Gino Groover is without doubt one of the most promising prospects within the Arizona Diamondbacks system. He’s additionally one of the intriguing. When profiling him for our D-backs checklist again in Might, Eric Longenhagen wrote that the 22-year-old third baseman “was among the many 2023 draft’s extra risky and thrilling prospects.” Bullish on his potential, our lead prospect analyst added that “2024 is likely to be a breakout season” for the right-handed-hitting North Carolina State College product.
Destiny intervened. As Eric defined, Groover ended up having surgical procedure to restore a displaced radius fracture suffered in a collision with a baserunner at first base, this after simply 4 video games with Excessive-A Hillsboro. He missed three months, did a rehab stint within the Arizona Advanced League, then rejoined the Hops on July 19.
He hit effectively upon his return. The previous second rounder logged a 129 wRC+ over 175 plate appearances with the Northwest League membership, and he adopted that up with a 178 wRC+ over 55 plate appearances with Double-A Amarillo. Counting his eight video games within the ACL, Groover completed the season with a .281/.367/.484 slash line, 10 dwelling runs, and a 133 wRC+. And two different numbers advantage point out: His strikeout charge was 13.6%, whereas his stroll charge was 11.4%.
Grover is at the moment making up for missed growth time within the Arizona Fall League, the place he’s slashing .353/.424/.373 over 59 plate appearances for the Salt River Rafters by Monday’s motion. He talked hitting previous to a sport in mid-October.
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David Laurila: How would you outline your self as a hitter? Additionally, do you are feeling that you simply’ve established an identification at this early stage of your profession?
Gino Groover: “I imply, I believe all people is completely different, however discovering your self as a hitter — what your strengths are, and enjoying to your strengths — is one thing you don’t actually wish to deviate away from. I’ve at all times had a hit-first profile, letting my energy come later as I’ve gotten greater, stronger, and a bit of older.
“I’ve my method, and, particularly at this degree, you possibly can’t be afraid to be flawed generally. You clearly can’t go up there and count on to hit every little thing, so that you don’t wish to deviate out of your method. Should you do, you’ll get caught in between and received’t hit both heaters or offspeed. So, no matter my method is, I stick with it. Typically I’m proper, generally I’m flawed, and we go from there, enjoying it by ear with no matter I’m seeing.”
Laurila: Your method is kind of primarily based on the pitcher you’re dealing with…
Groover: “Sure, sir. And no matter I’m seeing, as effectively. You might have a sport plan moving into — what a pitcher’s tendencies are, and what they prefer to throw — however it could not occur that day. He might need a unique pitch working, so that you’re additionally utilizing your eyes. It’s essential to know when to do each, and I believe that’s the toughest half. You may have to have the ability to modify out of your pregame method and put your self in a greater place primarily based off what your eyes are telling you.”
Laurila: That mentioned, what’s your baseline method?
Groover: “If I used to be to go as much as hit and had no info on the pitcher in any respect, I’d simply get on a fastball early within the depend. I’m most likely going to be right-center, oppo hole, simply so I can keep on that pitch, not being certain what his stuff appears to be like like. That provides me the very best window to have the ability to put in my A-swing.”
Laurila: One thing our lead prospect analyst wrote about you earlier this 12 months caught my consideration. He mentioned that you’ve got uncommon hand velocity.
Groover: “Is {that a} good factor?”
Laurila: Properly, it’s actually not a nasty factor.
Groover: “Sure, sir.”
Laurila: He additionally wrote that your contact charges are shockingly good for a way onerous you swing. Does that make sense to you?
Groover: “I’d say it does. As a hitter, you clearly wish to do injury, and should you’re capable of put your self ready to do injury whereas additionally making contact at a excessive charge, that offers you the very best probability for achievement. You’re going to fail much more than you succeed, however hitting the ball onerous provides you the very best probability of getting on base. You’re not going to hit the ball onerous each time, however it is without doubt one of the few issues we will management as a hitter.
“Managed violence is actually all that it’s. You don’t wish to be uncontrolled and simply swinging as onerous as you possibly can, as a result of then you definately lose your mechanics and every little thing you’re employed for in-game. However you don’t wish to swing gentle and get the bat knocked out of your hand. With a lot velo on the market — pitchers are throwing 95 to 100 [mph] regularly now — it’s a must to be robust. It’s about assembly within the center. Should you’re capable of management the violence you wish to swing with, it permits you to… on the finish of the day, I realized to hit first. Like I mentioned, I’ve at all times had a hit-first profile, letting my energy come later.”
Laurila: Are you able to elaborate on rising into extra energy?
Groover: “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how my physique strikes. I’ve realized to regulate my physique. I’ve been capable of hone that in and give attention to, ‘OK, I wish to swing the bat onerous, in addition to make contact.’ A great instance is likely to be Ronald Acuña Jr. He swings the bat actually onerous, however he’s additionally very correct along with his barrel. That’s all it’s: barrel accuracy. There are folks within the large leagues who don’t swing onerous, however they get the barrel to the baseball. Basically, that’s what issues. However should you can manipulate your barrel swinging onerous, swinging quick… on the finish of the day, no matter works for you is what it is best to give attention to.”
Laurila: Do you’ve gotten a two-strike method?
Groover: “Sure. I don’t actually unfold out, however I do form of choke up on the bat a bit of bit and simply throw the barrel. I truly choke up on the bat to start with, as a result of I don’t like the way in which the knob feels on my hand. That’s at all times been one thing I’ve handled. However on the finish of the day, it’s a fastball-and-adjust mentality. You don’t wish to get blown away with heaters. You may have a greater probability of adjusting to an offspeed pitch than you do sitting on offspeed after which attempting to hit 100.
“Whether or not you’re dealing with a sinkerballer or any individual who has good four-seam carry — stuff like that — you possibly wish to eradicate sure components of the zone. You need to be keen to get beat. You possibly can’t hit either side of the plate for energy, and even simply usually. You need to select a aspect. I’m often wanting on the outer half, center to middle-away, particularly if I’m dealing with a righty, as a result of I’m going to get numerous offspeed stuff going away from me. You’re generally going to get beat inside — a man would possibly paint 95 on the black — however that’s simply the way in which it’s.”
Laurila: One other factor our lead prospect analyst wrote — this was early within the season — was that you simply is likely to be a swing tweak away from an enormous offensive breakout. Do you agree with that?
Groover: “Yeah. I’ve just about been engaged on cleansing up my path, creating some extra leverage in my swing. I’m on the flatter aspect of swings, so whereas not essentially altering my swing, I’ve labored on being extra in keeping with my path to get the ball within the air much more. I used to be capable of make adjustment after getting back from the damage. I used to be capable of tweak my path, be extra in keeping with it, to get the ball within the air extra typically. My energy numbers undoubtedly ticked up with that, which is an efficient factor.”
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Earlier “Talks Hitting” interviews can discovered by these hyperlinks: Jo Adell, Jeff Albert, Greg Allen, Nolan Arenado, Aaron Bates, Jacob Berry, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Justice Bigbie, Cavan Biggio, Charlie Blackmon, JJ Bleday, Bobby Bradley, Will Brennan, Jay Bruce, Triston Casas, Matt Chapman, Michael Chavis, Garrett Cooper, Gavin Cross, Jacob Cruz, Nelson Cruz, Paul DeJong, Josh Donaldson, Brendan Donovan, Donnie Ecker, Rick Eckstein, Drew Ferguson, Justin Foscue, Michael Fransoso, Ryan Fuller, Joey Gallo, Paul Goldschmidt, Devlin Granberg, Matt Hague, Andy Haines, Mitch Haniger, Robert Hassell III, Austin Hays, Nico Hoerner, Jackson Holliday, Spencer Horwitz, Rhys Hoskins, Eric Hosmer, Jacob Hurtubise, Tim Hyers, Connor Joe, Jace Jung, Josh Jung, Jimmy Kerr, Heston Kjerstad, Steven Kwan, Trevor Larnach, Doug Latta, Royce Lewis, Evan Longoria, Joey Loperfido, Michael Lorenzen, Gavin Lux, Dave Magadan, Trey Mancini, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Marcelo Mayer, Hunter Mense, Owen Miller, Colson Montgomery, Tre’ Morgan, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Daniel Murphy, Lars Nootbaar, Logan O’Hoppe, Vinnie Pasquantino, Graham Pauley, David Peralta, Luke Raley, Julio Rodríguez, Brent Rooker, Thomas Saggese, Anthony Santander, Drew Saylor, Nolan Schanuel, Marcus Semien, Giancarlo Stanton, Spencer Steer, Trevor Story, Fernando Tatis Jr., Spencer Torkelson, Mark Trumbo, Brice Turang, Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Josh VanMeter, Robert Van Scoyoc, Chris Valaika, Zac Veen, Alex Verdugo, Mark Vientos, Matt Vierling, Luke Voit, Anthony Volpe, Joey Votto, Christian Walker, Jared Walsh, Jordan Westburg, Jesse Winker, Bobby Witt Jr. Mike Yastrzemski, Nick Yorke, Kevin Youkilis