Austin Hays Moves Into Cleanup Spot For First Time In 2023 Tuesday
2 years agoBaltimore Orioles outfielder Austin Hays will hit out of the cleanup spot for the first time this season Tuesday night when he takes on the Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Chase Silseth. Hays tends to hit leadoff against left-handed starters but has hit much lower in the lineup against right-handers as he has made his last six starts out of the six-hole for the surging Orioles. It's been a productive season for the 27-year-old as Hays is hitting .292 with four homers, one stolen base, and an .805 OPS across 140 trips to the plate. Additionally, he ranks in the 74th percentile or better in hard-hit rate, average exit velocity, barrel rate, and xwOBA on the season. In a turn of events, he's done his best work against same-handed pitching as he's produced an .849 OPS and .367 wOBA against righties this season.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com