Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Austin wants to see more good pitches. If he does, it may help him, well, see more pitches in general.
The Giants left fielder/first baseman has been the odd man out in an outfield that now features the unbenchable Alex Dickerson, surging Kevin Pillar and Mike Yastrzemski, a lefty who’s shown flashes. The righty Austin certainly flashed Tuesday, when the pinch-hitter demolished a Bryce Shaw cutter 411 feet to center. It was his first at-bat since Saturday, and he hasn’t started a game since Thursday.
He’s been reduced to a full-time bench bat, a role that doesn’t see much time with the power righty relievers that flood baseball. When Austin’s name does get called, he’s not comfortable. He’s chased at about 28 percent of balls, which is not terrible, but is too much for his liking (and batting average).
“Maybe sometimes,” the 27-year-old slugger told KNBR on Wednesday, asked if he’s gotten overeager. “Think that might have something to do with it. But I gotta do a better job.”
In limited at-bats, his strikeouts are spiking. Entering the game against the Rockies, he was striking out at a nearly 42 percent clip this season, punched out 48 times in 103 at-bats. He’s never been a contact hitter, but it’s up from 35 percent last season.
“I know I’ve chased a lot of pitches,” said Austin, whose batting average has plunged to .204 but who’s hit seven homers. “When you’re not swinging at strikes, good things can’t happen.”
If he wants to make things happen, it was easier before the rise of Dickerson, who opened his Giants career 8-of-18. Kevin Pillar, whom Bruce Bochy signaled would see fewer at-bats to Austin earlier this month, has come around, and the trade candidate is slashing .298/.306/.548 this month. It it difficult to make things happen when you’re blocked, and it’s difficult to be un-blocked when you’re struggling. It’s baseball’s Catch-22.
Austin hasn’t felt right at the plate, and even after that home run, he’s 3-for-32 in his past 14 games.
“Tough for me to say I feel terrible after I homered last night, but I still haven’t felt great to be honest,” said Austin, an early-season trade pickup. “Trying to get that feeling back so I can swing it every single day. I think we’re closer. But I still don’t feel great right now.”
Adding to the frustration is that Austin is not your typical all-or-nothing case. In a league in which the strikeout is commonplace, it is not in Austin’s mind.
He doesn’t like the lonely walk back to the dugout.
“Everybody’s [striking out], whatever the case may be. I do it a lot, but I don’t like it,” Austin said. “I don’t want to do it. I don’t view strikeouts as just another out. I don’t want that happen.”
Austin said his body feels fine; he just needs the reps he can’t get unless he proves he deserves them. The trade deadline could solve the problem of his platoon bat that keeps chasing and keeps missing.
The hitter who leads the Giants’ offense in average exit velocity (91.2) awaits his chance from the dugout.
“Haven’t talked to [Bochy]. I haven’t been swinging the bat that well is what it comes down to,” Austin said. “I guess, we’ll see. … When you get those opportunities, you gotta make the most of them. That’s the way it’s been my whole career. Trying to make the most of it.”