This five-part series examines how swing biomechanics and the proliferation of technological tools are helping hitters. Part 1 explored the history of this field and the origin of a few key devices. Part 2 looks at newly emphasized swing traits and how they’re being applied.
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Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger was a minor leaguer riding a spring training bus in 2015 when he overheard a conversation with career-altering ramifications. Then in the Diamondbacks organization, he listened in as big leaguers A.J. Pollock and Nick Ahmed discussed hitting in a way that ran contrary to everything that he’d ever been taught.