Francisco Alvarez 2026 Outlook After Swing Changes
- This text details Francisco Alvarez's struggles and subsequent improvements at the plate during the 2024 season, focusing on his adjustments to hitting velocity (fastballs, especially 95+ mph pitches).
- * Alvarez was struggling with fastballs, particularly velocity.
- * April '24: He began steepening his swing path (to 29°).
Summary of francisco Alvarez’s Swing Adjustments & Improvements (2024)
This text details Francisco Alvarez‘s struggles and subsequent improvements at the plate during the 2024 season, focusing on his adjustments to hitting velocity (fastballs, especially 95+ mph pitches). Here’s a breakdown:
Initial Problem (Early 2024):
* Alvarez was struggling with fastballs, particularly velocity. He had a high whiff rate (31.6%) and low slugging percentage (.343) against them.
* Manager Carlos Mendoza noted he wasn’t “in a good position to swing” and was consistently late on fastballs.
* His swing path was very flat (23°), making it arduous to generate loft despite being a power hitter.
Attempts at Correction & Setbacks:
* April ’24: He began steepening his swing path (to 29°).
* Offseason Revamp: He planned a major overhaul – taking the bat off his shoulder, tweaking his leg kick, and eliminating a toe tap.
* Hand Injury: A hand injury in Spring Training prevented him from properly implementing these changes. The adjustments didn’t work as intended in the regular season.
The Breakthrough (Late July Recall from Minors onwards):
* Multiple Stance & Swing Changes: After returning from the minors,Alvarez made several adjustments:
* Stood more upright in the box.
* Opened his stance (from 2° in May to 15° in September).
* changed the position of his bat.
* Timing Adjustment: He addressed being late on fastballs by altering his swing timing.
* Attack direction: He shifted his ”attack direction” from being very “oppo” oriented (8° to right field) to a more neutral position.
Results:
* In the 41 games following his recall, Alvarez showed notable improvement against fastballs:
* .471 wOBA
* .661 Slugging Percentage
* 21.9% whiff rate
* Specifically against velocity (95+ mph), his slugging percentage nearly doubled (.343 to .690) and his whiff rate was cut in half (31.6% to 15.1%).
In essence, the article highlights Alvarez’s iterative process of swing adjustments, overcoming setbacks, and ultimately finding a more effective approach to hitting high-velocity pitches.