Baseball Swing Cues | Should you drop your back shoulder? We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. One of my favorite parts of the video is when Donaldson says “I’m not a big guy who uses one hand, top hand, bottom hand. I stumbled across this absolutely gorgeous picture of Josh Donaldson hitting a home run to left field on September 20, 2013. Next, select your favourite teams and leagues and we’ll show you their latest news and scores in the My Favourites section of the home page. Josh Donaldson’s first year with the Minnesota Twins didn’t go as planned.After signing a four-year, $92 million contract, he was limited to 28 games due to a calf injury. In the video, we'll discuss: Donaldson v. Bautista metrics, What “staying closed” means to spine engine mechanics, and; Where Josh Donaldson might be leaking force at impact. With his overhauled swing, Donaldson finished in the top eight in MVP voting for four straight years starting in 2013—and won it in ’15 as a Blue Jay, earning a two-year, $28.7 million deal. As previously stated, Donaldson’s actually enjoying a better year than he did in 2015 when he won MVP. This methodology of Donaldson’s has clearly created results, but it wouldn’t work for just anybody. The great hitters over the last 100 years have all used these movements. The elbow is pulled back towards the dugout behind him. Donaldson makes a strong triangle shape with his arms. This teaching point may be the most controversial subject that I have come across. Bryce Harper's Swing 2015 to 2016 | WHAT HAPPENED? Actually, the bat falls behind the shoulder and the back shoulder delivers the swing." Please contact us. At the moment Altuve is the clear frontrunner for AL MVP, leading the majors in batting average and second in OPS, but as Donaldson said, there’s still plenty of baseball left to play and as his swing tells us there’s never a moment the Bringer of Rain isn’t looking to attack. Because EVERY human movement is driven by the spinal engine…pelvis-spine-shoulders. Because he is able to create more bat speed, he is able to wait longer before the initiation of his swing. This one concept can change the trajectory of a hitters career. Earlier this year, I was having lunch with a member of the MLB Network team. Ad Choices Team: Minnesota Twins (majors, 10-day IL) Born: December 8, 1985 in Pensacola, FL us Draft: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1st round (48th) of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft from Auburn University (Auburn, AL).. High School: Faith Academy (Mobile, AL) Because he is able to create more bat speed, he is able to wait longer before the initiation of his swing. Notice the tipping action of the barrel. Despite this, he’s not the frontrunner with names like the Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve and Baltimore Orioles’ Manny Machado being talked about more. When he’s swinging for the fences on the diamond, Donaldson’s bat speed reaches in the 92 miles per hour range compared to an MLB average of 77 mph on a similar home-run swing… Unlike many other big league players who are usually looking to get on base or keep a rally going, when Toronto Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson steps up to the plate he’s always looking to do damage. We’ll give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to My Favourites. They are able to create early bat speed, get on plane and consistently square the baseball. Josh Donaldson vs. Barry Bonds Perhaps not surprisingly given his power, Josh Donaldson's swing matches up quite well with the swings of other good hitters. “If you’re 10 years old and your coach says get on top of the ball tell him no,” Donaldson said seemingly just half-joking. By Susan Slusser on July 14, 2014 at 6:02 PM. Here is Dick Allen. This allows him to consistently hit baseballs at a 10-30 degree angle. Joshua Adam Donaldson is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. The hands are done! Early bat speed means that the initial movement of the barrel is towards the dugout behind him. MINNEAPOLIS -- Josh Donaldson is about as competitive as it gets in every aspect of his play, whether it comes to improving his swing, driving his teammates to be better or making himself available to play as often as possible. Josh Donaldson’s swing first caught my eye in late 2013 when I was Googling around, looking for pictures of hitters whose swings I could teach from. That can lead to a fluid swing that doesn’t get to the zone too quickly, but it can also lead to what people call ‘losing the barrel.’ When you lose the barrel, it gets too far away from your body to command. Customize your lineup with your favourite leagues and teams. Donaldson is the reigning American League MVP and is actually ahead of his pace from a year ago. That was what made Josh Donaldson’s ejection during Thursday’s game between the Twins and White Sox so special. By pulling the elbow up and back, Donaldson is fully loaded to swing. 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The elbows and bat move together. Josh Donaldson. For example, from a layman’s perspective, the most distinctive part of Donaldson’s swing is the high, gradual leg kick. Creating this type of bat path has several positive effects. The elbow pulling back combined with the twisting of the bat allows Donaldson to more effectively use his kinetic chain. On April 23rd, 2015… The Toronto Blue Jays' 3rd baseman, Josh Donaldson, hit a two-run homer to left off Chris Tillman that was clocked at 120.5-mph!. 2.7K … Position: Third Baseman Bats: Right • Throws: Right 6-1, 210lb (185cm, 95kg) . Sorry we could not verify that email address. © 2000-2021 Rogers Media. The hands stay at the shoulder while the barrel travels around the hands. Would you like to create an account so you can see these Favourites on your other devices too? This tipping action is a load of the hands to twist the barrel. We didn't recognize that password reset code. Share This article with everyone you know, Ted Williams Swing | The Science of Hitting. Josh Donaldson has a gorgeous swing; one that every hitter should study in detail. Print; American League All-Star Josh Donaldson … Ted Williams wrote about matching plane back in 1971. Fact of the matter is there’s time.”. Josh Donaldson’s swing is a deadly, well-honed weapon Courtesy of MLB Network / MLB Central watch as Toronto Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson breaks down his lethal swing. Look, Manny’s having a great year, Altuve’s having a great year. Like all great hitters, Josh Donaldson is a student of the game and owns his swing. Josh Donaldson's swing change allowed him to become one of the best hitters in baseball. Why does he take this approach? He swings that triangle shape to swing the bat. MLB Network. The mechanics that he implemented are not new. They don’t pay you for ground balls, they pay you for doubles, they pay you for homers.”. We talked about the triangle turn and tipping the bat. There are countless other players who are playing at 70% of their capability level. I slowed this clip down so you can see the blur of the bat and where that blur is happening. There is no evidence that proves that a downward swing angle is quicker or more efficient. Because he’s using his shoulders to swing, he’s sort of forced to just pick a spot and go for it without being able to make too many mid-swing adjustments. The elbow is pulled back towards the dugout behind him. This one features Josh Donaldson's swing of beauty in the various replay clips I have (due to s... A short filler-type video while I edit some other highlights. Courtesy of MLB Network / MLB Central watch as Toronto Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson breaks down his lethal swing. I HATE when hitting instructors PREMATURELY force the back knee of every hitter they instruct, inside the foot (even in the stance). The elbow pulling back combined with the twisting of the bat allows Donaldson to more effectively use his kinetic chain. He is now able to consistantly make square contact with the baseball. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. By pulling the elbow up and back, Donaldson is fully loaded to swing. Donaldson himself is a proponent of matching plane with the oncoming pitch. CHICAGO -- The Minnesota Twins' Josh Donaldson managed to get ejected while hitting a home run. Josh Donaldson's swing illustrating the spinal engine and Springy ‘X' Pattern discussed in the next section. Well, in his own words, “Why wouldn’t I?”. December 11. He previously played for the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, and Atlanta Braves. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. The upper body is delayed for as long as possible to create a late, violent swing. Donaldson, six-foot-one and … Josh Donaldson responds that he focuses his weight on his back heel and back hip. This is one of the furthest balls ever hit. A lot of guys are hand dominant because that’s all they know.” How Josh Donaldson uses his Body in his Swing. David Wright uses the same triangle shape when he swings. Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson and the man who transformed his swing will reunite at the Home Run Derby Back to video Tewksbary lasted just those two years in … According to Dr. Serge Gracovetsky in his book The Spinal Engine, the spinal engine can move in a vacuum. Photo courtesy: PicPlayHost. His weight is falling forward at the time of this picture. From how he prepares, to his particular swing technique it’s pretty easy to see why Donaldson is as aggressive at the dish as he is. “In the big leagues, these things that they call ground balls are outs. “I had to come and talk to Josh because he’s used (as an example of top-flight hitting) quite often,” said Jackson, who watched Donaldson’s swing from several different angles. This allows the tightest pivot for the barrel to turn around. This week was no different, as Josh Donaldson stopped by Studio 21 and talked to the MLB Central crew about a wide range of topics.. Josh Donaldson started off with Mark DeRosa, and the Bringer of Rain broke down the entire process of his swing; included … Privacy Policy Donaldson barked at plate umpire Dan Bellino for the second time in the sixth inning of a … (AP / Charles Rex Arbogast) TORONTO -- Josh Donaldson estimates he's watched thousands of hours of Jose Bautista game tape, modelling his swing -- right down to the leg kick -- … The barrel continues around the back forearm and is then directed towards the baseball. I mentioned to him that I never really talk about the hands with my players. %2Fbaseball%2Fmlb%2Fjosh-donaldsons-swing-deadly-well-honed-weapon%2F, When submitting content, please abide by our, MLB Live Tracker: Blue Jays vs. Royals on Sportsnet, Yankees' Jay Bruce announces retirement after 14 seasons, Dodgers' Betts stuns Padres with spectacular game-winning catch, Mookie Betts makes diving grab as Dodgers beat Padres, DeGrom strikes out nine in a row as Mets split with Rockies, Royals' Salvador Perez walks off Blue Jays to split doubleheader, Blue Jays' promising afternoon gives way to missed opportunity vs. Royals, Royals earn doubleheader split with Blue Jays on Perez's walk off, {* backButton *} In the case of his swing, Donaldson tries to create bat speed with his shoulders instead of his hands, using that same transfer of energy he started from the beginning of the swing in his hips. We use cookies to improve your experience. (approx 1 - 2 per week). Another interesting note is that Donaldson doesn’t worry about his hands heading towards the baseball, something that flies in the face of conventional hitting thought. “If I have previous at-bats off guys I want to look at that first,” Donaldson said of his preparation practices. There isn’t enough recent news in your lineup. Donaldson gets pulled back and then lets his lower body pull his upper body. This shape in the arms is maintained until contact. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. Enter your email address to get a new one. Donaldson simply found a way to maximize his capabilities as a hitter. If you watch closely, all of the great hitters have some kind of tipping action. Josh Donaldson threw the tantrum of the MLB season on Thursday . You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. As his back shoulder rolls back in his swing, Donaldson will often let his bat flatten towards the third base dugout. Baseball Swing Flaws | Do you Swing Across the Ball? Donaldson creates a great shape in the arms with the back elbow pulled back. I say "launch position" because his upper body has not yet begin the swing. The reason he’s so deliberate with the leg kick is to use it as a mechanism to load his hip with his weight like a coil before he transfers all that energy into his back knee and all the way through the swing. This near-belligerent approach of his is incredibly unorthodox and, according to Donaldson, if kids playing little league want to make money playing baseball his is the tactic they should be using. As such, meticulous preparation is required of Donaldson in order to even make his technique work in the first place, let alone win an MVP award. This is VERY important… WHY? There are phases to the swing, and Donaldson is talking about what my hitters refer to as the ‘Float & Fall'… All rights reserved. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features after hitting a home run. Players might use a leg lift and think they hit like Donaldson, they don't. The triangle turn is what made the difference in his swing. Your existing password has not been changed. Donaldson dirtied up the plate AFTER hitting a home run and completing his trot. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! “If I don’t then you want to try to look at video, some percentages, different kinds of counts.”. Speaking with MLB Network’s MLB Central Tuesday, Donaldson drew back the curtain and revealed some of what makes his swing so deadly. Terms of Service. So what’s the secret to his success? “Honestly I never really think about my hands...I use more of my entire body.”. " He was initially drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2007 MLB draft after playing college baseball at Auburn University. The back elbow drops, the barrel drops to level with the shoulders, but the bend in the arms doesn't change. Donaldson calls this entire technique “effortless bat speed” and likens it to a rubber band because he’s able to generate maximum bat speed and, therefore, lots of batting power, without using up a lot of energy. Having signed a two-year, $28.6-million contract and ranking seventh and 18th, respectively, in AL home runs and doubles, it’s safe to say Donaldson’s upholding his keep. 0:58. Josh Donaldson's Swing and Hitting Mechanics; Around Thanksgiving 2014, he went on a rant on Twitter, expressing his frustration with some of the things he was coming across on the Internet. A’s Josh Donaldson modeled swing on Jose Bautista’s. His uniquely aggressive swing. And as of August 18th, according to ESPN's HitTrackerOnline.com, was the highest Ball Exit Speed home-run in 2015.. CLICK HERE to see the 120.5-mph Josh Donaldson two-run dinger.. By the way, this topped Giancarlo Stanton's highest Ball … During the Twins’ first dress rehearsal game July 9, Donaldson blasted a Lewis Thorpe pitch well into the seats in right. Speaking with MLB Network’s MLB Central Tuesday, Donaldson said of his preparation practices, Canadiens' need for Caufield even clearer after listless loss to Senators, Oilers' growth an extension of McDavid, Draisaitl's own on-ice transformation, Nylander gears up for Maple Leafs return: 'I was pretty nervous', Canucks' Green opens up about battle with COVID-19, return to the ice, Mike Smith makes 25 saves for shutout as Oilers blank Jets. (The) hands are not determining the swing. The weakness of Donaldson’s swing lies in that he isn’t using his hands very much. The Hands, The Shoulders, and Rotation. “You don’t see a lot of guys run the ship back-to-back. Donaldson changed his swing to become one of the best hitters in baseball. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. This tip of the barrel is a loading action for the hands and arms to send the barrel back towards the dugout behind them. . While there are plenty of numbers that quantify a lost season for the 35-year-old, perhaps the one that contributed the … Josh Donaldson’s tie-breaking homer had a profound impact on the Twins' game at one point, but the ejection that arrived soon after may have come with a bigger price. “I feel like it’s kind of hard to do that back-to-back,” Donaldson said of possibly repeating as MVP. Baseball Hitting | How to Hit the Outside Pitch, MLB Hitting Instruction | How to stay inside the ball. I want to be clear, this is not a still position, his lower body has already started to power the swing. In this article, we'll compare the swings of Oakland Athletic's (now Blue Jays) Josh Donaldson and Toronto Blue Jay's Jose Bautista (aka Joey Bats). Whenever they’re in the Big Apple, many Toronto Blue Jays players often swing by the MLB Network studios to chat on MLB Central. Epic Innings - Monday at 9pm ET. . Josh Donaldson v. Jose Bautista Metrics This swing path allows a smooth and efficient use of momentum. … This is the quickest, most powerful way to swing a bat. S swing lies in that he isn ’ t then you want to be,! Created results, but the bend in the big leagues, these things that they call ground balls outs! Players who are playing at 70 % of their capability level they are able to create account. “ you don ’ t using his hands very much these Favourites on your devices... 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