Gino Groover is among the most promising prospects within the Arizona Diamondbacks system. He’s additionally one of the vital intriguing. When profiling him for our D-backs record again in Might, Eric Longenhagen wrote that the 22-year-old third baseman “was among the many 2023 draft’s extra unstable and thrilling prospects.” Bullish on his potential, our lead prospect analyst added that “2024 is perhaps 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 properly 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 residence 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 presently making up for missed improvement time within the Arizona Fall League, the place he’s slashing .370/.444/.389 over 63 plate appearances for the Salt River Rafters. 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 id 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 just a little older.
“I’ve my method, and, particularly at this stage, you’ll be able to’t be afraid to be fallacious typically. You clearly can’t go up there and count on to hit all the pieces, so that you don’t wish to deviate out of your method. If you happen to do, you’ll get caught in between and received’t hit both heaters or offspeed. So, no matter my method is, I persist with it. Generally I’m proper, typically I’m fallacious, 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 going through…
Groover: “Sure, sir. And no matter I’m seeing, as properly. You could have a sport plan getting into — what a pitcher’s tendencies are, and what they wish to throw — however it might not occur that day. He might need a unique pitch working, so that you’re additionally utilizing your eyes. You could know when to do each, and I believe that’s the toughest half. You’ve got to have the ability to alter out of your pregame method and put your self in a greater place primarily based off what your eyes are telling you.”
Laurila: That stated, what’s your baseline method?
Groover: “If I used to be to go as much as hit and had no data on the pitcher in any respect, I’d simply get on a fastball early within the rely. I’m in all probability 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 offers me the perfect window to have the ability to put in my A-swing.”
Laurila: One thing our lead prospect analyst wrote about you earlier this yr caught my consideration. He stated that you’ve got uncommon hand pace.
Groover: “Is {that a} good factor?”
Laurila: Nicely, it’s actually not a nasty factor.
Groover: “Sure, sir.”
Laurila: He additionally wrote that your contact charges are shockingly good for the way exhausting you swing. Does that make sense to you?
Groover: “I’d say it does. As a hitter, you clearly wish to do injury, and for those who’re in a position to put your self able to do injury whereas additionally making contact at a excessive charge, that provides you the very best likelihood for achievement. You’re going to fail much more than you succeed, however hitting the ball exhausting offers you the very best likelihood of getting on base. You’re not going to hit the ball exhausting each time, but it surely is among the few issues we will management as a hitter.
“Managed violence is basically all that it’s. You don’t wish to be uncontrolled and simply swinging as exhausting as you’ll be able to, as a result of you then lose your mechanics and all the pieces you’re employed for in-game. However you don’t wish to swing smooth and get the bat knocked out of your hand. With a lot velo on the market — pitchers are throwing 95 to 100 [mph] frequently now — you must be robust. It’s about assembly within the center. If you happen to’re in a position to management the violence you wish to swing with, it means that you can… on the finish of the day, I realized to hit first. Like I stated, 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 in a position to hone that in and give attention to, ‘OK, I wish to swing the bat exhausting, in addition to make contact.’ An excellent instance is perhaps Ronald Acuña Jr. He swings the bat actually exhausting, however he’s additionally very correct along with his barrel. That’s all it’s: barrel accuracy. There are individuals within the huge leagues who don’t swing exhausting, however they get the barrel to the baseball. Basically, that’s what issues. However for those who can manipulate your barrel swinging exhausting, 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 could have a two-strike method?
Groover: “Sure. I don’t actually unfold out, however I do form of choke up on the bat just a little 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’ve got a greater likelihood of adjusting to an offspeed pitch than you do sitting on offspeed after which making an attempt to hit 100.
“Whether or not you’re going through a sinkerballer or someone who has good four-seam carry — stuff like that — you possibly wish to remove sure elements of the zone. It’s a must to be prepared to get beat. You’ll be able to’t hit each side of the plate for energy, and even simply normally. It’s a must to select a aspect. I’m normally wanting on the outer half, center to middle-away, particularly if I’m going through a righty, as a result of I’m going to get plenty of offspeed stuff going away from me. You’re typically 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 perhaps 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 line with my path to get the ball within the air much more. I used to be in a position to make a great adjustment after getting back from the harm. I used to be in a position to tweak my path, be extra in line with it, to get the ball within the air extra typically. My energy numbers undoubtedly ticked up with that, which is an effective 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