Feeling a sense of freedom, Zack Collins is grateful the Toronto Blue Jays have allowed him to stick with his preferred swing.
The Blue Jays have to like the early returns.
Acquired in a catcher-for-catcher deal (Reese McGuire went the other way) with the Chicago White Sox earlier this month, Collins is 8-for-20 (.400/.429/.800) with two homers (the second came Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox) and four RBIs for the Blue Jays — a nice offensive boost for a club missing catcher Danny Janssen and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to injuries.
Collins says he has had a hitch in his swing, a wiggle of the hands before the batter’s stride, since he was young. In Toronto, he says, there has been no pressure to eliminate it.
A conversation with shortstop Bo Bichette made that clear.
“The first day I got here, even Bo told me ‘Hey man, were you trying to stop your hitch and stuff with the White Sox? And I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve been working a lot on trying to stop it because I’ve been told it throws off timing and stuff like that.’ He’s like ‘No man, you’ve always hit that way, just keep it and you’ll be back and good again,'” Collins said on an interview with Blair and Barker on Sportsnet 590 The Fan on Wednesday.
A first-round pick of the White Sox (10th overall) in 2016, Collins struggled to earn regular playing time with Chicago after he was first called up in 2019.
Collins had a career MLB average of .195 before this season.
“I feel like if I’ve hit my whole life with it, it’s pretty much not going to change at this point,” Collins said. “I don’t think it’s something that causes someone not to hit at a different level. There is definitely a jump to the big leagues, but it’s not crazy. You’re still facing velo in the minor leagues and still facing good pitching.”
Collins has mostly been used as designated hitter, though he did start one game at catcher — a 4-1 win over the Oakland A’s last Friday with Ross Stripling starting.
The regular at-bats have been helpful, Collins said.
“Once I got to the big leagues, trying to adjust to learn how to not play every day was different for me,” Collins said. “All of a sudden it turned into maybe it’s my swing, maybe it’s something else. Why am I not performing how I usually perform? To be honest, it was just an overload of things whether it was mechanical or mental or whatever that came on.”
Collins said the fact the Jays traded for him also boosted his confidence.
“The change of scenery has been good for me,” Collins said. “I had a tough time in Chicago but came over here and a lot of guys (are) putting confidence back in my mind and stuff like that — just knowing the team traded for me and they have confidence in what I can do. So far, I’ve gone out there and shown it.”
Now, he just wants to keep doing it.
“I’m definitely a left-handed power hitter, known as an offensive catcher,” he said. “I’m just looking to drive in runs and hit bombs, really.”
