Austin Slater didn’t perform like he needed to in the majors last year. In 225 plate appearances in a Giants outfield desperate for a long-term solution, he hit .251/.333/.307, not nearly enough to cement a role at the major league level.
So over the offseason, at the team’s request, Slater worked with Craig Wallenbrock, an outside hitting coach, to refine his swing. And while things like loft and launch angle may be the trendy terms du jour, that’s not how he approaches hitting.
“The launch angle and loft, they’re the big buzzwords now.