Kolten Wong has had a difficult start to his career with the Seattle Mariners. After signing a two-year, $18 million contract with the team in the offseason, Wong has struggled to make an impact on the field. His batting average is just .212 and he has only hit one home run in the first two months of the season. While his struggles have been evident, underlying statistics suggest that Wong’s struggles may be more than just a slow start.
Wong’s batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is .270, which is well below the league average of .300. This suggests that Wong has been unlucky when it comes to getting hits on balls he has put into play. Additionally, Wong’s hard-hit rate is just 33.3%, which is significantly lower than his career average of 42.5%. This indicates that Wong is not making solid contact with the ball as often as he usually does.
Wong’s struggles can also be attributed to his plate discipline. His strikeout rate is up to 24.3%, which is higher than his career average of 19.4%. This suggests that Wong is swinging at pitches outside of the strike zone more often than usual. Additionally, his walk rate is just 5.2%, which is much lower than his career average of 9.2%. This indicates that Wong is not being patient enough at the plate and is not waiting for pitches he can drive.
While Kolten Wong’s struggles with the Mariners have been evident, underlying statistics suggest that his struggles may be more than just a slow start. His BABIP and hard-hit rate are both lower than his career averages, while his strikeout and walk rates are higher than his career averages. If Wong can improve his plate discipline and start making solid contact with the ball more often, he should be able to turn things around and become a productive member of the Mariners lineup.
