runs.
His plate-discipline numbers under those circumstances are also outstanding: six walks and just three strikeouts.
Once Ramirez has taken a long look at all your stuff, you are in trouble.
He has a knack for fouling off pitches until he gets one he can inflict damage on.
To be one of the top hitters in the American League for so long, you need to learn that patience often results in excellent benefits.
Ramirez certainly knows this, and is willing to play the long game if that means his chances of getting a base hit or something more will be better.
NEXT: Guardians See 2 Sluggers Sit Atop MLB List
