Collins strives to be more than a slugger
On paper, a late-game situation clearly favored Down East on Monday night. Tie game, ninth inning. LeDarious Clark, the owner of 56 stolen bases in his 155-game Minor League career, took off for second base as Dash reliever Ian Hamilton fired to the plate.
The man behind the plate for Winston-Salem, catcher Zack Collins, was the 10th overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft largely due to his plus-plus power. Many scouts question his defensive ability; they think he is destined to be a slugging first baseman or designated hitter in the Major Leagues.
“I heard a lot of people saying I couldn’t catch at the next level,” Collins said. “I want to prove that I can.”
Collins looks differently from late last season to the beginning of this his first full professional go-around. He still boasts outstanding strength and power, which was evident on his first homer of the season on Saturday, a moonshot over the scoreboard at Jim Perry Stadium. He is leaner and more spry than a season ago despite a shortened offseason.
What the offseason lacked in longevity, it made up for in necessity. His 2016 season began in mid-February at the University of Miami. The Hurricanes leaned on him all the way to the College World Series. Shortly after Miami’s run to Omaha, Collins signed with the White Sox, played a few games in the AZL and arrived in Winston-Salem, with a quick trip to San Diego mixed in there. He was honored for his Johnny Bench Award, which goes to the top catcher in college baseball, at the MLB All-Star Game.
Then, boom — High-A baseball as a newly-drafted player, though he Collins posted very respectable numbers(.258/.418/.467 with six homers in 36 games). Once the Minor League season ended, Collins competed in the Arizona Fall League, a prospect showcase that stretches into November. Finally, after that, Collins could take a brief respite before heading to Major League Spring Training.
“It was the first time that I got a decent amount of time off to get some work in and prepare my body for the season,” Collins said.
Collins used this time to tone his body, most notably with pilates. It has become more and more popular within baseball circles, especially with catchers, because it improves flexibility, strength and total-body control.
“The motivation was just to get better,” Collins said about his pilates regimen. “I heard that it was a good thing, so I did that, and it worked out well.”
However, players can dominate the offseason in the gym and still not enjoy the expected return on investment. Collins also needed some mechanical tweaks, especially with his throws to second and third.
White Sox Catching Coordinator John Orton has felt that Collins could catch in the Majors since he first saw him, but Orton also recognized that some changes were necessary. After watching some tape this offseason of strong catchers against the run game, he noticed something about Collins’ pop and angling to second base that prevented him from delivering firm throws.
Last season, Collins would angle his left foot and left shoulder too far to the left when he jumped out of his crouch. At times, he would be pointing toward the shortstop’s original position, instead of closer to second base. The results were not surprising, as Collins allowed 16 stolen bases in 19 tries.
A pitching-esque theory helped Collins this offseason — close the left shoulder, and the throw will improve. Orton and Collins worked on this early in Spring Training, and the desired results came quickly.
“It was pretty easy for him,” Orton said. “He felt it instantly, and once you feel it as a player, it helps you make the adjustment on your own.”
Fast forward to Monday night, where an offseason of pilates and a significant fundamental tweak evened the odds that seemed so lopsided statistically. Collins exploded from his crouch, zipped a perfect throw to second and gunned down the speedy Clark in a critical situation.
“I heard a lot of people saying I couldn’t catch at the next level. I want to prove that I can.”
So far this season, Collins has caught three of the four men who have tried to run on him. The lone successful steal came with men at first and third on Monday — Collins pocketed the ball after bluffing to second. Sure, it’s early, but Collins is trending the right way, and others are noticing.
“Comparing him to last year, I think he’s more mobile, he’s quicker,” said Dash left-hander Tanner Banks, a close friend of Collins. “Not to say I didn’t expect that, but he’s definitely gotten faster, and I think he has made some adjustments that he’s talked about that are definitely helping him.”
Collins’ calling card will always be his incredible power, but his defensive skills are rounding into shape, too. Despite that big caught stealing, the Dash did lose on Monday, but one of their top prospects made a winning play that may not have happened even a few months ago.
-Brian
