A July to remember for Winston-Salem’s offense
Sitting in Winston-Salem’s dugout at BB&T Ballpark before a game last week, Dash hitting coach Charlie Poe could not help but smile.
Why? His team’s performance at the plate was as hot as a July summer in the Triad.
The night before, Winston-Salem put up eight runs and tied a Dash-era record (2009-present) with nine hits in a single inning during a commanding 9–3 win over the best team in the Carolina League.
“It was awesome,” said Poe when talking about the team’s outburst. “To see how hard these guys work and having a routine and a plan. It’s starting to pay off.”
Minor League Baseball is about development, and the Dash offense has certainly improved as the season has progressed.
Second baseman Toby Thomas is hitting .364 in the second half for Winston-Salem (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
Here’s a small sample of feats the Dash accomplished in the month of July:
- The team led all of High-A baseball with a .304 average (second among full-season Minor League clubs).
- The Dash produced 10 or more runs in seven games and 10 hits or more in 17 games.
- On July 27, Nick Basto, Marcus Davis and Telvin Nash combined to smash back-to-back-to-back home runs, a first in the Dash era (2009-present).
-Winston-Salem crushed 30 home runs in total, after not hitting more than 16 in any previous month, while averaging 6.2 runs per game.
Just about every mainstay in Winston-Salem’s lineup had a hot month, and the Carolina League leaderboards are now littered with Dash players. Mason Robbins currently leads the Carolina League with a .316 batting average, while Basto is right behind him with a .313 mark.
Many players on the team, including Robbins, are cognizant of the wear and tear they are putting on opposing pitchers.
Get Winston-Salem Dash’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
“You know it’s tough on that guy on the mound,” said the 23-year-old outfielder, who is hitting .397 since July 16. “If you have guys getting on base with each at-bat when you come up, that just boosts your confidence. You know if you don’t get the job done, you have a guy behind you that’ll get the job done.”
More importantly, players who were previously struggling have turned their seasons around. Three key cogs in Toby Thomas, Brett Austin and the aforementioned Davis have all seen their averages rise significantly in the past month and a half.
Thomas, who hit .231 in the first half, is hitting a blistering .364 since the All-Star Break. Meanwhile, Davis had a 15-game hitting streak last month, and Austin put up a .306 batting average with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 19 July games after hitting .125 in June.
Davis, who has been with Winston-Salem since the start of the season and is now in his fourth year of pro ball, has a good grasp for why the offense is producing the way it has.
In regards to the offense, Dash hitting coach Charlie Poe (left) had a lot to smile about last month (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
“I think a lot of times to start the year, people see what they can do and try to get there too soon,” said Davis, the former Padres farmhand. “I think everyone is starting to take a step back and make that adjustment. It’s just wanting to do your part and stay in line.”
The additions of Nash and White Sox first-round selection Zack Collins have helped immensely. Chicago signed Nash, the former Astros prospect who was playing independent ball with the York Revolution in the Atlantic League earlier this season, on June 23, and the 25-year-old has produced nine homers and 31 RBIs in just 37 games for the Dash.
“Telvin has been a great addition to us. He’s been a spark plug in the clubhouse, spark plug around the guys and everyone is starting to gel around him a little bit,” said Poe, now in his second season with Winston-Salem. “He makes it seem like it looks easy.”
Collins, on the other hand, has made a quick adjustment to pro ball. The 10th overall selection in this year’s draft has already smashed three homers and a .256/.370/.538 batting line in 12 games at the High-A level.
The Dash know the tall task that faces them as they come up on a month remaining in the regular season. After finishing fourth in a four-team Southern Division in the first half, Winston-Salem is entrenched behind Myrtle Beach and Salem in the second half. But, there’s a calming feeling knowing that the offense is clicking at the right time.
“Everybody is contributing one-to-nine,“ said Poe. “These guys are beginning to jell so much better now, and it’s good to watch.”
-Joe
