Didi Gregorius Quick Bat Leads To Fast Track

Speed is a tantalizing quality in a baseball player.  Rare speed has caused a buzz in the Reds' farm system personified by Billy Hamilton and his 100 plus stolen bases. (he may have swiped a couple bags in the time it took to type this.)

There is speed in another form that will likely have a more immediate effect on the Reds' success.

Didi Gregorius with his game face before Bats' game

Didi Gregorius with bat speed is coming on faster than Christmas in a retailer's marketing department.

Gregorius is learning so fast that he is slowing the game down according to his manager at Louisville David Bell.

"You have to watch him to put your finger on it but the best way to describe it, he plays the game at a different speed.  He has the ability to really slow the game down for a young player.  You can't really teach that," Louisville manager David Bell said.

When Dusty Baker was asked about Hall of Famer Barry Larkin recently, he said the same thing about Larkin.  "You can't really tell how fast Larkin was running because he had the ability to slow the game down," Baker said.

Bell played for Baker during the San Francisco Giants World Series year.

Gregorius ready to unleash some bat speed.

"I really expect that (Gregorius slowing the game down) when he goes to the big leagues too," Bell said.  Note he said when and not if.

Bell talked about the outstanding defense Gregorius has played.  "He's made some outstanding plays," Bell said but the lefthanded batting 22-year old from Curacao, Netherlands Antilles can hit as well.

"One of the big things you look for here is the bat speed to hit a fastball.  He has the bat speed to hit a fastball. Everything else is going to come.  Bat speed is the thing you can't teach, really," Bell said.

Since Mariekson Julius Gregorius was promoted from Double A Pensacola, allowing for Hamilton to be promoted to the Blue Wahoos, he has hit .308 in 15 games with four home runs and 10 RBI.  On the night of the interview Didi was 3-for-5 with the walkoff home run that illustrated Bell's pregame comments.

"He's a great kid.  He works hard.  He's intelligent.  He's just a great baseball player," said the gushing Bell.  "He's such a good player that the challenges at each level are what are going to get him to improve.  It was really good timing to get here.  He's risen to the challenge since he's been here."

Gregorius speaks four languages, English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento (a mixture of European and Caribean languages).

"The difference between Double A and Triple A is the pitching," Gregorius said.  "They are more in the (strike) zone, not that they weren't down there but they throw different things in different situations so I need to just relax."

On defense he is learning as well.

"I take a lot of ground balls.  You have to learn the hitters in a series.  You have to learn how they hit and everything.  You have to learn the pitch locations and where they are going to hit the ball," Gregorius said.  "It depends how the hitter swings on certain pitches, so you have to learn where to position yourself."

Gregorius chuckled when asked to compare himself to a major league player that he is most like.

"To be honest I don't know," Gregorius said.  "I just play the game the way I know how to play and stick to myself."

Hours later after Gregorius' third hit made the Bats a 4-3 winner in walkoff fashion..

Bell said, "He's playing with a lot of confidence right now.  He excels in those situations. Again it goes back to being able to hit a fastball and having a quick bat.  Typically guys like that are going to do well at the end of the game in clutch situations against the other team's better relievers."


"Most players aren't going to hit a home run when they are trying to but he has such a level swing.  He's is naturally going to pull the ball because his bat's so quick.'

Gregorius wore the hero's crown humbly.
"I was just happy.  We never gave up. I just put a good swing on it. As a hitter you always look for a fastball.  If you get a different pitch you have to adjust to it."

A few more adjustments and the Reds will have his quick lefthanded bat in Cincinnati soon.