It was looking at first like a repeat of last year.
Austin Hays went into this season looking to build on the momentum of a strong season in 2021, and scuffled out of the gate. He was 2-for-21 to start the season, with one extra-base hit. It was enough to remind people watching of last year, when he struggled to a .234 average for the month of April before heating up, turning it around and salvaging his performance at the plate.
This time, though, Hays didn’t need to wait for May to find his swing.
Since the struggles of those first six games (a small sample, sure, but enough to plant a seed of doubt in the mind of a more insecure player), Hays has just been on a tear.