About Dustin Ackley's hitting

Ackley has hit his whole life and at every level so it’s difficult to change someone’s hitting style that has had the success Ackley has had. Well, it’s time to change his hitting style. Any player that has ever played in the major leagues will tell you that it’s a game of adjustments, especially for a hitter. Ackley has a nice level swing, which keeps his bat through the strike zone for a long time which allows him to stay on pitches. When he barrels the ball up he hits it hard and with surprising power. With that being said, he has some real problems he needs to fix.

Despite his level swing, he strikes out way too much, especially for a top of the lineup hitter. He swings at balls outside the strike zone, which is a result of poor pitch recognition and technique. When he does decide to swing, he lunges forward, this in turn bends his front leg, which in turn moves his head up to a foot towards the pitcher. Wade Boggs is the only hitter I can remember that had been a good hitter with this style of “broken leg” hitting.

Ackley needs to learn to hit with a more firm front leg and to the opposite way. He has turned into basically a pull hitter. He doesn't hit for enough power to be a dead pull hitter and if he wants to remain at the top of the batting order he needs to make these adjustments. Let’s hope he does because the Mariners need all the offense they can get. Not only that, but he has Nick Franklin along with a host of other middle infielders in the Mariner system waiting for a chance at the major league level. 

Here is an example of Ackley's "broken front leg" swing:

Here is an example of Chase Utley's (Phillies) "firm front leg" swing, which is what Ackley needs to look like:

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Cecil

Cecil's Corner