There are many ways to win an at-bat. If you know baseball, then you know great at-bats don’t always lead to a hit. Under the specific context of the first inning, you’re playing a certain role for yourself and the team. Depending on the hitter, you want to take a pitch or two to get your timing down. If a pitcher is struggling off the jump, you can put pressure on them with your patience. You’re not forced to do so, but it’s best to pick your spots wisely.
It was weird to see DJ LeMahieu in the four-hole on Sunday but because of his approach and knack for making contact, he is a nice fit to clean up any runners on base.