SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The sound when baseballs hit Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 34-inch, 32-ounce Louisville Slugger C243 was raw and pure, a loud, true crack. When he stepped to the plate for batting practice here Monday afternoon, that sound preceded balls flying to all parts of the diamond — starting, as always, with the opposite field.
In a batting cage underneath the main seating bowl, baseball’s top prospect employed a different approach. He focused on one-hand drills, mostly his top hand, and maintained a steeper swing than the one he applies during games. His massive power is what people associate with him, but it’s this methodical, contact-driven approach that has made him into a generational prospect.