One drive made all the difference for Alex Call

This story, written by contributor Chuck King in Miami, was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Alex Call didn't exactly feel lost at the plate despite knowing something wasn't quite right.

On a drive from Syracuse back to Rochester last season, the then-Red Wings outfielder requested divine intervention to help tweak his swing.

Ever since then, Call's been one of the best hitters in baseball.

Call scorched Triple-A pitching in the weeks that followed, prompting a late-July recall to the Majors.

What did Call discover following that July drive?

Well, he tweaked his swing trigger in the batter's box, pumping his hands up and down as he awaited pitch delivery. The adjustment aided his timing and allowed for more freedom with his swing.

“It was like I flipped the switch,” Call said. “I just started having quality contact using the entire field. And that opened it all up for me. I went on a great run in July. I got called up at the end of July and had an amazing stretch there.”

Call hit .333 with seven doubles, two homers and 10 RBIs in August after rejoining the Nationals before a left foot injury cost him the remainder of the season.

During the run, Call wrote notes to himself about how he felt in the box over the season's final months, and he kept video of his at-bats for reference. But rather than continue to develop his swing during the offseason, he decided to let well enough be.

“I didn't pick up a bat until the end of November, which is the longest I've ever gone,” Call said. “I had my keys written down. I have video of my swing from the end of the year. I took that video and watched it a couple times. Then I went in the cage and I felt the exact same -- and that was nice.”

Call made one more slight adjustment during Spring Training, bringing the bat head closer to his head at set-up. The change, which allows Call to be quicker to the ball, also paid immediate dividends.

Call is slashing .293/.407/.390 with a .797 OPS and 10 walks to four strikeouts in his first 16 games of the season. He entered Tuesday ranked 12th in the National League with a .400 average with runners in scoring position.

“He works good at-bats,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He accepts his walks. He's hitting the ball all over the field, which is great.”

Call's bat, and his patience with it, took on a more prominent role when the Nationals placed shortstop CJ Abrams on the 10-day IL because of a right hip flexor strain. With Abrams out of the lineup, Martinez moved Call to the leadoff spot. Call has hit leadoff in six games this season.

“I like to see pitches and I'm comfortable working the count,” Call said. “If they give you something good I'll swing, but otherwise I'm comfortable just trying to see the pitches and trying to get the starter to work.”