Andrus sets career-high in HRs, impresses Ron Washington
The high-flying Texas Rangers won again on Wednesday night thanks in part to a three-run homer from shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Always considered a 'light-hitting' shortstop without much power, the blast was Andrus' seventh of the 2015 season - a new career-high for him.
Before the game, A's coach Ron Washington (who obviously has a history with Andrus having been the Rangers' manager for years prior to joining Oakland this season) told MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan that, "It looks like he's got some life back in him."
Andrus' previous season-high in homers was six, which he accomplished back in 2009.
Sullivan pointed out that Andrus is hitting .285./324/.417 since the All-Star break, something he attributes to a tweaked approach at the plate."The biggest thing offensively is I'm not looking for a certain pitch, I'm just going up there and being aggressive," Andrus told Sullivan. "That has helped me develop my swing. I have always used a leg kick but this year it is higher and I have my timing. Before I was not on time. I was fighting with my timing. Now that I have my timing, I'm hitting balls that I have never hit in my career."
That new focus at the plate is paying off, and it's giving the first-place Rangers yet another offensive threat to go along with Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder, Mitch Moreland, Shin-Soo Choo and Mike Napoli. The club's offensive cohesion is part of the reason they're gunning for an AL West title, and Andrus has been a key contributor of late.
