Logan O’Hoppe is a promising younger hitter. No. 51 on our 2023 Prime 100 Prospects listing, the 23-year-old catcher is coming off a season throughout which he logged a 159 wRC+ and hit 26 dwelling runs between a pair of Double-A stops. Dealt from the Phillies to the Angels in early August — Brandon Marsh went east to Philadelphia — O’Hoppe went on to make his massive league debut with Los Angeles in late September. He noticed motion in 5 video games and notched 4 hits in 14 get-your-feet-wet at-bats.
O’Hoppe broke camp because the Halo’s major catcher this spring and has proceeded to slash .244/.300/.533 with 4 dwelling runs and a 122 wRC+ over 50 plate appearances. He talked hitting previous to Sunday’s sport at Fenway Park.
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David Laurila: When and the way did you be taught to hit?
Logan O’Hoppe: “I’m nonetheless studying. I feel it’s one thing that none of us have fully found out. However yeah, simply taking reps; I really feel like that’s one of the simplest ways to do it.”
Laurila: What about studying to hit whenever you had been rising up?
O’Hoppe: “I began swinging the bat at a reasonably younger age. We had a batting cage within the yard ever since I used to be born. Rising up, my dad and I might return there, and he would throw to me. He nonetheless does within the offseason typically.”
Laurila: Rising up with a batting cage within the yard sounds enjoyable.
O’Hoppe: “I liked it. I liked it. It’s not like I wanted to work on a swing after I was 5 years previous, I simply liked to play and to hit. We’re a giant baseball household; we actually simply love the sport. It took up a whole lot of my time. I by no means even performed video video games rising up, it was at all times simply hop within the cage.”
Laurila: You’re fairly the devoted baseball nerd in the event you don’t play video video games.
O’Hoppe: “No video video games, probably not even… I imply, I do prepare dinner a little bit bit for a passion. However it’s simply baseball, primarily.”
Laurila: Did you’ve got a hitting coach rising up?
O’Hoppe: “I performed journey ball yearly and simply labored with these guys, and with my dad. So no, I by no means actually had a hitting man. That’s one thing I used to be by no means actually tremendous uptight about. Fortunately, I had my dad. He helped me so much.”
Laurila: You had been drafted out of highschool. How a lot have you ever modified since that point?
O’Hoppe: “I don’t know if I’ve modified a lot, however I’ve positively made changes like everybody does. I imply, I’m making changes daily. So, I’d say that ‘change’ isn’t the phrase, however slightly fixed changes.”
Laurila: What was the first message you bought from hitting coaches as soon as you bought to professional ball? I assume it wasn’t simply, ‘Maintain doing what you do.’
O’Hoppe: “It was type of that the primary summer time, however after that it was… I imply, it’s a bunch of various issues. I want I had a concrete reply for you. There have been so many issues that we’d be right here all day if I attempted to undergo all of it. It’s been a stupendous mess, I wish to name it.
“I’ll say that I went to Driveline in 2021 and that helped me so much. I realized so much about mechanical issues in my swing. I’ve by no means appreciated to suppose mechanics, although. I wish to suppose much more about method and the place my thoughts is at within the field.”
Laurila: How would you describe your swing?
O’Hoppe: “I do know that I positively like to tug the ball — that’s the place my power is at — however I’m making an attempt to work on utilizing the entire subject and increasing my sights a little bit bit. Hitting is type of a day-to-day factor for me. I get up with a very clear slate and simply attempt to get myself in line.”
Laurila: You stated that you simply suppose extra about method…
O’Hoppe: “I feel that my method, and my mindset, is every little thing after I’m within the field. When my head is in house, my physique will care for itself. It’s about being calm and assured. I’ve discovered that if I’m passive and a little bit bit on the timid facet, issues doesn’t work out too properly. So yeah, I simply attempt to hold my foot on the gasoline, being aggressive, however on the similar time selective.”
Laurila: Do you suppose like a catcher on the plate?
O’Hoppe: “I do. I do this typically, and it’s a blessing and a curse.”
Laurila: In what manner is it a curse?
O’Hoppe: “The man that’s catching behind me could not do the identical factor I would do. There are completely different conditions and the way you’ll method them strolling as much as the plate, and I feel some catchers know that after which go off of that. That’s why I attempt to hold a reasonably clear head.”
Laurila: And the blessing?
O’Hoppe: “The blessing is that typically it really works out; typically you get the pitch you’re in search of.”
Laurila: Do you watch different hitters with your individual sport in thoughts?
O’Hoppe: “I do. I watch a whole lot of guys, particularly on our group. We’ve obtained some guys who can swing it. I don’t suppose I actually examine to any of them, although. I imply, have a look at my stance; it doesn’t look an excessive amount of like anyone else’s. However I positively watch completely different actions that guys make. Like, I like watching Wardo [Taylor Ward] hit. We discuss fairly a bit about it. I take heed to him as a lot as I can as a result of I like what he’s saying. He’s tremendous sensible.”
Laurila: How completely different is hitting within the massive leagues?
O’Hoppe: “It’s completely different, for positive. Guys are higher and are in a position to do issues extra constantly. It’s nonetheless the identical sport — 94 mph right here is similar 94 mph it was in Double-A — however once more, it’s completely different. You see a little bit bit extra of a chess match.”
Laurila: Any last ideas on hitting?
O’Hoppe: It’s robust to remain in a constant headspace daily. That’s why I seize my journal so much. I put down a whole lot of my ideas and attempt to hold myself centered that manner. I attempt to keep constant, which is hard… particularly up right here in numerous environments, completely different cities. I attempt to be the place my ft are.”
Laurila: Is your journal all baseball?
O’Hoppe: “I’ve two. One is for off-the-field stuff and one is for baseball stuff. I write about hitting stuff so much within the black one. The black one is for baseball. The brown leather-based one is for all times.”
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Earlier “Talks Hitting” interviews can discovered by means of these hyperlinks: Jo Adell, Jeff Albert, Greg Allen, Nolan Arenado, Aaron Bates, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, JJ Bleday, Bobby Bradley, Jay Bruce, Matt Chapman, Michael Chavis, 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, Devlin Granberg, Andy Haines, Mitch Haniger, Robert Hassell III, Nico Hoerner, Rhys Hoskins, Eric Hosmer, Tim Hyers, Josh Jung, Jimmy Kerr, Heston Kjerstad, Steven Kwan, Trevor Larnach, Doug Latta, Evan Longoria, Michael Lorenzen, Gavin Lux, Dave Magadan, Trey Mancini, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Hunter Mense, Owen Miller, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Daniel Murphy, Vinnie Pasquantino, Brent Rooker, Drew Saylor, Trevor Story, Fernando Tatis Jr., Spencer Torkelson, Mark Trumbo, Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Josh VanMeter, Robert Van Scoyoc, Chris Valaika, Zac Veen, Mark Vientos, Matt Vierling, Luke Voit, Anthony Volpe, Christian Walker, Jared Walsh, Jordan Westburg, Jesse Winker, Mike Yastrzemski, Nick Yorke, Kevin Youkilis
