ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Tommy La Stella had compiled 947 plate appearances across five major league seasons by the time he turned 30, a sample representative enough to typecast. The numbers described him as a slap hitter with no power, and La Stella could've been fine with that. His strengths -- putting pitches in play, differentiating balls from strikes, getting on base -- were enough for sustained employment in his line of work. Change seemed unnecessary. Imprudent, even.
But La Stella remained firm in his belief that there was more in him. Now he stands among the great statistical marvels of the 2019 season, as he has hit more home runs through seven weeks than he managed through five seasons.