Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe entered a mid-season slump before the All-Star break, but he believes a strategic adjustment at the plate will fuel a second-half turnaround.
O’Hoppe’s season has been defined by both power and inconsistency. While he has crushed 17 home runs, he also possesses the second-highest strikeout rate in MLB (32.5%) among batters with at least 250 plate appearances. His struggles peaked with a .155 batting average in June, and he has yet to hit a home run in July.
After reviewing game footage, O’Hoppe identified a key flaw in his approach. “Looking at video when I’m going good and realizing that I don’t have to swing hard to hit the ball far,” he said. “I think the harder I swing, the more flat my path gets. To be honest with you, the slower my bat is too, because I’m muscling up instead of just trying to be quick and easy.”
This “less is more” philosophy is already yielding positive results. O’Hoppe has stabilized in July with a .233 batting average, and over his last five games, he has collected five hits while striking out only three times.
“Even dating back to the past three or four games before the break, it’s the best I’ve felt at the plate in a long time,” O’Hoppe stated. “I feel like my takes are better. I’m seeing the ball better… It’s felt pretty night and day.”
O’Hoppe’s return to form is crucial for the Angels, who face a pivotal moment in their season. With only 10 days until the trade deadline, the team must decide whether to challenge for a playoff spot or rebuild. Their next 10 games are against the NL East-leading New York Mets and their division rivals, the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
The Angels begin the final series of their six-game road trip against the Mets on Monday at 4:10 p.m. PT.
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