FORT MYERS, Fla. — From on-base percentage titan to pull-side slugger, as Matt Carpenter morphed from one style of hitter to another, he could line up his seasons with traditional typecasting for spots in the batting order.
He’s been the All-Star leadoff hitter, drawing walks and lacing doubles, and he’s looked like a middle-order masher with 36 homers. He’s also been the struggling vet, fading to the lower third and eventually the bench.
Out to reclaim his prominence on the team and his roots as a hitter, Carpenter set a personal goal, one tied to a specific spot in the lineup with a thoroughly modern twist.